180 movies
Gloriana
November 6, 1916A newly adopted girl is doted on by her adopted father but faces indifference from her adopted mother. An incomplete copy exists at the National Archives Of Canada and the Library of Congress.
The Deciding Kiss
July 22, 1918The first part is pathetic and shows Eleanor Hamlin (Edith Roberts) severing home ties with her grandparents to be "adopted" by a party of idle rich on the cooperative plan. The parties adopting her are single, and one of them, Beulah Page (Winifred Greenwood), has her own ideas on the subject of raising the young - these ideas absolutely precluding the main requisite, love. A copy exists at the Archives du Film du CNC.
Pollyanna
January 18, 1920When Pollyanna is orphaned, she's sent to live with her crotchety Aunt Polly. Pollyanna discovers that many of the people in her aunt's New England hometown are as ill-tempered as her aunt. But Pollyanna's incurable optimism - exemplified by her "glad game", in which she looks for the bright side of every situation - brings a change to the staid old community.
Damaged Hearts
February 21, 1924That's My Daddy
December 19, 1927A wealthy bachelor lies his way out of a speeding ticket by telling the cops he's on his way to visit his baby girl in hospital - ever helpful, they accompany him whereupon a little girl attaches herself to him, with hilarious results.
The Beloved Bachelor
October 23, 1931Michael Morda, a young sculptor living in San Francisco, is madly in love with Elinor Hunter, and they plan to be married. When Elinor becomes jealous of Julie Stressman, an old friend of Michael's and one of his models, Michael reluctantly asks Julie not to visit him at his studio. They agree to meet only at the construction site where he is working on a sculpture for which Julie is modeling. When Elinor also shows up at the site, Julie leaves so as to avoid a confrontation, but she is killed by some falling materials. Julie's dying request is that Michael adopt her daughter Mitzi, whose father died years earlier. In order to prevent Mitzi from being taken to an orphanage, Michael lies and says he is her father. Elinor hears this, and without asking questions, leaves him and marries another man the same night.
Amateur Daddy
April 10, 1932Jim Gladden, a construction site foreman, is partially responsible for the accidental death of one of his workers, Fred Smith, and makes good on Fred's deathbed request to go to Scotch Valley and take care of his surviving wife and children. When Jim arrives in the small town, he is told that there are two Fred Smith families in Scotch Valley, the rich Smiths and the poor Smiths. Jim assumes that the Smiths he is looking for are the poor ones, and is directed to a house where four children live in poverty.
Their First Mistake
November 5, 1932Mrs Hardy is annoyed that her husband Oliver seems to spend more time with his friend Stanley than with her. After a furious argument, Mrs Hardy says that she is through if Ollie goes out with Stan again. Stan suggests that Ollie adopts a baby, which he does. Unfortunately, his wife has left their apartment on returning, and a process server delivers a paper informing Ollie that she is suing him for divorce, naming Stan as correspondent. The boys are now left to look after the infant on their own.
Rockabye
November 25, 1932A Broadway actress with a problematic past falls hard for the author of her new play.
Gallant Lady
December 7, 1933Unwed mother gives up baby for adoption and hopes to get it back when the adoptive mother dies.
The Life of Vergie Winters
June 14, 1934A small town politician, kept from marrying the love of his life, eventually marries another woman and his career ascends, but he secretly continues the relationship with his true love.
Love Is a Headache
January 14, 1938A press agent for a Broadway actress whose career is going downhill, attempts to get her some publicity by having her adopt two orphans, without her knowledge.
Fisherman's Wharf
February 3, 1939Carlo Roma and his foster-son, Toma, and their friend Beppo, are living a happy fisherman's life in San Francisco until Carlo's widowed sister-in-law, Stella, shows up with her brat-son, Rudolph, and takes over. Poor Toma gets his feelings hurt and the idea he "isn't wanted" and runs away
Sergeant Madden
March 24, 1939A dedicated police officer is torn between family and duty when his son turns to a life of crime.
Bad Little Angel
October 27, 1939A bible-guided Victorian orphan befriends a bootblack in a strange town.
Music in My Heart
January 4, 1940A young woman engaged to a millionaire falls for the understudy in a Broadway musical.
Babies for Sale
June 14, 1940A determined newsman pursues his hunch that a charitable maternity hospital is running a ruthless adoption racket.
Dulcy
October 4, 1940A dizzy young woman aranges to turn her inventor-boyfriend's vacation into a chance meeting with a possible investor who happens to be her brother's future father-in-law. And Wacky stuff happens.
Men of Boys Town
April 11, 1941Father Flanagan raises funds, helps a disabled boy, and saves an older boy from reform school.
Blossoms in the Dust
August 15, 1941Edna marries Texan Sam Gladney, operator of a wheat mill. They have a son, who is killed when very young. Edna discovers by chance how the law treats children who are without parents and decides to do something about it. She opens a home for foundlings and orphans and begins to place children in good homes, despite the opposition of "conservative" citizens, who would condemn illegitimate children for being born out of wedlock. Eventually Edna leads a fight in the Texas legislature to remove the stigma of illegitimacy from birth records in that state, while continuing to be an advocate for homeless children.