Summary
In a San Francisco teeming with both fervent idealism and stark social inequities, John Warfield, a dedicated social worker, finds common cause with the zealous socialist radical, Guido Garcia. Together, they forge a haven for the city's dispossessed, a beacon against the encroaching shadows of poverty. Into this crucible steps Goldie Shepard, a young woman whose burgeoning socialist convictions, inflamed by her father's struggles with alcoholism, propel her into Warfield's orbit as his trusted stenographer. Her nascent disdain for the opulent elite solidifies into an incandescent hatred following a devastating accident: her father is tragically struck down by an automobile carrying the privileged Lorraine Van Allen. Paradoxically, this very tragedy serves as a catalyst for Lorraine, who, shaken by the incident, reevaluates her societal role and dedicates herself to supporting the refuge. A twist of fate then bequeaths Warfield a substantial English estate upon his mother's passing. Marrying Goldie, he transports her to this new, opulent world, only to witness, with profound dismay, her rapid capitulation to the allure of luxury. Disillusioned by this stark betrayal of their shared principles, Warfield resolves to divest himself of the estate's corrupting influence, dedicating it to the impoverished and charting a course back to San Francisco. Meanwhile, Guido, whose unrequited affections for Goldie had smoldered beneath his revolutionary fervor, learns of her marriage. Consumed by a tempest of jealousy and ideological betrayal, he commits a heinous act, murdering Goldie before plunging himself to a tragic, final demise from a bridge. The narrative concludes with a poignant, redemptive turn: Warfield, having navigated the depths of personal and ideological despair, finds solace and a renewed sense of purpose with Lorraine, transforming the very English mansion that once symbolized his disillusionment into a vibrant children's home, a testament to enduring hope and practical compassion.
Synopsis
Social worker John Warfield meets socialist radical Guido Garcia, and together they establish a refuge in San Francisco for life's unfortunates. Goldie Shepard, whose father is an alcoholic, develops an interest in socialism and becomes Warfield's stenographer. Goldie's hatred of the rich increases when her father is killed by an automobile in which society woman Lorraine Van Allen is riding. As a result of the accident, Lorraine becomes a supporter of the refuge. Meanwhile, Warfield's mother dies in England and leaves him a large estate. When Warfield marries Goldie and takes her to England, he is shocked to see her fondness for luxury, and soon decides to donate his estate to the poor and return to San Francisco. Guido, who had been Goldie's suitor, learns of her marriage and murders her, after which he leaps from a bridge to his death. Later, Warfield marries Lorraine, and they convert the English mansion into a children's home.
Review Excerpt
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The Answer: A Resounding Echo from the Silent Era's Social Conscience
There are films, and then there are cinematic pronouncements – works that, regardless of their vintage, speak with a clarity and urgency that transcend time. E. Magnus Ingleton's The Answer, a profound narrative from the nascent days of feature filmmaking, stands as one such pronouncement. It is a searing examination of idealism’s fragility, the insidious allure of materialism, and the often-brutal collision between ..."
