The Mad Hermit is a 1910 American silent short drama film produced by the Thanhouser Company.
The parents survive the carriage crash and seek out the hermit, and it is revealed that the baby's mother is the daughter of Harry Willard.
The film was released on August 9, 1910, after the success of the company was ensured, and met with positive reception by critics.
He wants to forget the world that has treated him so ill - he decides to become a hermit and betakes himself to a desolate cave, where he spends the years execrating humanity.
Rarely in that time does he venture on beaten paths for fear that he may meet a hated human, but one day he forgets his resolve long enough to cross a carriage drive.
He hears the clatter of hooves and sights a horse tearing toward him with a swaying carriage and screaming occupants - runaway!
As the carriage passes by him, a woman flings a bundle to him; he catches it and finds it a pink and white bit of humanity.
"[1] "The parents of the baby have miraculously escaped death in the crash of their carriage and trace the strange creature who rescued the child to his lair.
"[1] According to Q. David Bowers, Edwin Thanhouser felt that the production had many amateurish aspects and held off on releasing the film until the reputation of the company was secured.
[4] A later statement by Edwin Thanhouser would state that 20 persons, including the director and cameraman, were involved in the production.
[1] The film had a wide national release, with advertisements including those in Kansas,[8] California,[9] Arizona,[10] Nebraska,[11] Washington,[12] South Dakota,[13] Pennsylvania,[14] and Texas.
[15] An advertisement for the Province Theatre suggests that the film arrived in British Columbia, Canada within days of its release.
Then comes the excitement of the runaway, the rescue of the baby and the discovery of his daughter, with returning reason and love to follow during his declining years.