A father has two sons, the older one serious and hard-working, the younger one spendthrift and pleasure-seeking. The latter rejects his father's authority and leaves home. It is not long before he wastes all his fortune and falls into poverty. He repents and decides to return home. Despite his older son's resentment, the father welcomes back the lost sheep.

Source: IMDb

A beautifully colored production illustrating the scriptural story which is familiar to all students and readers of the Bible. Mr. Lavedan, who prepared the drama of the "Duke of Guise," which was called by many competent critics one of the best motion picture dramas ever offered to the public, prepared this one also. And he has done his work well. It follows the original very closely, with the exception that it shows the brothers in a quarrel at the opening, which seems to be the determining influence in the boy's decision to go away. The scenes are reproduced with fidelity to the original story, the description being followed closely in most instances, only here and there a deviation being necessary to increase the dramatic effect. It is needless to go over the story itself. It is assumed that everyone who sees the picture knows what that story i«, and in the telling of it through the medium of the silent drama the Pathes have rendered a distinct service to teachers of Bible truth and lovers of the beautiful in literature and art. The scenes are faithful reproductions of the Biblical scenes and undoubtedly give a true impression of the home life and surroundings of a gentleman of wealth at that time. The young man's experiences follow closely the narrative, hence it is not difficult to understand them. The effect is wonderfully realistic and the story is emphasized and brought home to those who see it in a way hitherto impossible. Sunday schools would do well to use this film in their instruction. It would impart a sense of reality to it which could not be secured in any other manner.

Source: The Moving Picture World, November 20, 1909

The prodigal son, the character of one of the most touching parables of the Gospel, after having lived in debauchery and dissipated all his fortune, returns to the fold where his father, moved with compassion in the face of his misery and forgetting his past grievances, welcomes with open arms the found son.