Pillars of Society
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Henry B. Walthall
Mary Alden
Juanita Archer
George Beranger
Josephine Crowell
Olga Gray
Film Details
Synopsis
Norwegian shipping magnate Karsten Bernick prides himself on his value to society, and forgets that, in order to maintain his high standing, he has had to rely on lies and dishonesty. Years before achieving his current status, however, he had an affair with Madame Dorf, resulting in a daughter, after which he convinced his brother-in-law Johan, who was soon to leave the country, to claim to be the girl's father. Then, when Madame Dorf died, Karsten adopted the child. He is terrified, however, that the truth will come out, and so when Johan returns to Norway hoping to clear his name, Karsten decides to kill him. He tries to put him on his most unseaworthy ship, but the plan backfires when Johan boards a different vessel and Karsten's son Olaf stows away on the unsafe one. Rescuers manage to save Olaf, however, after which Karsten, unable to continue lying, confesses to being his adopted daughter's real father.
Cast
Henry B. Walthall
Mary Alden
Juanita Archer
George Beranger
Josephine Crowell
Olga Gray
Crew
Film Details
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The Thanhouser Co. made a short film of Ibsen's play in 1911, and Douglas Sirk directed Stützen der Gesellschaft, a German adaptation of the play, in 1935 for R. N. Film der Ufa.
