The Wheat and the Chaff - Production & Contact Info

The Wheat and the Chaff (1916)
Short | Short, Drama

Primary photo for The Wheat and the Chaff

The Wheat and the Chaff (1916)

Short | Short, Drama

Charles Torrance and Jerry Torrance are half brothers. Charles, the older, is a prominent lawyer and politician, while Jerry is half stupid and the cause of constant annoyance to his stepmother and brother. Accompanied by his dog, "Rags," ...See moreCharles Torrance and Jerry Torrance are half brothers. Charles, the older, is a prominent lawyer and politician, while Jerry is half stupid and the cause of constant annoyance to his stepmother and brother. Accompanied by his dog, "Rags," Jerry wanders into a reception, almost breaking it up. Mrs. Torrance tells the boy that his stupidity will be the ruin of his brother's career. Jerry's one great love is for his brother, and rather than risk ruining his career the boy decides to go away. He writes a note to that effect, and gathering together his "treasures," among which is an old revolver, he takes Rags and leaves home. On the other side of the city live Peggy Woods, a cabaret dancer, and her brother, Allan. Jerry wanders into the vicinity of their home, where he is teased by a bunch of boys who try to take his dog away. In the scrap Jerry is hurt and Allan, who has come to his rescue, takes him home with him. Charles has met Peggy at the café where she dances and is greatly attracted to her. As time goes on, Peggy is deeply in love with him, and he, finding his love for her stronger than anticipated, is going to marry her. Margaret Conway, the only child of the political "Boss" of the State, also loves Charles, and seeing him at lunch one day with Peggy, she confesses her love to her father. Conway resolves to get Torrance for her. He offers him his backing for Governor on condition that he marry his daughter. Charles' love succumbs to his ambition, and his engagement to Margaret Conway is announced. Peggy is broken-hearted. Charles goes to her house to explain. Unable to calm her he leaves, but reaching the street his conscience prompts him to go back and try to straighten matters out. Peggy, desperate, decides to kill herself. She writes a note to Charles, telling him of her intention, and gets the revolver, which is Jerry's, but her courage fades away. She puts the revolver on the table, from which she accidentally knocks it off to the floor. It explodes, killing her. Charles hears the noise and rushes up to find Peggy dead. Believing her a suicide, the shock affects his heart, and recovering, sees the note on the table. He realizes that the note will ruin his career if found, so he takes it and hurries away. Jerry, coming in with Rags, sees his brother leave. Upon entering the room, he finds Peggy dead. Believing his brother guilty, the boy's one idea of saving him is to hide the revolver. Allan comes in as he is doing so, and as Jerry will make no explanation, he accuses him of murder. The campaign for Governor and the trial for murder run side by side. Love for his idol seals Jerry's lips. Charles is aware of the identity of the boy on trial and knows he holds the evidence to free him. But again his ambition holds him back. The night of the election returns is the night the jury is out on the case of Jerry. Remorse has taken hold of Charles, and still unable to get himself to produce the note, he broods over the possible fate of his brother. The returns show his probable success, but leave him untouched. Sitting by the fire, the fantastic flickerings of the shadows on the screen nearby make a noise, and before Charles' tortured mind comes a picture of the execution of Jerry. In horror and remorse he springs to his feet to shut out the vision. The shock is too much for his heart and he falls dead. The following morning newspapers print the news of the sudden death of the newly-elected Governor, and next to it the news of the acquittal of Jerry. Written by Moving Picture World synopsis See less

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Cast	+ Add Cast
7 cast members

Name	Known for
Cecil Van Auker Charles Torrance Charles Torrance See fewer	Flame of Youth (1920)
Adelaide Bronti Mrs. Torrance Mrs. Torrance See fewer	Saved from the Harem (1915)
Allan Forrest Jerry Torrance Jerry Torrance See fewer	Pampered Youth (1925)
Ruth Saville Peggy Woods Peggy Woods See fewer	Humanity (1916)
George Routh John Conway John Conway See fewer	While the Children Slept (1913)
Evelyn Page Margaret Conway Margaret Conway See fewer	Jackstraws (1916)
Walter Spencer Allan Woods Allan Woods See fewer	The Other Side of the Door (1916)