Released 2/21/15 by Universal/Rex; Director: Joseph De Grasse; Screenplay: Tom Forman; 2 reels
CAST: Pauline Bush (The Girl), William C. Dowlan (The Man), Lon Chaney (The Count)
SYNOPSIS: The story follows the lives of two children: a wealthy boy and a poor girl. The boy grows up to be a musician with a poetic soul, while the girl develops into a charming woman. The man tires of the shallow society life, and travels the countryside disguised as a street musician. The woman goes to the city as the ward of a wealthy aunt, where she is introduced to the Count, a soldier of fortune, who the aunt has arranged to marry the girl. One night, she leaves the house in the simple garb of a country maid, and she is attracted to the beautiful melody of a violin. She follows the music where she meets the man, and a warm friendship soon develops. The two meet regularly, and each continues to hide their true identity from the other. The woman feels her love for the musician is hopeless, he being beneath her class, and she reluctantly consents to marry the Count. The man is distraught when his country girl stops visiting him, and he returns to his dissipated society life. Some time later, the woman, now trapped in a loveless marriage, hears the familiar sound of the violin. She finds the man, and their true identities are revealed. The two plan to run away together, but the Count discovers their plans. Rather than be separated, they throw themselves to their death.
"The production as a whole, is too impressionistic and vague in certain respects; it would have held the attention more strongly with a more definite plot. It makes a fair offering as it stands." ---Moving Picture World
NOTES: The story was framed by hand-colored allegorical scenes of the Three Fates weaving together the threads of humanity. At the end of the picture, the Fates tie together the broken threads, symbolizing that the lovers are united in death.
© 1996,2013 Jon C. Mirsalis
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