Pillars of Society - Cast

Pillars of Society (1916)
50 min | Drama

Pillars of Society (1916)

50 min | Drama

Karsten Bernick, last of the house of Bernick, whose shipyards are the mainstay of the town, is forced to return home from a Bohemian life to Paris to assume the management of the business which is nearly bankrupt. He breaks an engagement ...See moreKarsten Bernick, last of the house of Bernick, whose shipyards are the mainstay of the town, is forced to return home from a Bohemian life to Paris to assume the management of the business which is nearly bankrupt. He breaks an engagement to Lona to marry Betty, her rich half-sister. With her fortune he saves the company and eventually comes to be known as a Pillar of Society. Then a certain Mme. Dorf, an actress, arrives in town and threatens o expose an episode in his history which occurred during his days in Paris. He persuades his brother-in-law, Johan, to take the blame for him. Johan agrees to do so for his sister's sake and then leaves for America with his sister Lona. Mme. Dorf dies and leaves her little daughter to Karsten's care. Karsten really fears to refuse the guardianship and wins new honors as an upright benevolent citizen. In the midst of his security in the community, Johan and Lona suddenly return, the former to clear his name, the latter, who still loves Karsten, to persuade him to establish his place as a Pillar of Society on a foundation of Truth instead of lies. Karsten defends himself vigorously on the grounds that a Pillar of Society must resort to subterfuge and deception in order to protect society which depends upon him. Johan falls in love with Karsten's little protégée, the daughter of Mme. Dorf, and renews his insistence that Karsten clear his name. Desperate, Karsten connives at their departure on an unseaworthy ship, but his plan reacts on himself, for his only child, Olaf, has run away and been discovered on the ship as a stowaway. The ship catches fire and there is a thrilling rescue of the little boy in a motorboat. Karsten is awakened to the truth of his position and at a reception given him by the townspeople as a tribute to their leading citizen, confesses the truth. Thus he learns that the Spirits of Truth and Freedom are the true Pillars of Society and not man, however powerful. Written by Moving Picture World synopsis See less

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Cast	+ Add Cast
12 cast members

Name	Known for
Henry B. Walthall Karsten Bernick Karsten Bernick See fewer	The Birth of a Nation (1915)
Mary Alden Lona Tonnesen Lona Tonnesen See fewer	The Birth of a Nation (1915)
Juanita Archer Betty Betty See fewer	Ghosts (1915)
George Beranger Johan Tonnesen Johan Tonnesen See fewer	The Birth of a Nation (1915)
Josephine Crowell Karsten's Mother (as Josephine B. Crowell) Karsten's Mother (as Josephine B. Crowell) See fewer	The Birth of a Nation (1915)
Olga Grey Madame Linda Dorf (as Olga Gray) Madame Linda Dorf (as Olga Gray) See fewer	Intolerance (1916)
Loretta Blake Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited) Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited) See fewer	Ghosts (1915)
Jennie Lee Nurse (uncredited) Nurse (uncredited) See fewer	The Birth of a Nation (1915)
Loyola O'Connor Betty's Aunt (uncredited) Betty's Aunt (uncredited) See fewer	Hoodoo Ann (1916)
William Parsons Pastor (uncredited) Pastor (uncredited) See fewer	Tarzan of the Apes (1918)
Joseph Singleton Monsieur Dorf (uncredited) Monsieur Dorf (uncredited) See fewer	The Squaw Man (1914)
Edna Mae Wilson Little Dina Dorf (uncredited) Little Dina Dorf (uncredited) See fewer	A Man's Country (1919)