His Trust Fulfilled

This sequel to "His Trust" has some good moments, but it could have been better. It probably works better as a statement of some of D.W. Griffith's personal perspectives than it does as a movie. The story is worthwhile in itself, though - it just would have benefited from more subtlety and from less simplistic characters.

In "His Trust Fulfilled", the faithful George does everything possible to fulfill his promise to his former 'owner', even when it leads him into great personal difficulties. This idea seems to have been a favorite with Griffith, and indeed one of his best short features, "The Girl And Her Trust", featured a very similar idea, but in a different and more contemporary setting.

The story really has some potential, and there are some moments when it seems about to become quite moving. But, unfortunately, the story too often goes for quick, simple resolutions of problems, and on more than one occasion it stretches the portrayal of George past the point of credibility.

Sometimes when film-makers feel too passionately about their material, they push too hard and make it less believable rather than more so, and that could be the case here. It's still probably worth seeing if you are interested in silent dramas and/or cinema history, but a slightly different approach could have made it a much better movie.

This sequel to D.W. Griffith's "His Trust" (1911) picks up right where the previous film left off - loyal slave Wilfred Lucas (as George) continues to be the faithful and devoted servant to his Master's family. Despite the Emancipation Proclamation, he remains slavishly devoted. He supports the ailing Claire McDowell (Mrs. Foster), and "The Little Orphan" as she grows from Gladys Egan into Dorothy West. When money runs out, he fights to avoid the temptation to steal. Ms. West is his ward until she weds a wealthy suitor. The newlyweds hardly seem grateful, as they run off to leave old slave George hobbling back to his shack, in rags! - but, he is content, with "His Trust Fulfilled".

* His Trust Fulfilled (1/19/11) D.W. Griffith ~ Wilfred Lucas, Dorothy West, Claire McDowell

Five stars. I'm being generous. But that's all I can muster for a film in which the only thing I can find that's praise-worthy is the acting of a white guy in black-face. Because, other than Wilfred Lucas's performance, this is just ghastly. The rest of the "acting" is rubbish, even for silent-era acting. The story is dreadful, from any sort of ethical standpoint. It doesn't even have the cool pyrotechnics that His Trust did. It's just a tale of a man who sacrifices everything he has for the daughter of his former owners. Who doesn't understand this, and who views him as something like a family pet.

Something I've noticed, while watching this collection of Griffith's Civil War shorts, is that they were made before he had figured out that it's better not to break the line. These films are full of scenes in which someone approaches the door of a house, coming from (say) the left, and is then seen entering the house on the right. I've seen enough of Griffith's work that I can see the patterns of the evolution of film-making craft. This is one it looks like he didn't figure out until after 1911. But, unless you are really interested in watching that sort of technical evolution take place, you can take a pass on this one. 7 February 2025.

D. W. Griffith's sequel to His Trust is so outdated that most modern audiences fail completely to connect with it on any level. Personally, I struggle to see why all those people who complain about it's racism are so incapable of understanding and reviewing it as a product of its time. A poor film by Griffith's standards.

Wonderful sequel is better than the original. Continuing where the first movie left half (it's regarded as both a sequel and the second half of the story), George takes care of the daughter after her mother suffers a heart attack. Acting is not on calibur par, but it still succeeds.