The Very Idea (1929) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A eugenics experiment collapses when love, parenthood, and an unexpected pregnancy overturn Alan's carefully designed plan.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

The Eugenic Proposal

Alan Camp develops a eugenics-based solution to Edith's childlessness. He recruits Joe and Nora and offers them payment for producing a child within twelve months.

Key Events

• Alan Writes Eugenics Book — Alan Camp writes a book on eugenics and seeks to prove its theories. Characters: Alan Camp Location: Alan's study
• Edith Faces Childlessness — Edith and her household have been frustrated by their inability to have children. Characters: Alan Camp, Edith Goodhue Location: Goodhue home
• Eugenic Adoption Proposal — Alan proposes creating a child through eugenics for Edith's household to adopt. Characters: Alan Camp, Edith Goodhue Location: Goodhue home
• Joe Is Selected — Alan selects Joe, his chauffeur, as one of the planned child's parents. Characters: Alan Camp, Joe Garvin Location: Goodhue home
• Nora Is Selected — Alan selects Nora, the Goodhues' maid, as the other planned parent. Characters: Alan Camp, Nora Location: Goodhue home
• The Financial Offer — Alan offers Nora and Joe $15,000 each for completing the arrangement within twelve months. Characters: Alan Camp, Nora, Joe Garvin Location: Goodhue home
• The Couple Agrees — Nora and Joe agree to conceive and deliver a child under the twelve-month arrangement. Characters: Nora, Joe Garvin Location: Goodhue home

Love Changes The Plan

The Goodhue household leaves for California while Joe and Nora carry out the arrangement. After having the baby, they fall in love and decide to keep the child.

Key Events

• California Departure — The Goodhue household leaves for a year-long trip to California. Characters: Edith Goodhue Location: Goodhue home
• The Year Passes — Nora and Joe are given space to carry out the plan during the year away. Characters: Nora, Joe Garvin Location: Goodhue home
• The Baby Is Born — Nora and Joe have the baby promised by the arrangement. Characters: Nora, Joe Garvin Location: Goodhue home
• Love Replaces The Contract — Nora and Joe fall in love during the arrangement and reconsider its original purpose. Characters: Nora, Joe Garvin Location: Goodhue home
• They Choose Parenthood — Nora and Joe decide to keep the child instead of surrendering it. Characters: Nora, Joe Garvin Location: Goodhue home

The Nursery Dispute

The Goodhue household returns to find its home converted into a nursery. Nora and Joe are married and refuse to surrender the baby.

Key Events

• The Goodhues Return — Edith returns from California and discovers that the household has changed dramatically. Characters: Edith Goodhue, Nora, Joe Garvin Location: Goodhue home
• Home Becomes Nursery — The Goodhue home has been converted into a nursery occupied by the married Garvins. Characters: Edith Goodhue, Nora, Joe Garvin Location: Goodhue home
• The Garvins Refuse — Nora and Joe refuse to give up their baby after the Goodhue household returns. Characters: Edith Goodhue, Nora, Joe Garvin Location: Nursery

The Failed Replacement

Alan sends Joe to a local orphanage for a replacement baby. The substitute is rejected, leaving Alan despondent and ready to dismantle the nursery.

Key Events

• Alan Orders A Substitute — Alan sends Joe to a local orphanage to find a replacement baby. Characters: Alan Camp, Joe Garvin Location: Goodhue home
• Orphanage Search — Joe searches the local orphanage for a child to replace the one being kept by the Garvins. Characters: Joe Garvin Location: Local orphanage
• Replacement Baby Returns — Joe returns from the orphanage with a replacement baby. Characters: Alan Camp, Joe Garvin Location: Goodhue home
• Replacement Is Rejected — Edith and the household reject the replacement baby brought back by Joe. Characters: Alan Camp, Edith Goodhue, Joe Garvin Location: Nursery
• Alan Abandons The Nursery — Despondent, Alan decides to have the nursery dismantled. Characters: Alan Camp Location: Nursery

An Unexpected Resolution

Alan prepares to abandon the nursery and the failed experiment. Edith then announces that she is pregnant, resolving the original crisis.

Key Events

• Edith Announces Pregnancy — Edith announces that she is pregnant, resolving the childlessness that began the plan. Characters: Alan Camp, Edith Goodhue Location: Goodhue home

Story Breakdown

• Alan's Eugenic Theory — Alan seeks to prove his eugenics theories through a controlled child-producing arrangement.
  • Eugenics Book — Alan has written a book on eugenics and wants to validate its ideas.
  • Proof Through Parenthood — He proposes creating a child for Edith's household to adopt.
• The Childless Household — Edith's frustration with childlessness creates the personal need that makes Alan's proposal possible.
  • Years Without Children — Edith and her household have been unable to have children for years.
  • Proposal Accepted — Alan convinces Edith's household to participate in the plan.
• The Paid Arrangement — Alan recruits Joe and Nora and establishes a strict financial and temporal condition.
  • Joe And Nora Chosen — Alan selects his chauffeur and the household maid as the planned parents.
  • Twelve Month Deadline — Each participant is offered $15,000 for delivering a child within twelve months.
• Love Defies Design — The arrangement becomes emotionally independent from Alan's theories.
  • California Separation — The Goodhue household leaves for a year while the plan proceeds.
  • Garvin Family Choice — Joe and Nora fall in love, marry, and decide to keep the baby.
• The Nursery Conflict — The returning household confronts Joe and Nora over the child and the transformed home.
  • Home Turned Nursery — The Goodhue home is occupied as a nursery by the married Garvins.
  • Child Custody Refusal — Joe and Nora refuse to surrender their baby.
• Alan's Failed Recovery — Alan attempts to repair the original plan but cannot replace the child or restore his theory.
  • Orphanage Replacement — Alan sends Joe to obtain another baby from a local orphanage.
  • Substitute Rejected — The replacement baby is rejected, leaving Alan ready to dismantle the nursery.
• Unexpected Pregnancy — Edith's pregnancy resolves the childlessness that initiated the entire experiment.
  • Nursery Dismantling Plan — Despondent, Alan decides to have the nursery dismantled.
  • Edith's Announcement — Edith announces that she is pregnant.

Directed by

Frank Craven, Richard Rosson

Key Cast

• Frank Craven — Alan Camp
• Sally Blane — Nora
• Hugh Trevor — Joe Garvin
• Olive Tell — Marion Green
• Allen Kearns — Gilbert Goodhue