Irving's The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent., appeared in serial form in the United States between 1819 and 1820, and was first published in book form in England in 1820. This film was re-issued in 1921 by the Sunbeam Feature Film Co.; another version of the film, also starring Thomas Jefferson, was made the same year. Several one and two-reel adaptations of the story were released prior to the 1914 feature, beginning with a one-reel British film of the same title, directed by Alf Collins. Some sources list different spellings for some character names. Joseph Jefferson was the son of Joseph Jefferson, an actor and co-author of the play. Jefferson, Sr. acted in the play touring the United States for many years and, subsequent to his retirement, his son continued touring with the production. 

Plot: Actor Joseph Jefferson is seen in his study reading a copy of Rip Van Winkle . Rip then appears as a frivolous young man who wastes his money while his hard working wife Gretchen fends for the family. Derrick von Beekman has the mortgage on Rip's house, but if the land is sold, money will revert to Rip, so von Beekman tries to trick him into turning the property over to him. Later, at a dance, Rip flirts with a young woman, and Gretchen chases him away. He goes to the mountains where he meets Hendrik Hudson, who gives him something to drink that makes him sleep for twenty years. While he is asleep, Gretchen almost marries von Beekman for his money, but when Hendrik Vedder, the son of Rip's friend Nick and the childhood sweetheart of Rip's daughter Meenie, is reported lost at sea, Gretchen dies of shock. Meenie is about to marry Cockles von Beekman when Rip returns. Finally he regains his house, and Hendrik, not dead after all, returns to marry Meenie.