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- In what is considered to be the first remake in the history of cinema, the grand French director, Georges Méliès, directs his very first short film, influenced by the Lumière Brothers' original story in "Partie d'écarté (1896)".
- Dramatized re-enactments of the events of the Dreyfus-affair from 1894 to 1899.
- Captain Dreyfus is placed in leg irons as a dramatization of the events surrounding the Dreyfus Affair, an actual historic event.
- "An impressive character impersonation by Lafayette, the great mimetic comedian. The scene is from the famous court-martial at Rennes, ending with the prisoner's dramatic declaration, 'I am innocent.'"
- "Lafayette, the mimic, showing Capt. Dreyfus reading the verdict of the court-martial in his prison, and meeting with Madame Dreyfus. This picture is very dramatic, and true to the details of the actual scene."
- The plot outlined the story of the early Christian martyrs with a compendium of horrors guaranteed to jolt audiences into an awareness of terrible suffering for the sake of Christianity. Contained maulings at the Colosseum, crucifixions, beheadings, savage hackings and burnings at the stake, burnings in the limepit, the spectacle of human torches in Nero's garden. Overall "soul stirring stories of the martyrs, illustrated by the most beautiful living pictures by kinematograph and limelight and never before witnessed in this or any other country.
- A snapshot of the famous Frenchman in the military prison yard at Rennes, during the trial. This picture was secured with great difficulty from a second-story window of an adjoining building. It shows Dreyfus taking his daily exercise.
- The story of Jesus Christ from the proclamation of his Nativity to his crucifixion. Impressive scenes and dynamism of the actors prelude to the Italian colossal movies of the silent period.
- A complete reproduction of the "Life and Passion of Christ," as enacted annually since 1816 by the peasants of the mountain town of Horitz, Bohemia. This magnificent production cost over $10,000 and required over three weeks of constant labor on the part of the large staff of operators. About 300 people take part in the play, which is staged and costumed in a most elaborate manner. This is the finest reproduction of the Passion Play that has ever been made, and it is well to remember that the Oberammergau Passion Play has never been reproduced in its original form by motion-photography. The Horitz play is more graphic and more replete with interesting situations.
- The Coronation. The battle of Austerlitz. Soldier sleeping during watch. The burning of Moscow. Waterloo. The Emperor's death.
- At school in Brienne. On the bridge of Arcole. The campaign in Egypt. Passage of the St. Bernard Pass. Garden party in Malmaison.
- The story of Charles Peace, one of Britain's most notorious criminals. Peace was an expert in cat burglary. The film reconstructs Peace's real-life leap from a train on his way to trial for the murder of Arthur Dyson.
- Originally 70 minutes in running time, only 17 minutes of the world's first full-length narrative feature film survived in stills and other fragments and tell the story of Ned Kelly, an infamous 19th-century Australian outlaw.
- The life of Jesus Christ in 25 scenes.
- Depicting well-known incidents in the life of Jesus Christ, this milestone of early cinema won world fame, huge audiences and a screen life of decades when most secular films of the time measured their commercial life in weeks.
