The Dreamer - Production & Contact Info

The Dreamer (1916)
Short | Short, Drama

The Dreamer (1916)

Short | Short, Drama

On a small farm on the outskirts of a large city lives Ezra Caldwell, the owner, and his son, George. Betsy cares for the household while Sim, a half-wit, who answers for a hired man, does the chores. Ezra Caldwell is reputed to be a very ...See moreOn a small farm on the outskirts of a large city lives Ezra Caldwell, the owner, and his son, George. Betsy cares for the household while Sim, a half-wit, who answers for a hired man, does the chores. Ezra Caldwell is reputed to be a very mean man. His treatment of Betsy, whom he calls an adopted daughter, has made him despised by all the neighbors. Betsy dreams and hopes for her release from old Ezra's abuse and through these dreams run recollections of better days long past. She remembers the first time she came to the farm with her mother, though old Ezra was with them even at that time and his son, George, was a small boy of whom Betsy was mortally afraid. Roland Delaney, clubman and wealthy idler, lives along in the city. Receiving an invitation to a weekend party at a friend's house in the country, Delaney motors down. At this time Ezra is getting ready for the harvest season and has told Betsy to prepare for several extra hired man. Delaney's car breaks down on the road and he goes to the nearest farmhouse for aid, arriving at the Caldwell's while all but Betsy are in the fields at work. Delaney, disheveled and dirty, appears to her only as another hired man and she interrupts his questions to tell him to wait for Mr. Caldwell's return. She offers him a seat in the kitchen and Delaney enters into conversation with her. He finds unsuspected interest in the little slavey, and by the time Ezra and his men get back, Delaney has decided to see the thing through. He applies for a job and gets it. Delaney spends his evenings with Betsy and leans of her dim recollections of the past. He wonders at the peculiar make-up of the girl and is more the surprised to find the class of literature her small library consists of. She explains that the books she has were left her by her mother, and her mother's name upon the fly leaf of one of these books is another puzzle to Delaney. Shortly after this Delaney wins Sim's lasting gratitude. George always making game of the simple-minded boy, turns on him and beats him unmercifully for daring to talk back to him. Delaney steps in and turns the tables, at the same time earning George's enmity. As Delaney takes Sim away he tells his benefactor that Ezra does not own the farm and that it is the property of Betsy. That night Delaney leaves for the city, promising Betsy to return. Sim tells George that he "will fix them and Betsy will send them away from her farm." George repeats this threat to Ezra and he is frightened. Delaney is in the city investigating the situation and tracing back old records of the county recorder's office. At the farm things have undergone a decided change. George and his father are doing all they can to make life attractive for Betsy and she is mystified at the change. Another servant takes her place, and George professes love for her and proposes marriage. George and Ezra determine to force the issue. He an old Ezra then lock her in her room and threaten her with continued confinement unless she gives in. Delaney arrives and demands to see Betsy. Ezra and George tell him she has gone, but he refuses to believe them. He confronts them with the facts he has learned and accuses them of having practically stolen the farm and kept it from Betsy all these years. He starts to search the house despite their opposition and a fight follows, at the end of which both Ezra and George are left locked in the kitchen while Delaney goes through the rest of the house. Upstairs Delaney finds Betsy and carries her away with him. On the way she tells him what she has been through, and finishes with the statement that "she would lots rather marry a poor man like him than marry George with all his money." Delaney says nothing. In front of Delaney's palatial city home he stops the car, a "rent car" as he has explained it to Betsy. She, tired out with all that has passed, lies back in her seat sound asleep. He picks her up and carries her into the house. She awakens as she lies upon the couch in the drawing room. Delaney explains the mystery as they are eating supper; also the deception he has practiced. He explains further that she is the owner of Caldwell's farm, the proofs are on their way now, and if she will consent to marry a poor city chap, she may have two homes, with him in them both. Written by Moving Picture World synopsis See less

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Cast	+ Add Cast
6 cast members

Name	Known for
Edward Coxen Roland Delaney (as Ed Coxen) Roland Delaney (as Ed Coxen) See fewer	The Bells (1918)
Lizette Thorne Betsy Betsy See fewer	A Dream or Two Ago (1916)
Frank Thompson Ezra Caldwell Ezra Caldwell See fewer	Peck o' Pickles (1916)
Louise Lester Martha Caldwell Martha Caldwell See fewer	Calamity Anne's Dream (1913)
George Field George Caldwell George Caldwell See fewer	Blood and Sand (1922)
John Gough Sim Sim See fewer	Border Justice (1924)