The Auteur's Selection Complementing the Tone of The Unbroken Road:...

The The Unbroken Road Phenomenon

As Unknown Director's most celebrated work, it defines to articulate the unspoken anxieties of United States's 1915 era.

John Radford becomes the guardian of Constance Turner. Radford's political ambitions cause him to neglect his ward, who possesses a secret love for him. Walter Dover, the son of a political boss, accompanies his father to Radford's town, where he meets Constance, with whom he falls in love. The attachment is opposed by Radford, but Constance stinging under his indifference, resents any interference. Constance is persuaded to elope with Walter Dover. At a road house she learns of his purpose and leaves him. She is overtaken by a storm and injured by a falling tree. She returns to her home but Radford casts her out, believing that she has sinned with young Dover, who again seeks her out, receives the girl's forgiveness and promises immediate marriage. Constance is easily persuaded by Walter, who seeks his father's consent to marry her, but this is refused. Not wishing to lose her, Walter has a mock marriage performed. Radford, in the meantime, has advanced politically, and is informed by Walter's father that he has picked him out as the nominee of his party for Governor. A letter, written by a friend of Walter's who participated in the mock marriage, is found by Constance, and for the first time she learns of Walter's duplicity. Constance informs Walter's father of her relationship with his son. The political boss dispatches Walter abroad, and plans to get Constance out of the way to avoid publicity. As the result of schemes hatched, Constance is convicted of a crime of which she is entirely innocent. Radford is elected Governor. Constance, now confined in prison, becomes the object of interest of a prison charity worker who seeks her pardon. At an interview between the prisoner and the Governor, Radford recognizes Constance. Radford pardons her against the protests of the political boss, Dover, which causes the first eruption between Dover and Radford. Radford seeks renomination as Governor and is opposed by Dover, who seeks to get rid of Constance through a bribe, which is refused. Constance meets Charles Garvan, a political leader and rival of Dover, and, knowing his power, seeks to have him allay himself with the Governor in the matter of renomination. Becoming infatuated with Constance, Garvan refuses unless Constance accepts his advances, which she refuses. To help the Governor politically, she offers to present her story of the wrongs committed by young Dover to the world, but Radford refuses to permit this. Learning of the Governor's sure defeat for renomination, she again goes to Garvan and accepts his proposition. At a crucial moment in the convention when Garvan is about to throw his votes supporting Radford, Walter, who has returned, goes to Constance and endeavors to force his attentions upon her. A struggle ensues, which causes the overturning of a stove, burning the convention hall and injuring Walter. The Governor saves Walter and Constance from death, although the burns received by Walter ultimately prove fatal. His deathbed confessions completely exonerate Constance. Radford, at the adjourned convention, is renominated for Governor. Garvan endeavors to hold Constance to her promise, but the Governor makes him realize that if he takes her under those conditions, she could never love him. Garvan realizes that his love for Constance is clean and pure and accepts her in marriage as his wife.