The Eternal Grind (1916): cast, story & where to watch
1916 · Film
Released in 1916, The Eternal Grind is a drama film directed by John B. O'Brien, running about 41 minutes.
What it’s about. Louise (Pickford) is a sewing-machine girl in a sweatshop in New York City. She lives together with her sisters Amy (Loretta Blake) and Jane (Dorothy West) and are all deprived by bad conditions at work and sickness. Louise tries for the three of them to survive and regards herself as the keeper of her sisters. Meanwhile, she stands up to her bosses and complains about the dreadful circumstances they work in. When Amy is seduced by the son of the shop-owner, Louise butts in and stops the romance. He eventually abandons Amy and becomes seriously injured in a cave-in. Louise has a secret crush on the son herself and tries to rescue him, hoping he will admit he loves her. The film is inspired by the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, which took place in 1911. The only version of the film is a nitrate print in the Cinematheque Francaise, but only the first half remains.
Who’s in it. The Eternal Grind stars Mary Pickford as Louise, Loretta Blake as Amy, Dorothy West as Jane and John Bowers as Owen Wharton, among others.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Eternal Grind page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Eternal Grind tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Eternal Grind (1916)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for The Eternal Grind change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Who stars in The Eternal Grind?
- The Eternal Grind stars Mary Pickford, Loretta Blake, Dorothy West, John Bowers and Robert Cain.
- When was The Eternal Grind released?
- The Eternal Grind was released in 1916, with a runtime of about 41 minutes.