The Cry of the Children (1912)

Blessed with an innocent radiance, young Alice was a beacon of hope and joy in an otherwise dreary manufacturing town. Unlike her siblings and peers, she was spared the fate of toiling in the mill, thanks to her parents' modest yet noble sacrifices. Their love for Alice was a stark contrast to the cold opulence of the mill owner's wife, a society woman whose heart was as barren as her mansion was lavish. Struck by Alice's youthful beauty, she impulsively decided to adopt her, envisioning Alice as a charming addition to her gilded lifestyle. However, Alice's parents, strong in their love and resilience, declined. They preferred their child's happiness over the allure of wealth. Alice, in a heart-wrenching choice, echoed their sentiments, choosing her ragged yet warm home over the mill owner's wife's cold affluence. This surprising decision left the wealthy woman baffled and slightly aggrieved, but she retreated to her loveless mansion nonetheless. Tragedy soon descended upon the town as wages fell, forcing the workers to strike in desperation. The cruel inevitability of starvation shattered their resistance, leaving them even more impoverished. Amidst this adversity, Alice's frail mother succumbed to the harsh realities of their life, compelling the young girl to relinquish her childhood and step into the world of labor for her family's survival. At the mill, Alice's radiant beauty dimmed, her youthful energy ebbed away, and she transformed into a weary, old soul in a child's body. Witnessing her mother's deteriorating health, Alice decided to seek help from the mill owner's wife, hoping to secure a better future for her loved ones. But the wealthy woman, now engrossed in her new pet poodle, scornfully rejected Alice, dismissing her as old and ugly. Undeterred, Alice returned to the factory, surrendering herself to its grueling routine. Her life, tragically brief, ended within the grim walls of the mill. Her passing didn't invite sorrow from her fellow child workers but envy, as they saw it as an escape from their own bleak existence. The mill owner's wife, upon encountering Alice's funeral procession, was finally shaken from her apathy, her frivolous life momentarily marred by a somber reflection.

The Cry of the Children is a drama movie featuring Marie Eline.

The Cry of the Children is currently streaming on Fandor Amazon Channel.