Something to Think About (1920) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A story of conflicted love, loss, protection, and reconciliation within a fractured family household.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

A Promise Born In Childhood

David's affection for Ruth begins in childhood and grows as they mature. His social position enables him to persuade her father to send her to school.

Key Events

• Childhood Affection Begins — David's affection for Ruth begins during their childhood. Characters: David Markely, Ruth Anderson Location: Ruth's childhood surroundings
• Affection Deepens — David's feelings deepen as Ruth reaches womanhood. Characters: David Markely, Ruth Anderson Location: Their local community
• David's Social Advantage — David is established as a young man of means despite being crippled. Characters: David Markely Location: David's surroundings
• Ruth's Working-Class Home — Ruth is identified as the daughter of a blacksmith. Characters: Ruth Anderson Location: The blacksmith's forge
• Education Is Proposed — David persuades Ruth's father to let her receive an education. Characters: David Markely, Ruth Anderson Location: Ruth's home

Love Defies Family Plans

Ruth returns from school, and her father plans a marriage between her and David. Ruth rejects that plan and marries Jim, the man she loves.

Key Events

• Education Is Proposed — David persuades Ruth's father to let her receive an education. Characters: David Markely, Ruth Anderson Location: Ruth's home
• Ruth Leaves For School — Ruth leaves home to pursue the education David arranged. Characters: Ruth Anderson Location: The school
• Ruth Returns Educated — Ruth returns from school, reopening David's romantic hopes. Characters: David Markely, Ruth Anderson Location: Ruth's home
• Marriage Is Planned — Ruth's father recognizes David's attitude and plans their marriage. Characters: David Markely, Ruth Anderson Location: Ruth's home
• Ruth Chooses Jim — Ruth rejects her father's wishes and chooses Jim, her beloved. Characters: Ruth Anderson, Jim Dirk Location: Ruth's community
• Ruth Marries Jim — Ruth and Jim marry despite her father's opposition. Characters: Ruth Anderson, Jim Dirk Location: The local community

Loss At The Subway

Several years into the marriage, Jim dies in a subway accident. Ruth returns to her father, hoping to receive forgiveness after her loss.

Key Events

• Ruth Marries Jim — Ruth and Jim marry despite her father's opposition. Characters: Ruth Anderson, Jim Dirk Location: The local community
• Several Years Pass — The story advances several years into Ruth's marriage to Jim. Characters: Ruth Anderson, Jim Dirk Location: Jim and Ruth's life together
• Subway Accident — Jim is killed in a subway accident, ending Ruth's marriage. Characters: Jim Dirk, Ruth Anderson Location: The subway
• Ruth Seeks Forgiveness — After Jim's death, Ruth returns to her father seeking forgiveness. Characters: Ruth Anderson Location: Her father's home

The Forge And Rejection

Ruth finds her father blinded by forge sparks and heading toward the county poorhouse. His stubborn refusal to forgive her leaves Ruth in extreme despair.

Key Events

• Ruth Seeks Forgiveness — After Jim's death, Ruth returns to her father seeking forgiveness. Characters: Ruth Anderson Location: Her father's home
• Forge Sparks Blind Him — Ruth finds her father blinded by sparks from his forge. Characters: Ruth Anderson Location: The blacksmith's forge
• Journey Toward Poverty — Ruth's blinded father is on his way to the county poorhouse. Characters: Ruth Anderson Location: The road to the county poorhouse
• Forgiveness Is Refused — Ruth's father remains stubbornly unforgiving toward her. Characters: Ruth Anderson Location: The road to the county poorhouse
• Ruth Faces Despair — Overwhelmed by rejection and loss, Ruth is about to take her own life. Characters: Ruth Anderson Location: An unspecified location

Protection Becomes Love

David rescues Ruth from suicide and offers his name and protection to her and her unborn child. Their marriage gradually changes from gratitude into genuine love.

Key Events

• Ruth Faces Despair — Overwhelmed by rejection and loss, Ruth is about to take her own life. Characters: Ruth Anderson Location: An unspecified location
• David Rescues Ruth — David intervenes and saves Ruth from taking her own life. Characters: David Markely, Ruth Anderson Location: An unspecified location
• Protection Is Offered — David offers his name and protection to Ruth and her unborn child. Characters: David Markely, Ruth Anderson Location: David's household
• A Marriage Of Protection — Ruth becomes David's wife under the protection of his name. Characters: David Markely, Ruth Anderson Location: David's household
• Gratitude Becomes Love — Ruth eventually realizes that her feelings for David have become genuine love. Characters: David Markely, Ruth Anderson Location: David's household
• David Denies His Love — David refuses to call his feelings anything but gratitude. Characters: David Markely, Ruth Anderson Location: David's household
• Housekeeper Preaches Reconciliation — The housekeeper's preaching influences the movement toward reconciliation. Characters: David Markely, Ruth Anderson, Housekeeper Location: David's household
• Family Reconciliation — The housekeeper's influence helps reconcile Ruth with her father. Characters: Ruth Anderson, Housekeeper Location: The happy household
• Household Finds Happiness — Through the child, the household becomes a happy family. Characters: David Markely, Ruth Anderson, Housekeeper Location: The happy household

Story Breakdown

• Childhood Affection — David's feelings for Ruth begin early and become a lasting emotional force.
  • Early Attachment — David's affection follows Ruth from childhood.
  • Growing Devotion — His feelings deepen with Ruth's womanhood.
• Education And Opportunity — David uses his means to help Ruth leave her working-class environment for school.
  • David's Persuasion — David persuades Ruth's father to approve her education.
  • Schooling Away — Ruth leaves home and later returns from school.
• Marriage Expectations — Ruth's father sees David's intentions and plans a marriage that Ruth does not want.
  • Father's Plan — Ruth's father plans her marriage to David.
  • Ruth's Defiance — Ruth rejects the plan against her father's wishes.
• Love And Loss — Ruth follows her heart to Jim, but their marriage ends suddenly through tragedy.
  • Marriage To Jim — Ruth marries Jim, her chosen lover.
  • Subway Tragedy — Jim dies in a subway accident years later.
• Broken Family Bonds — Ruth seeks forgiveness but encounters her father's physical suffering and emotional rejection.
  • Blinded By Sparks — Ruth's father is blinded by sparks from his forge.
  • Refused Forgiveness — He remains stubbornly unforgiving toward Ruth.
• Rescue And Marriage — David saves Ruth from despair and gives her protection through marriage.
  • Suicide Prevented — David rescues Ruth when she is about to take her life.
  • Protection Offered — David offers his name to protect Ruth and her unborn child.
• Love Reconsidered — The protective marriage develops emotionally, although David refuses to name his feelings as love.
  • Ruth's Realization — Ruth recognizes that she has come to love David.
  • David's Denial — David insists his feelings are only gratitude.
• Household Reconciliation — The housekeeper's moral influence helps restore family harmony and completes the happy household.
  • Moral Preaching — The housekeeper's preaching affects the family's decisions.
  • Happy Household — Reconciliation brings the household toward lasting happiness.

Directed by

Cecil B. DeMille

Key Cast

• Elliott Dexter — David Markely
• Gloria Swanson — Ruth Anderson
• Monte Blue — Jim Dirk
• Theodore Roberts — Luke Anderson
• Claire McDowell — Housekeeper