From " A Short Survey of The Film in America." On screen English text describing advances in film making in the early years of the motion picture. Description of the years 1908-1918 as pivotal years for American film makers DW Griffith, Thomas H. Ince, and Mack Sennett. On screen text describing DW Griffith's work, "The New York Hat." The actual film follows : Small town gossips scandalously link together the names of a minister and a girl when they discover that he has given her an expensive hat from New York. The turmoil abates when the minister produces the will of the girl's mother, in which he has been asked to buy the daughter "bits of finery."
Men and women walking on a busy street in fashions of the early 1900's. Women in America demand suffrage on the basis of equal rights as men. Women demonstrate and march on the streets carrying banners, demanding suffrage for American women.
Kaiser Wilhelm II and party arrive in horse-drawn carriages escorted by British Horse Guards on parade in London, England.
A launch bearing the Russian Imperial Navy ensign, rowed by sailors, transports Kaiser Wilhelm II and his party to a Russian ship at a Baltic Seaport. The Russian royal family, including Czarina Alexandra and her daughters are seen. There is much formal interaction with saluting and such. Russian troops pass in review on a parade ground. The visiting Kaiser and his party depart the Russian ship with fanfare and formality.
Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany, who were good friends, are seen in animated conversation at a park in Vienna, Austria. They walk together down a slope from a path. A bicycle leans against a tree on the path. A photographer with camera on tripod is ready to record the event. The two imperial friends are dressed alike, in similar coats and hats. They both wear daggers and carry canes. Their conversation is quite animated.
The film titled 'Helen's Marriage' depicts instances in Helen's marriage in New York, United States. An actor portraying a character Tom carries a ladder while walking through the garden of Helen's house. He places the ladder to reach a balcony and gives an indication to Helen. Helen's father and mother hear the indication. Helen climbs down the ladder. Her father runs behind Tom with a gun. Tom talks with his club friends about this incident. Helen's father scolds her. Shooting of a wedding scene. Tom gets an idea. He convinces his friends and a chaplain to help him. A maid hands Tom's letter to Helen. Tom and his friends prepare for the wedding scene shooting. They get in a car and arrive at Helen's house. A manager convinces Helen's father to allow them to shoot. He agrees. The bride falls down during the shoot. The manager asks Helen to take the bride's place. She requests her father. The chaplain ministers the proceeding and Helen gets married to Tom.