More Trouble (1918) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A father's trust collapses under forged vice bills, causing the loss of his steel mill before the truth is revealed.

Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases

A Welcome Home

Harvey returns from college and is warmly welcomed by his father, Lemuel. The family situation initially appears stable.

Key Events

• Harvey Returns Home — Harvey returns home after attending college. Characters: Harvey Deering, Lemuel Deering Location: Deering home
• Father Welcomes Son — Lemuel welcomes Harvey back from college. Characters: Lemuel Deering, Harvey Deering Location: Deering home
• Bills Begin Arriving — Bills for various alleged vices begin arriving. Characters: Lemuel Deering, Harvey Deering Location: Deering home
• Alcohol Charge Appears — An alcohol bill is included among the new charges. Characters: Lemuel Deering, Harvey Deering Location: Deering home
• Pool Charge Appears — A bill connected with pool is added to the growing charges. Characters: Lemuel Deering, Harvey Deering Location: Deering home
• Cigar Charge Appears — A cigar bill further expands the list of alleged vices. Characters: Lemuel Deering, Harvey Deering Location: Deering home

Bills Under Suspicion

Bills for alcohol, pool, cigars, and other vices begin arriving. Lemuel's trust changes into suspicion while Harvey denies responsibility.

Key Events

• Vice Bills Accumulate — The continuing bills make Harvey appear responsible for extravagant behavior. Characters: Lemuel Deering, Harvey Deering Location: Deering home
• Lemuel Trusts Harvey — Lemuel initially regards Harvey as an upstanding young citizen. Characters: Lemuel Deering, Harvey Deering Location: Deering home
• Trust Turns To Shock — Lemuel becomes appalled by the mounting vice bills. Characters: Lemuel Deering, Harvey Deering Location: Deering home
• Harvey Denies Responsibility — Harvey denies having anything to do with the bills. Characters: Harvey Deering, Lemuel Deering Location: Deering home
• Disputed Bills Continue — The unresolved bills continue to create suspicion between father and son. Characters: Lemuel Deering, Harvey Deering Location: Deering home

The Crushing Demand

A $25,000 bill makes the dispute impossible to ignore. Lemuel refuses payment, triggering the bank's foreclosure of the steel mill.

Key Events

• Twenty-Five Thousand Bill — A bill for $25,000 arrives and sharply raises the stakes. Characters: Lemuel Deering, Harvey Deering Location: Deering home
• Lemuel Refuses Payment — Lemuel refuses to pay the enormous disputed bill. Characters: Lemuel Deering, Harvey Deering Location: Deering home
• Bank Takes Action — The bank responds to the unpaid bill by moving toward foreclosure. Characters: Lemuel Deering Location: Bank

The Forgery Revealed

After the foreclosure, a college friend admits forging Harvey's signature because his own father had cut him off. The confession clarifies Harvey's innocence and the role of fraternity loyalty.

Key Events

• Mill Foreclosure Begins — The bank forecloses on Lemuel's steel mill. Characters: Lemuel Deering Location: Steel mill
• Wealth Is Threatened — The foreclosure places the Deering family's finances in crisis. Characters: Lemuel Deering, Harvey Deering Location: Steel mill
• College Friend Appears — Harvey's college friend arrives after the financial collapse. Characters: Harvey Deering, Lemuel Deering Location: Deering home
• Forgery Is Admitted — The college friend admits forging Harvey's signature on the bills. Characters: Harvey Deering, Lemuel Deering Location: Deering home
• Harvey Is Vindicated — The admission establishes that Harvey did not create the charges. Characters: Harvey Deering, Lemuel Deering Location: Deering home
• Fraternity Loyalty Explained — The forgery was enabled by expected loyalty between fraternity brothers. Characters: Harvey Deering Location: Deering home

Story Breakdown

• Homecoming Welcome — Harvey returns from college and begins the story under his father's confidence.
  • Harvey Returns — Harvey comes home after attending college.
  • Father Welcomes Son — Lemuel receives Harvey as his returning son.
• Vice Bills Arrive — A series of bills creates the appearance that Harvey has been spending irresponsibly.
  • Alcohol Charge — An alcohol bill is among the first alleged vice charges.
  • Pool And Cigars — Pool and cigar bills increase the apparent pattern of extravagance.
• Trust Becomes Suspicion — Lemuel's positive view of Harvey changes as the bills continue to arrive.
  • Lemuel Is Appalled — The mounting bills shock the wealthy mill owner.
  • Harvey Denies Charges — Harvey insists that he had nothing to do with the bills.
• The Massive Bill — The arrival of a $25,000 bill transforms the dispute into a major financial threat.
  • Twenty-Five Thousand — The extraordinary amount arrives as another disputed charge.
  • Payment Refused — Lemuel refuses to pay the bill.
• Mill Foreclosure — The unpaid bill leads the bank to foreclose on Lemuel's steel mill.
  • Bank Takes Mill — The bank forecloses on the steel mill.
  • Family Financial Crisis — The foreclosure places the Deering family in financial crisis.
• Forgery Comes To Light — A college friend reveals that Harvey's signatures were forged, explaining the bills and Harvey's denial.
  • Signature Forgery — The friend admits forging Harvey's signature on the charges.
  • Fraternity Loyalty — The forgery depended on the belief that Harvey would not expose a fraternity brother.

Directed by

Ernest C. Warde

Key Cast

• Frank Keenan — Lemuel Deering
• John Gilbert — Harvey Deering
• Ida Lewis — Mrs. Deering
• Roberta Wilson — Cecil Morrowton
• Jack Rollens