Eugene Aram
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Richard Ridgely
Marc Macdermott
Mabel Trunnelle
Gladys Hulette
Herbert Prior
George A. Wright
Film Details
Synopsis
In mid-eighteenth century England, ambitious Eugene Aram, who has had no opportunity for schooling, is ridiculed by his distant cousin, vagabond Richard Housman, for his laborious attempts at self-education. When Housman learns that Geoffrey Lester is about to send valuables to his son Walter in Grassdale, he convinces Eugene, who needs money to complete his studies, to help rob Lester. After Housman wounds Lester, Eugene unsuccessfully tries to protect the dying man and leaves without taking anything. Five years later, Eugene becomes the schoolmaster at Grassdale, where he falls in love with Madeline Lester, Walter's cousin. Walter, who also loves Madeline, tries to warn her against Eugene, who acts queerly at times, due to his guilty remembrances of the murder. After Eugene wounds the blackmailing Housman and pays him to leave the country, Housman leads Walter to his father's bones and accuses Eugene of the murder. Eugene is arrested the day he is to marry Madeline. After he is convicted, Eugene convinces Walter of his innocence. Walter tells Madeline, who dies of shock, and Eugene, hearing of this, goes calmly to be hanged.
Director
Richard Ridgely
Cast
Marc Macdermott
Mabel Trunnelle
Gladys Hulette
Herbert Prior
George A. Wright
Edward Earle
Bigelow Cooper
Crew
Film Details
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The novel was based on a true incident in which English schoolmaster and self-taught scholar Eugene Aram was executed for a murder in 1759. The incident was also the basis of the poem "The Dream of Eugene Aram, the Murderer" by Thomas Hood, published in The Gem in 1829. Some sources for this film refer to the character played by George A. Wright as "Clark."
