Vintage original 8 x 10 in. US single-weight glossy photograph from the teens silent film fantasy drama, RIP VAN WINKLE, produced by Rolfe Photoplays and released in 1914 by Alco Film Corporation.
 
The image features an exterior shot of a very disheveled-looking Rip Van Winkle (Thomas Jefferson) sitting on the front porch of a house as he receives compassion and comfort from Gretchen Van Winkle (Clarette Clare) while Meenie Van Winkle (Daisy Jefferson) puts her hand tenderly on his knee. It is in near-fine condition. 
 
*"This low-budget silent film takes place outdoors, but is plainly filmed indoors against painted backdrops. The main setting is outside the tavern of Nicklaus Vedder in the village of Falling Waters. A tavern sign, bearing the likeness of King George III, indicates that this is pre-Revolutionary New York. Irving's The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent., appeared in serial form in the US between 1819 and 1820, and was first published in book form in England in 1820.
 
This film was re-issued in 1921 by the Sunbeam Feature Film Co.; another version of the film, also starring Thomas Jefferson, was made the same year. Several one and two-reel adaptations of the story were released prior to the 1914 feature, beginning with a one-reel British film of the same title, directed by Alf Collins. Some sources list different spellings for some character names. Joseph Jefferson was the son of Joseph Jefferson, an actor and co-author of the play. Jefferson, Sr. acted in the play touring the United States for many years and, subsequent to his retirement, his son continued touring with the production.
 
Actor Joseph Jefferson is seen in his study reading a copy of Rip Van Winkle . Rip then appears as a frivolous young man who wastes his money while his hard working wife Gretchen fends for the family. Derrick von Beekman has the mortgage on Rip's house, but if the land is sold, money will revert to Rip, so von Beekman tries to trick him into turning the property over to him. Later, at a dance, Rip flirts with a young woman, and Gretchen chases him away. He goes to the mountains where he meets Hendrik Hudson, who gives him something to drink that makes him sleep for twenty years. While he is asleep, Gretchen almost marries von Beekman for his money, but when Hendrik Vedder, the son of Rip's friend Nick and the childhood sweetheart of Rip's daughter Meenie, is reported lost at sea, Gretchen dies of shock. Meenie is about to marry Cockles von Beekman when Rip returns. Finally he regains his house, and Hendrik, not dead after all, returns to marry Meenie.
*(source: IMDb)
 
3RB