Library of Congress, silent film, discrimination, Video, Film, Social problem films, feature films, fiction films 

Full-length movie: A silent film directed by Reginald Baker. Beppo, an Italian gondolier, is in love with Annette, who has another suitor, wealthy and older. Her father gives Beppo a year to prove himself, so he emigrates to New York City, and opens a shoeshine stand. He meets his ward boss, Corrigan, who seems to be a good fellow. Eventually he sends for Annette; they marry and have a son. When the baby becomes ill from lack of pasteurized milk, Beppo rushes to buy some, but is robbed of his last few cents, and is arrested when he brawls with the thugs who robbed him. He appeals to Corrigan for help, but is rebuffed. Beppo is jailed and his baby dies. Later, crazed with grief, he learns that Corrigan's child has fallen ill. He sneaks into the house of the ward boss, intent on revenge . . .

From IMDB.com: in Thomas Ince's "The Italian," he (star Beban) sought to change the stereotype of Italian immigrants as all being members of The Black Hand (mafioso).

He told the San Francisco Examiner in 1910 that he "learned how to imitate Italian speech and talk Italian dialect with a proper accent," from his childhood days spent teasing and stealing fruit from local Italian gardeners and grape growers. "Also that was where I first learned to appreciate Italian character, to recognize that honesty and industry and gentleness of spirit are its attributes."