The Marked Time-Table 1910
In this early silent-era drama from legendary filmmaker D.W. Griffith, *The Marked Time-Table* (1910) explores the tension between familial duty and personal desperation.
Director: D.W. Griffith
Cast
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Marked Time-Table (1910) about?
The film follows Tom Powers, a young man drowning in gambling debts and parental disapproval, who turns to theft to solve his problems. His impulsive act threatens to unravel his family's fragile stability and forces a reckoning with his past choices.
Who directed The Marked Time-Table?
D.W. Griffith, a pioneering director whose work helped shape early American cinema and the language of film storytelling.
Who stars in The Marked Time-Table?
The film features George Nichols, Joseph Graybill, and Grace Henderson in pivotal roles that drive the emotional core of the story.
Is The Marked Time-Table (1910) worth watching?
Though unrated and obscure today, its 16-minute runtime and Griffith's direction make it a fascinating artifact for silent film enthusiasts. Its moral themes and emotional depth offer more than just historical curiosity.
How long is The Marked Time-Table?
The film runs approximately 16 minutes, offering a tight, impactful narrative in classic silent-era fashion.
About The Marked Time-Table (1910) — D.W. Griffith's Early Drama of Family, Temptation, and Consequence
In this early silent-era drama from legendary filmmaker D.W. Griffith, *The Marked Time-Table* (1910) explores the tension between familial duty and personal desperation. Young Tom Powers, weary of his reckless lifestyle and mounting gambling debts, faces his father's stern disapproval yet finds only enabling kindness from his well-meaning mother. When financial pressure reaches a breaking point, Tom's desperate actions set the stage for a moral crisis that tests the bonds of trust within his household. Griffith crafts a tense atmosphere around a simple but powerful premise—how far will a son go when temptation clashes with family loyalty?
The film blends Griffith's signature storytelling with early 20th-century social anxieties, capturing the moral dilemmas of a rapidly changing era. Through shadowy visuals and understated performances by George Nichols and Joseph Graybill, *The Marked Time-Table* delivers a compact yet resonant moral tale that lingers long after its fleeting runtime. Though short, it offers a window into the cinematic craft of Griffith and the emotional complexities of family strife.