The Clodhopper (1917) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A mistreated farm worker escapes to the city, discovers success through an unusual dance, and returns to save his hometown bank before marrying his sweetheart.

Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases

A Son Under Pressure

Everett works relentlessly on the farm and is confined by his father's harsh expectations. A new suit briefly gives him a chance to attend the Fourth of July picnic.

Key Events

• Country Bank and Farm — Everett works long hours on his father's farm and around the country bank. Characters: Everett Nelson Location: Country bank and farm
• Sunday Farm Labor — Everett continues working every day, including Sundays, while wearing cast-off clothes. Characters: Everett Nelson Location: Family farm
• Mail Order Suit — Everett receives a new mail order suit, contrasting with his usual cast-off clothing. Characters: Everett Nelson Location: Nelson household
• Fourth Of July Picnic — Everett wears the new suit and attends a Fourth of July picnic. Characters: Everett Nelson Location: Fourth of July picnic
• Forced Return Home — Everett is forced to leave the picnic and return home from the celebration. Characters: Everett Nelson Location: Picnic and family farm

Escape To The City

After being forced home and beaten, Everett runs away to New York. His attempt to find ordinary theater work unexpectedly opens a path into performance.

Key Events

• Punishment At Home — After being brought home, Everett is beaten by his father. Characters: Everett Nelson Location: Nelson household
• Flight To New York — Everett runs away from his rural home and travels to New York City. Characters: Everett Nelson Location: Road to New York City
• New York Theater — Everett reaches a theater in New York while seeking a new livelihood. Characters: Everett Nelson Location: New York theater
• Janitor Job Attempt — Everett applies for work as a theater janitor but does not remain on that path. Characters: Everett Nelson Location: New York theater
• Cabaret Opportunity — A showman redirects Everett toward performing in a cabaret as a country dancer. Characters: Everett Nelson Location: New York cabaret
• Country Dance Debut — Everett performs a bizarre country dance for a cabaret audience. Characters: Everett Nelson Location: New York cabaret

The Clodhopper Success

Everett's eccentric country dance becomes a cabaret success, giving him substantial weekly earnings. Meanwhile, trouble develops at the country bank in his hometown.

Key Events

• Clodhopper Slide — Everett names his unusual dance the clodhopper slide. Characters: Everett Nelson Location: New York cabaret
• Unexpected Success — The dance becomes successful, and Everett earns two hundred dollars a week. Characters: Everett Nelson Location: New York cabaret
• Investment Rumors — Rumors spread that the county bank has made poor investments. Characters: Everett Nelson Location: Everett's hometown
• Run On The Bank — The investment rumors create a run on the country bank. Characters: Everett Nelson Location: County bank

Homecoming And Rescue

A banking crisis creates a run on the institution, and Everett is asked to return. He comes home, saves the bank, and ends the story by marrying his sweetheart.

Key Events

• Journey For Help — Everett's girlfriend travels to New York to ask him for help. Characters: Everett Nelson Location: Route to New York City
• Appeal To Return — Everett's girlfriend persuades him to return home and address the banking crisis. Characters: Everett Nelson Location: New York
• Return To Hometown — Everett leaves New York and returns to his hometown. Characters: Everett Nelson Location: Road from New York to hometown
• Bank Saved — Everett takes action that saves the bank from the run. Characters: Everett Nelson Location: County bank
• Marriage Ending — After the bank is saved, Everett and his sweetheart are married. Characters: Everett Nelson Location: Everett's hometown

Story Breakdown

• Farmbound Hardship — Everett's rural life is defined by exhausting labor and restrictive family expectations.
  • Daily Farm Labor — Everett works long hours every day, including Sundays.
  • Cast Off Clothing — He wears his father's discarded clothes before receiving a new suit.
• Picnic Interrupted — A holiday outing gives Everett temporary freedom before family conflict abruptly ends it.
  • New Suit — A mail order suit allows Everett to appear differently at the celebration.
  • Forced Return — Everett is taken away from the picnic and brought back home.
• Violence And Escape — Punishment at home pushes Everett to abandon the farm and seek a new life.
  • Home Punishment — Everett is beaten after being forced home.
  • Flight Northward — He runs away to New York City.
• Cabaret Transformation — New York turns Everett's rural identity into an unexpected professional asset.
  • Janitor Application — Everett first seeks ordinary employment at a theater.
  • Country Dancing — A showman places him in a cabaret as a country dancer.
• Clodhopper Success — Everett's eccentric performance becomes financially successful and gives him independence.
  • Named Dance — Everett calls his bizarre routine the clodhopper slide.
  • Weekly Earnings — The performance earns Everett two hundred dollars a week.
• Hometown Banking Crisis — Rumors about poor investments threaten the country bank and force Everett to reconsider his escape.
  • Investment Rumors — Reports of poor bank investments spread through the hometown.
  • Run On Deposits — The rumors trigger a run on the country bank.
• Return And Redemption — Everett responds to an appeal for help, returns home, and resolves both the financial crisis and his romantic storyline.
  • Appeal In New York — His girlfriend travels to New York and persuades him to return.
  • Bank Saved — Everett saves the bank and then marries his sweetheart.

Directed by

Victor Schertzinger

Key Cast

• Charles Ray — Everett Nelson
• Charles K. French — Isaac Nelson, Everett's Father
• Margery Wilson — Mary Martin
• Lydia Knott — Mrs. Nelson
• Tom Guise — Karl Seligman