The Hand That Rocks the Cradle is an American silent drama film released in 1917.
It was written, produced and directed by the husband and wife team Phillips Smalley and Lois Weber, who also play the lead roles.
[1][2] The plot follows the careers of a husband and wife pair of activists campaigning for sex education and family planning.
Mrs. Broome (Weber) is under surveillance by the police because of her efforts to educate women about birth control.
In a discussion with another couple, the Grahams (Priscilla Dean and Wedgewood Nowell), Mrs. Broome tells the story of a servant, Sarah (Evelyn Selbie), and her husband (Harry deMore) who had more children than they could support.