A two-reel picture illustrating Whittier's poem and produced by Thomas Recketts. Well-chosen quotations from the poem are used as leaders and not only explain the story but add poetry to it. In fact, the pictures and the quotations are much more poetic than the quotations alone, or the poem itself, for its chief charm comes from the story and not from its treatment. Miss Vivian Rich makes a charming Maud. Not only is she young and pretty, but by her acting she delightfully interprets her part. Donald MacDonald plays the judge with very commendable dignity. Indeed, from first to last, it is a finely acted. worthy production and presents the story quite naturally and convincingly just as it might have happened in the South. Such a story as this is not bound to Massachusetts, not by any means. Every scene seems to have been chosen with care and a true feeling for what is significant and natural; yet not one scene belongs to New England. In the general construction of the picture and in its division into scenes, the producer has been extremely happy. The first part opens with the first meeting of the judge with Maud in the hay-field and carries us to Maud's half- willing betrothal to the young farmer. The second reel opens with the second meeting of the judge and Maud over the hay cocks. The two marriages follow quickly with the two poetic dreams of what "might have been," that come in later years. It makes a very good production; one that will bear high praise and one that can hardly be too strongly commended to exhibitors. If the story is a bit sentimental, it gets over. The charm of this picture centers especially in its Maud. - The Moving Picture World, September 21, 1912
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