- In this interesting picture we are given a vivid idea of the principal incidents connected with the Dreyfus case, which caused such a stir in military circles in the year of 1894. Alfred Dreyfus, an officer on the general staff, was charged with selling secrets to a foreign power. He was tried and judged guilty on flimsy evidence, and sentenced to imprisonment on Devil's Island, where he remained for eight years, until his influential friends, who took up his case in earnest, proved it was a plot formed by other officers, who subsequently confessed to having forged the documents. He was finally pardoned by President Loubet, and returned to his place in the army. In the first scene we sec Esterhazy take the papers from Henry's desk and send them to Baron von Schwarzkoppen, Henry sees him take them, but does not let it become known, for it was he who forged the document and placed it where it might be taken. A porter working in the baron's office discovers the document on the desk, and takes it to the Minister of War, who suspects Dreyfus. He sends for the doomed man and makes him sign his name. This done, he compares the writing with the document, and accuses him of treason. He calls on the secret service men. and Dreyfus is arrested. We next sec him in his cell, where he is visited by his faithful wife, who firmly believes in his innocence. He is brought into court and, after a short trial, the unfortunate man hears the terrible sentence pronounced upon him. He is then degraded in the public square in the presence of his fellow officers and comrades, by being stripped of his stripes and buttons and his sword is broken over the knee of his superior officer. He is then led away a prisoner, branded as a traitor, and is a pathetic sight, indeed, as he starts for his lonely prison on Devil's Island. We see him in his solitude as he passes the time looking across the sea and dreaming of home and family in his native land far away. Finally, after years of patient suffering, during which his friends fight for his vindication. Esterhazy confesses the forgery and soon after commits suicide. The glad tidings of pardon are brought to the prisoner in his little cabin, and we next see him returning to France, where he is reinstated in the position he formerly held in the army.
- The principal events in the life of Mary Queen of Scots. She was the daughter of Jacques the Fifth and Mary Guise and married Francis the Second, King of France. After the death of her husband in 1560, Mary Stuart left France and returned to her former home in Scotland, Her father having died in the meantime, she was made Queen. She was barely nineteen years of age, and her youth as well as her great beauty and charm of manners won for her the hearts of the Scots. She was a devout Roman Catholic and when she ascended the throne she found the country in the hands of the Protestants, who gave their young Queen much trouble. At last they revolted and threw her into prison, where, through the assistance of a maid, she escaped to England and asked her cousin Elizabeth for protection, but the latter betrayed her and had her cast into prison, where, through the assistance of a page, she secures a disguise and escapes through a window. Her maid holds the door while she makes good her escape, and when Elizabeth enters she is so enraged that she immediately sends her soldiers to recapture the unfortunate young Queen. They follow her for some distance and overtake her on the road and, after a desperate struggle, she is again captured and taken back to prison, where she is condemned to death by her cousin, Queen Elizabeth. We see the trial scene where the unfortunate woman hears her doom, after which she divides her earthly possessions among her faithful servants. Then comes the walk to the death chamber, where she goes with unfaltering steps, showering blessings upon her enemies, and as she kneels before the block her peaceful countenance bears the same sweet smile that never left her through all her trials, and, kissing the cross for the last time, lays her head calmly on the block and immediately all is over.
- The persecution of the children of Israel by the Egyptians. Now there arose up a new king in Egypt. And he said unto his people. Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we. Let us set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. (Exodus, chapter I.) The first scenes show the Egyptian court and King Pharaoh commanding the slave drivers to beat the Hebrew toilers who show signs of rebellion. Pharaoh notices this and, calling his scribes, orders that a decree be published that every man-child born to the Hebrews be killed. The parchment is prepared and is read in Pharaohs court in the presence of Pharaohs daughter, who hears and pleads in vain for his clemency. Pharaohs Decree: Every male child that is born to the Hebrews shall be cast into the river. The Egyptians ruthlessly proceed to carry out the decree and seize the male children from the arms of the Hebrew mothers. Here we are shown the interior of a Hebrew dwelling. The child Moses is in a cradle and his mother is bending over him, utterly unconscious of the cruel edict of King Pharaoh. The sister of Moses is shown attending to household duties and she takes a pitcher and goes to the well to draw