So Near, Yet So Far (1912)
0h 15m | PG-13
It's love at first sight for the Boy, but obstacles— namely shyness, and the temerity of other suitors— place themselves in the way of his love. Unknowingly, the Boy and the young woman of his fancy both stay at the home of mutual friends— But all is not well, as robbers lurk outside the house.
Director: D.W. Griffith
Studio: American Mutoscope & Biograph
Genre: Romance, Drama
Video: 720p
Cast
Walter Miller
as Howard, the Boy
Mary Pickford
as The Young Woman
Robert Harron
as The Rival / In Club
Lionel Barrymore
as In Club
Christy Cabanne
as In Club / On Street
Harry Carey
as A Thief
Reviews
On the face of it, this is just a simple story of unrequited love as young "Howard" (Walter Miller) worships a young woman (Mary Pickford) from afar - never quite plucking up the courage to speak to her. Then serendipity takes a hand: he rescues her from a couple of unscrupulous burglars. What makes this a little more remarkable is the creative way in which both DW Griffith and GW Bitzer have created a short story that flows effortlessly. It has a pace and style that makes it a very easy watch. Sadly, the story itself is maybe just a little too basic - it could have done with a few more scenes of substance for all to show off their skills a bit more, but it's still an interesting and charming twenty minutes of cinema.