The Old Good-for-Nothing - Production & Contact Info

The Old Good-for-Nothing (1914)
Short | Short, Drama

Primary photo for The Old Good-for-Nothing

The Old Good-for-Nothing (1914)

Short | Short, Drama

For years old Morton has been shunned by his family because he lost the fortune his wife had married him for. He had sunk it in a mine that had been partially developed and then pronounced worthless by experts. The loss broke the old man's...See moreFor years old Morton has been shunned by his family because he lost the fortune his wife had married him for. He had sunk it in a mine that had been partially developed and then pronounced worthless by experts. The loss broke the old man's spirit and he was generally known as "Old-Good-for-Nothing." He was driven from the house, but had an ''office" in an old horse stall where he continued to dream out the great future for the abandoned mine. The mother renewed all her dreams in trying to ensnare a rich husband for her daughter in order that both of them may have the luxuries she nearly obtained. George Denby is the young man who is to marry the daughter. He has never seen old man Morton, who is never allowed around for fear of spoiling everything. The tender heart of Old-Good-for-Nothing is nearly broken when he is ignored at the wedding. The insolent son, Oscar, is to give the daughter away. The old man is half tearfully, half proudly watching the preparations for the ceremony from a coat closet. Here the young groom happens to have his coat and steps in to get a cigarette case out of the pocket and stumbles upon the old man whom he takes for a thief. He hauls him out and all the family are called to the scene. The bride shows some heart in her attitude toward her old father. Denby insists that the old man give them away. After the wedding the old man and Denby become chums. In return for all the good things Denby has done for him the old man makes him a confident and actually leads Denby to take faith in his mine. Denby secretly goes ahead and ties up all his money in buying the land and equipment for the new mine. The son, Oscar, discovers the project by accident. Is first horrified at his family losing the hard-earned second fortune and then suspicious that there must be something in it for all this investment. He breaks into his father's "office" at night, gets a copy of the location figures of mine and sends it to an expert geologist who reports that the land embraced by those figures is barren, but the land to the west of that location was rich in gold deposits. Oscar hurries to the spot and secretly and hurriedly get an option on the property to the west, in the end borrowing $10,000 from Denby to close the deal. Then Oscar returns home to tell on his father and watch the ruin of Denby. The mother and daughter are naturally ready to kill the old man on seeing him the cause of all their hopes again being dashed to the ground with the same shallow dream. They drive him out of their home for good. Denby rescues him. Denby is then assaulted by the whole family for his foolhardiness. He says that it is not so until confronted by the official geological report. He hastens away to make sure. He gets the local government expert, gives him the same location figures and the report is the same. In despair he hurries home to save the remnants. In the meantime Oscar has spread broadcast the reports of the experts that the new mine is worthless and Denby finds his credit ruined. Without funds, he now asks Oscar to repay him the $10,000 he borrowed. Oscar laughs at him. Denby is about to strike him down when Mrs. Morton intervenes ordering her son-in-law from the house. "Old-Good-for-Nothing." left alone. is illumined by the idea that something is radically wrong. He seeks out the mine surveyors and they undertake to verify his figures and find that they were wrong. The land to the west that Oscar had bought is barren of gold; the new mine is rich in it. He telegraphs the good news to Denby. Denby tears up Oscar's I.O.U. Oscar, ruined, leaves home and is met by his father with his first dividend of $5,000 in his pocket. He gives the money to Oscar. Written by Moving Picture World synopsis See less

Contacts

+ Add

Become a member to see contact information for The Old Good-for-Nothing.

Cast	+ Add Cast
7 cast members

Name	Known for
Spottiswoode Aitken Morton - the Old Good-for-Nothing Morton - the Old Good-for-Nothing See fewer	The Birth of a Nation (1915)
Josephine Crowell Morton's Wife Morton's Wife See fewer	The Birth of a Nation (1915)
Seena Owen Morton's Daughter (as Signe Auen) Morton's Daughter (as Signe Auen) See fewer	The Flame of the Yukon (1926)
Jack Conway George Denby George Denby See fewer	Viva Villa! (1934)
Ralph Lewis Actor Actor See fewer	The Birth of a Nation (1915)
John T. Dillon Actor (as John Dillon) Actor (as John Dillon) See fewer	Seven Days (1914)
Julia Courtell Actress Actress See fewer	Crooks and Credulous (1913)