In His Steps
Cast & Crew
Karl Brown
Eric Linden
Cecilia Parker
Harry Beresford
Clara Blandick
Roger Imhof
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Tom Carver and Ruth Brewster, children of neighboring business rivals Calvin Carver and Robert Brewster, fall in love but, because of their parents' feud, are unable to marry. Carver's superintendent, Davidson, a deeply religious man, becomes Tom's confidant and helps them elope. Although Ruth is underage, Davidson's country preacher friend, Mack Adams, marries them and offers them refuge on his farm. Weeks pass and Davidson tells Mrs. Brewster that the couple is safe but refuses to disclose their whereabouts and is arrested. Tom steps forward to clear his friend and is tried for kidnapping Ruth. Carver hopes to pin the blame on the "religious fanatic" Davidson, but Tom refuses to betray his friend. The judge asks that the families settle the affair amicably, but Mrs. Brewster demands Tom be punished to the letter of the law. Adams, indignant at the court's vilification of Davidson, risks contempt by testifying that Davidson was following the steps of Christ. He impresses the judge, who offers to suspend sentence if the couple splits indefinitely. Tom then tells the judge that he will not make a promise he cannot keep, that he loves Ruth and wants her to remain his wife. The judge is forced to sentence him to prison. Carver comes forward and takes the blame for Tom's marriage, but accuses Brewster of bringing the charges for his personal revenge. The youngsters' courage and Davidson's spiritual devotion eventually cause the parents to become reconciled. The case is dismissed, and Tom and Ruth return to the farm with Adams.
Director
Karl Brown
Cast
Eric Linden
Cecilia Parker
Harry Beresford
Clara Blandick
Roger Imhof
Olive Tell
Henry Kolker
Charles Richman
Robert Warwick
Warner Richmond
Stanley Andrews
Donald Kirke
Richard Tucker
Aggie Herring
Crew
Edward L. Alperson
Karl Brown
Jack Cosgrove
Jack Cosgrove
Harry Jackson
Edward Jewell
Hal Lewis
Hal Lewis
Duncan Mansfield
Abe Meyer
Edward Schroeder
Earl Sitar
Hinton Smith
B. F. Zeidman
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
This film's title was changed from In His Steps to Sins of the Children on July 12, 1937. Some ads and reviews refer to the title as Sins of Children. The film was also copyrighted under the title Sins of the Children. This was Grand National Pictures' first film. Eric Linden and Cecilia Parker, a young romantic team at M-G-M, were borrowed for this film. As reported in Daily Variety on September 28, 1936, the film's premiere was scheduled for Topeka, KS, author Dr. Charles Monroe Sheldon's home town. According to a January 4, 1937 Hollywood Reporter news item, the film's box-office profits doubled after it was re-released under the new title. Sheldon's novel reportedly sold a total of twenty million copies in the United States and England, but the story became public domain after its first publication. An article in New York Times on April 17, 1938 reported that the Federal Trade Commission brought misrepresentation charges against Grand National for its adaptation of Sheldon's novel. The article states, "The studio is accused of misleading the public and exhibitors by filming a yarn that has no relation to the original." The article further states that "protests over the distortion of [Sheldon's] story began to be heard over a year ago, at which time the title was changed to Sins of the Children. A short time later the distributors reverted to the original title." According to Hollywood Reporter, in August 1936, Grand National closed a deal with Grosset and Dunlap for a motion picture tie-up edition of In His Steps that guaranteed royalties to Sheldon. Sheldon's novel was the partial basis of the 1916 Thomas A. Edison film The Martyrdom of Philip Strong, directed by Richard Ridgely and starring Robert Conness and Mabel Trunnelle (see AFI Catalog of Feature Films, 1911-20; F1.2854). Although Franklin Pangborn was listed in an early Hollywood Reporter production chart, he is not included in any other cast lists and May not have appeared in the film.
