The Jack-Knife Man
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
King Vidor
Fred Turner
Harry Todd
Bobby Kelso
Willis Marks
Lillian Leighton
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Peter Lane, a gentle yet shiftless old man, lives alone in an old barge on the Mississippi. One night, during a raging storm, Lize Merdin and her small son Buddy seek refuge with him. The woman dies, leaving behind young Buddy with Peter. To please the boy, his new friend carves him numerous toys with his jackknife. Soon after, a hobo named "Booge" joins them and the two men vie for the love of the child. All goes well until Justice of the Peace Briggles appears with court authority to place the child with a foster family. Widow Potter comes to Buddy's rescue and assumes custody of the child. Peter's talent with a jackknife is recognized when Mrs. Montgomery, a wealthy Easterner, notices the toys that Peter lovingly crafted for Buddy and takes them to New York. On his way to prosperity, Peter rehabilitates himself, proposes to Widow Potter and a new family is born. Even though Booge discovers that Buddy is actually his real son, he decides to let the boy stay with Peter and Widow Potter, who can provide a real home.
Director
King Vidor
Cast
Fred Turner
Harry Todd
Bobby Kelso
Willis Marks
Lillian Leighton
James Corrigan
Claire Macdowell
Charles Arling
Florence Vidor
Irene Yaeger
Carol Marshall
Mrs. George Hernandez
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
Exterior scenes for this film were shot around the river district of Stockton, CA, and in the mining town of Murphy's, CA, as well as in Muscatine, IA, where Ellis Parker Butler's novel is set.
