The Son of His Father

Gordon Carbhoy is a young man who gets a second chance when his father offers money to help him start a business. Instead of building something on his own, Gordon is lured into a shady railroad transaction that promises quick returns but carries heavy risks. His involvement drags his family name into the mess and puts his father Silas Mallinsbee in a vulnerable position. Alongside a developing relationship with Hazel Mallinsbee, Gordon confronts the fallout from bad decisions and strained loyalties, as the film stages the conflict between youthful temptation and family responsibility without revealing how things resolve.

Directed by Victor Schertzinger and adapted from Ridgwell Cullum material, The Son of His Father was released in 1917 as a silent feature. Charles Ray led the cast as Gordon, with Vola Vale, Robert McKim, George Nichols, and Charles K. French filling principal roles during a busy period for American studio production.

There are no records of major awards or nominations tied to this picture, which is typical for many films from the 1910s before formal prize circuits became established. Surviving documentation on honors for early silent dramas is sparse, and this title does not appear in major contemporary award listings.

Though not a household name today, the film reflects common motifs of its era, notably the clash between personal ambition and communal reputation, and it helped reinforce Charles Ray's image as an earnest but flawed young lead. Film historians and silent era enthusiasts note it as an example of early American melodrama dealing with corporate schemes and rural ties, useful for understanding period storytelling and star construction.

Contemporary critical response is hard to trace, but the movie centers on themes of ambition, moral compromise, and filial duty, presented in the straightforward, stage-influenced style typical of 1910s cinema. The narrative leans on character dynamics and moral tension rather than intricate plotting, and performances are aimed at communicating clear emotional stakes to audiences used to silent storytelling.