Compare Films

The Courage of the Common Place Synopsis

John McLean fails to obtain the coveted honor of selection to the Senior Society at Yale, but is cheered by a letter from his father who reminds him that the courage of the commonplace is the greatest of all. Nevertheless, the girl he loves leaves without bidding him goodbye and John, not knowing that her grief over his failure was the cause, assumes that she has lost faith in him. Three years later, John graduates from Boston Tech and is appointed superintendent of the Big Oriel Mine. Conditions are deplorable at his post and John sets out to win the confidence of the men, which he succeeds in doing, winning all but a few miners led by the foreman O'Hara. When a fire breaks out in the mine, the two adversaries are trapped in a shaft. O'Hara loses his mind and attacks his comrades but is knocked senseless by John. Relief arrives just in time and John finds himself a hero, not only to O'Hara and his former foes, but to the world outside. At the Yale commencement, he is praised in a speech by the president, feted by his classmates, and his happiness is made complete when the girl confesses her love for him.

The Lady of the Photograph Synopsis

When Lord Latimer dies leaving nothing to his wanton son, young Ferdy is left penniless. Although his cousin, Eric Latimer, offers to show Ferdy a loophole in the will in exchange for a share of the inheritance, he refuses. Meanwhile, Marjorie Van Dam, the daughter of a wealthy American family visiting the neighboring estate, falls into a pond and is rescued by Ferdy. The two fall in love, and when Marjorie must return to America, she promises to wait for him. Confident of his future success, Ferdy sails for America. Upon his arrival, he falls into the water but is rescued by nouveau riche American John Brown. Brown is sympathetic to Ferdy's plight and promises to pay his debts and give him a substantial additional sum if Ferdy will help him become an "English gentleman" worthy of social acceptance by a woman whose photograph he carries. The lady of the photograph turns out to be Marjorie, but after Brown becomes a gentleman, he learns of the young couple's love and decides that Ferdy would be a more suitable husband for her. Finally, they are married with Brown's help and blessings.