The Tree of Knowledge's primary photo
  • The Tree of Knowledge (1912)
  • Short | Short, Drama
Primary photo for The Tree of Knowledge
The Tree of Knowledge (1912)
Short | Short, Drama
The Watkins family consists of father, mother and son. The father is a railroad magnate and wizard of finance; the mother is an indulgent, capricious social butterfly, and the son is an unguarded plant left to grow wild in the soil of ...See moreThe Watkins family consists of father, mother and son. The father is a railroad magnate and wizard of finance; the mother is an indulgent, capricious social butterfly, and the son is an unguarded plant left to grow wild in the soil of luxury. When the inevitable day of reckoning comes the boy, headstrong and defiant, rebels at his father's authority, and leaves home. From being a gay young spendthrift, he descends to the ladder of poverty. The parents are remorseful and unhappy because of their lost son. Accidentally Watkins, Sr., reads an account of a great scientist who, wearied with the emptiness of wealth, went out to study and labor among the poor. The idea fascinates him and he decides to emulate the scientist's example. Disguised as a common laborer Watkins, Sr., rubs elbows with the forlorn, weary, down-and-out wrecks of life. Among them, eventually, he finds his son, who, hopeless and desperate, has determined to end it all. A reconciliation takes place, and the boy, having tasted the bitter dregs of the cup of folly, decides to make a man of himself. Each has learned the great lesson of life, and are the better for it, and the two turn homeward together. Written by Moving Picture World synopsis See less
Read more: Plot summary
Director
George L. Cox
Writer
George L. Cox (scenario)
Producer
William Nicholas Selig (producer)
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Status
Edit Released
Updated May 27, 1912
Release date
May 27, 1912 (United States)

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Cast

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5 cast members
Name Known for
Walter Roberts primary photo
Walter Roberts
John Watkins Sr. John Watkins Sr.   See fewer
A Texas Steer (1915)
Winifred Greenwood primary photo
Winifred Greenwood
Mother Watkins Mother Watkins   See fewer
The Mission Worker (1911)
John Sherman primary photo
John Sherman
John Watkins Jr. John Watkins Jr.   See fewer
La paloma (1916)
T. Jerome Lawler primary photo
T. Jerome Lawler
The Stranger The Stranger   See fewer
The Dazzling Miss Davison (1917)
Harry Lonsdale primary photo
Harry Lonsdale
The Butler The Butler   See fewer
The Ne'er Do Well (1915)
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