Out in the farm-lands near Portland, the Widow Walters lives with her daughter Ethel. As far as affections are concerned, those of the widow are confined to her daughter, until Squire Lang, a fat old widower, with his son Harry, moves onto the adjoining farm. One day Harry leaves his plowing, when he catches sight of Ethel. They rush to the gate to exchange felicities, but the squire wants Harry to return to his plowing, and the widow desires Ethel to resume her housework.

Sicilian king Leontes jealously accuses his wife Hermione of infidelity with his best friend, and while imprisoned, she delivers a child. Sent away, the child is raised by Bohemian shepherds. The Winter's Tale was the first of six Shakespeare adaptations from Thanhouser, and was the 13th or 14th title from the studio in its first nine weeks of releases.

Thanhouser's version of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.