Summary
A morally ambiguous odyssey of altruism and transgression, *The Wrongdoers* unravels the paradoxical soul of a man who cloaks philanthropy in criminality. Daniel Abbott, a druggist whose altruistic façade masks nocturnal raids on the affluent, becomes entangled in a web of paternal responsibility when he shelters a destitute mother and her infant. The narrative pivots on the collision of idealism and pragmatism, as Abbott’s self-justified thievery spirals into tragic consequence. His bond with ward Jimmy Nolan, forged in shared moral defiance, fractures under the weight of secret agendas. The film’s emotional core lies in the tender, tragic arc of Helen, the orphaned child who becomes both Abbott’s redemption and his undoing. Sylvester Doane’s forbidden love for Helen ignites a chain of events that culminates in a fateful duel between father and son, where justice and vengeance blur into a single, irreversible bullet. Krafft and Browne’s script, steeped in Victorian-era moral quandaries, juxtaposes the sanctity of charity with the corruption of means, while Lionel Barrymore’s performance as Abbott embodies the duality of a savior and a sinner.
Synopsis
Philanthropical druggist Daniel Abbott, occasionally robs the rich to take care of the poor, goes to court with his young ward, Jimmy Nolan. In the courtroom Daniel meets Mrs. Warren, who, despondent over her inability to care for a newborn baby, has been charged with attempted suicide. Daniel takes mother and daughter under his wing, watching with pride as the girl, Helen, and his ward, Jimmy, grow to a tender adolescence. Sylvester Doane, a tenement owner, falls in love with Helen, and Daniel makes plans to rob him. Jimmy learns with shock of the plans and goes to Doane's apartment to prevent the robbery. Jimmy takes the gems to forestall his father, but he is found with them in his possession and put in jail. Daniel kills Doane and is himself shot. Jimmy is released from jail, and he and Helen are married.
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