A Cry for Help
Synopsis
Knocked down by an automobile, the intoxicated tramp is taken to the doctor's house, received and treated to a square meal. The husband of a patient has just died, calls on the doctor, intending to kill him. The grief-crazed man is foiled several times by the return of the tramp, whom the maid at last pushes out of the house. She hears the doctor struggling with his assailant and faints. The tramp hears the doctor's cry for help and enters by a rear window, despite the objections of a policeman, in time to save his benefactor.
Top Cast
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Lionel Barrymore
The Tramp
Lillian Gish
The Maid
Walter Miller
The Doctor
Harry Carey
The Thief
Claire McDowell
The Thief's Wife - the Charity Patient
Robert Harron
Witness to Accident
Dorothy Gish
Witness to Accident
Christy Cabanne
Witness to Accident
John T. Dillon
Policeman / Witness to Accident
Alfred Paget
Policeman
Release History & Theatrical Window
December 23, 1912
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- D.W. Griffith
- Screenplay & Story
- Edward Acker
- Original Title
- A Cry for Help
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- No Language
- Runtime
- 17m
- Production Studios
- Biograph Company
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
D.W. Griffith
Edward Acker
Department Leadership Roster
Edward Acker
Writer
D.W. Griffith
Director
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for A Cry for Help.
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Frequently Asked Questions About A Cry for Help
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is A Cry for Help about?
Knocked down by an automobile, the intoxicated tramp is taken to the doctor's house, received and treated to a square meal. The husband of a patient has just died, calls on the doctor, intending to kill him. The grief-crazed man is foiled several times by the return of the tramp, whom the maid at last pushes out of the house. She hears the doctor struggling with his assailant and faints. The tramp hears the doctor's cry for help and enters by a rear window, despite the objections of a policeman, in time to save his benefactor.
Who directed A Cry for Help?
A Cry for Help was directed by D.W. Griffith.
Who stars in A Cry for Help?
The principal cast of A Cry for Help includes Lionel Barrymore, Lillian Gish, Walter Miller, Harry Carey, Claire McDowell.
When was A Cry for Help released and how long is it?
A Cry for Help was released in 1912 with a total runtime of 17m.
What is the age rating and content advisory for A Cry for Help?
A Cry for Help holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).