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The Cross of Pearls
(1911) United States of America
B&W : One reel
Directed by [?] Gaston Méliès and/or Robert Goodman?
Cast: [?] Francis Ford?
G. Méliès production; distributed by [?] The General Film Company, Incorporated? / Produced by Gaston Méliès. / Released 19 October 1911. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama: Western.
Synopsis: [From Méliès promotional materials] Outrivaled in love, and penniless, Gabriel conceives to steal the beautiful, time honored Cross of Pearls. Interrupted in the attempt, he commits a crime and leaves for evidence the handkerchief of his successful rival, Jose. Gabriel confesses to Padre Antone, and, being denied absolution unless he surrender to civil authorities, smiles wickedly, defiantly, knowing full well the Padre cannot reveal confessional secrets though it be to save his own brother’s, Jose’s, life. But the power and horror of conscience was a force Gabriel had not reckoned with. How it worked to save an innocent man’s life is an extremely wonderful story. // [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? Each morning and evening the villagers receive Father Anselm’s blessing, administered with the beautiful, time honored Cross of Pearls. Each morning, after the blessing, Jose and his sweetheart meet and talk and love. And each morning Gabriel sees the girl of his passions paying more and more attention to his hated rival Jose. Jose proposes and is accepted, while Gabriel is rejected. Jose’s brother, the Padre Antone, performs the marriage ceremony, and presents to Jose a beautiful silk handkerchief, which is later lost, but found by Gabriel. Gabriel, penniless, conceives to steal the Cross of Pearls. As he approaches the Grotto, Father Anselm surprises him, and there follows a struggle which proves fatal to the monk. The crime was committed with Jose’s silk handkerchief. To the horror of Padre Antone, Gabriel confesses to him the deed that may mean death to his own brother. Upon being begged to give himself up to the authorities, Gabriel smiles wickedly, defiantly, self-satisfied, knowing well that the Padre cannot give up the secrets of the confessional, even when his own brother is involved. Circumstantial evidence convicts Jose and he is condemned to die. But conscience, a factor Gabriel had not counted upon, begins to play its part. The vision of Father Anselm haunts his dreams, and the Cross of Pearls appears ever before him. He is going gradually mad and is terrified lest Jose should be hung before he can make the truth known. The tension is too great. He gasps the truth and expires at the very place where the execution of an innocent man would have taken place but a moment later.
Reviews: [The Moving Picture World, 4 November 1911, page ?] A film with a Mexican setting, with the sacredness of the confessional as a strong feature in the action. Two men are rivals for a girl’s hand. The rejected one is jealous, and through the loss of a handkerchief is enabled to fasten a crime upon the other. And the priest to whom he confesses is the victim’s own brother, but his lips are sealed and he is forced to see his brother condemned to die for a murder he did not commit. Conscience causes the real culprit to confess in time to save the accused man's life, though the tension has been so great that he falls dead when he has made his confession. The film is very emotional, and the acting and the staging are important parts of the picture.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 27 May 2024.
References: Thompson-Star p. 230 : ClasIm-226 p. 55 : Website-IMDb.
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