Little Mary Sunshine was released in the year 1916。

Bob celebrates his engagement to Sylvia by going out drinking with his friends, which causes him to be late for a date with his fiancée. When Bob then lies to her about where he was, Sylvia breaks off the engagement. Meanwhile, young Mary is at home with her ailing mother when her drunken father arrives and beats Mary's mother until she is dead. In the resulting confusion, Mary wanders off and is met by the despondent Bob. He takes her home to his parents, who agree to care for her. In return, Mary is a source of comfort for Bob, and the broken engagement plus the knowledge of what happened to Mary's mother convinces Bob to give up drinking forever. Meanwhile, Bob's father tries to encourage Sylvia to come back.