In this early tearjerker, directed by D.W. Griffith, friendless bachelor Dell Henderson and lonely spinster Claire McDowell live across the hall from each other. The children in the neighborhood play dirty, rotten tricks on them. Oddly enough, the two loveless ones detest each other. The children, led by a little girl named Sunbeam, could bring the two adults together
Sunbeam is played by Ynez Seabury, the little girl from "The Miser's Heart" (1911); she is still running around loose, but she has a better reason in "The Sunbeam". Her mother, Kate Bruce, has an important supporting performance, which she plays perfectly. Implicit message to ladies: if you don't want to wear a frumpy collared outfit like Ms. McDowell's spinster, better get yourself a husband!
**** The Sunbeam (2/26/12) D.W. Griffith ~ Dell Henderson, Claire McDowell, Kate Bruce, Ynez Seabury
Sunbeam is played by Ynez Seabury, the little girl from "The Miser's Heart" (1911); she is still running around loose, but she has a better reason in "The Sunbeam". Her mother, Kate Bruce, has an important supporting performance, which she plays perfectly. Implicit message to ladies: if you don't want to wear a frumpy collared outfit like Ms. McDowell's spinster, better get yourself a husband!
**** The Sunbeam (2/26/12) D.W. Griffith ~ Dell Henderson, Claire McDowell, Kate Bruce, Ynez Seabury