Keeper of the Bees (1947 film)
| Keeper of the Bees | |
|---|---|
 Original Theatrical Poster | |
| Directed by | John Sturges |
| Produced by | John Haggott |
| Written by |
Malcolm Stuart Boylan Ralph Rose Jr. Gene Stratton-Porter Lawrence E. Watkin |
| Music by | Paul Sawtell |
| Cinematography | Henry Freulich |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 68 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Keeper of the Bees is a 1947 American drama film directed by John Sturges. It was based on the novel by the same name, written by Gene Stratton Porter. The film was shot over three weeks.[1]
Plot
An aging apiary owner (bee-keeper) Michael Worthington meets a young ex-painter, Jamie McFarlane, on the road one day and in the process of conversation, attempts to persuade him to end his nomadic lifestyle.
Jamie listens, but considers the "Bee Master's" advice useless. But shortly after, when Michael has a near fatal heart attack; Jamie promises to look after the bees until his return. Shortly after, Worthington is surprised by a twelve-year-old girl who goes by the nick-name - 'Little Scout' who would visit the apiary nearly every day. He discovers that she is an orphan and likewise takes her into his care. In her child like way, she develops a crush on Jamie while he cares for the bees that have been left in his charge.
When Jamie meets Alice, the daughter of the orphanage supervisor, Mrs Ferris, he falls in love. This unexpected encounter begins to loosen his hardened heart and he begins to paint again.
Jamie eventually confides in Alice that he was once married, but that he had been divorced some time ago. In reality the divorce hasn't gone through yet. He sends his paintings to a gallery in New York, where he used to be a reputed artist. His soon to be ex-wife (Marcia) finds out about his recovered ability to paint and the success his paintings make, and wants to reconcile.
Alice hears about Marcia contacting Jamie, calling herself Mrs. McFarlane and is very distressed. Jamie suspects Alice of having betrayed his confidence, and Little Scout has to prove her innocence. She forces Mrs. Ferris to admit that she has spread the rumors by letting a swarm of bees loose on her.
Soon the elder Michael has recovered from his heart condition and manages to reconcile all the involved persons. He blesses the union of Jamie and Alice & gives them a cottage to live in after their marriage. In turn they decide to adopt Little Scout as their daughter thereby bringing all the bees back into the fold.[2]
Cast
- Michael Duane as Jamie McFarlaine
- Gloria Henry as Alice
- Harry Davenport as Michael Worthington
- Jane Darwell as Mrs. Ferris
- Jo Ann Marlowe as Little Scout - The Orphan
- J. Farrell MacDonald as Postmaster
- Will Wright as Dr. Grayson
- Frances Robinson as Mrs. Marcia MacFarlane
- George Meader as Barber
- Olin Howland as Customer (as Olin Howlin)
- Jessie Arnold as Mrs. Postmaster
References
- ↑ Glenn Lovell, Escape Artist: The Life and Films of John Sturges, University of Wisconsin Press, 2008 p44
- ↑ http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/80133/Keeper-of-the-Bees/