water. There she learns of the slaughter of the innocents and hastens back and tells the mother of the cruel scenes she has witnessed. They decide to hide the child Moses by the river, and the cradle or ark is covered and carried between them to a marsh, where they plaster the outside with soft mud to keep out the water, and placing the child therein, his sister remains nearby to watch what will become of him. And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along by the rivers edge; and when she saw the ark among the flags she sent her maid to fetch it. And when she had opened it she saw the child; and, behold, the babe wept, and she had compassion on him. Pharaohs daughter fondles and pets the crying child and decides that she will keep him for her own. The sister of Moses approaches and suggests that she call a nurse of the Hebrew women and she, of course, called the childs mother. And Pharaohs daughter said unto her, Take this child away and nurse it for me and I will give thee thy wages. And the woman took the child and nursed it. Pharaoh is informed of his daughters caprice and demands to see the child. He orders it away, but his daughter embraces him and pleads so hard for the life of the child that he consents and gives it his protection and blessing. A fitting ending is a picture of the mother and sister of Moses again fondling their own and giving thanks to God for their unexpected good fortune. The first reel of this series ended with the child Moses being adopted by Pharaohs daughter. The Hebrews are still under bondage, and we see them laboring in the brick fields, beaten by the taskmasters, as they build those gigantic specimens of Egyptian architecture, many of which stand to this day. Moses has been reared and educated in the Egyptian court, and is now in the prime of life, but he does not forget that he is of Hebrew blood, and, as he watches his brethren in their slavery, his blood boils at the outrages and he looks toward Heaven and cries, How long, oh Lord, how long? A number of Hebrews are digging clay, which is filled into baskets. The load is too heavy for one of the laborers, and the taskmaster beats him unmercifully. Moses sees this and kills the taskmaster. T The other Hebrew slaves, horrified at the enormity of the act, run away, and Moses, afraid of the consequences, hastily buries the body in the clay pit. Two days after this, Moses seeks to separate two of his brethren who are quarreling, and one of them says: Wilt thou kill me as thou didst the Egyptian? Moses is terrified when he knows that his crime is known, and decides to flee from the country. He seeks refuge in the home of a Hebrew laborer and bargains for a suit of the laborers garments, with which he disguises himself; he also purchases provisions and a water bottle, and departs. Moses is seen crossing the desert. Tired and dusty, he rests and drinks from his water flask. Still toiling on through the arid desert, he reaches an eminence and looks hack to see if he is being followed, and, seeing no one, he gives thanks for his deliverance. Moses has at last reached the land of Midian. He discovers a well and refreshes and rests himself. While he is resting seven daughters of Jethro, a Midianite, come to the well to draw water for their sheep and cattle. Other herdsmen also come to the well and ungallantly drive away the maidens, but Moses comes to their aid, and draws the water for them. The home of Jethro, the priest of Midian, father of the seven maidens. They enter and tell of the encounter at the well, and how they were aided by a Hebrew traveler. He says the man must be his guest, and hastens to the well and greets Moses and invites him to the shelter of his house, which offer is accepted. Moses enters the home of the priest of Midian, where he is effusively greeted by the whole household, and we see him seated and enjoying a meal with the family. (And Moses was content to dwell with the manand he gave Moses his daughter, Zipporah, to wife.) (Forty years later). Moses is now a shepherd, and, while tending his flocks in the land of Midian. The voice of God speaks to him out of a burning bush and commands him to return to Egypt and deliver his brethren out of the bondage of the Egyptians. Moses bids farewell to Jethro, his father-in-law, and, with his family, journeys to Egypt. On the way he meets Aaron, who had been, commanded by the Lord to meet Moses, and together they arrive at the Egyptian court. The court of Pharaoh, a young man, the elder Pharaoh having died while Moses was in Midian. The officials announce the new arrivals, and Moses and Aaron are ushered in and demand, in the name of the Lord, that the Children of Israel be set free. The Egyptian king refuses, and Moses tells him that if he does not consent the wrath of God will come on all the Egyptians. Moses prays to the Lord for advice, and is commanded to work a miracle before the Egyptian monarch to convince him that it is the Lord, the God of the Israelites, who demands the deliverance of His people. Moses and Aaron appear before Pharaoh again. Aaron casts his rod upon the ground and it becomes a serpent. Pharaoh is amazed, but he still refuses to free the Children of Israel. Pharaohs continued refusal brings upon Egypt the ten plagues. Moses finds Pharaoh near the rivers edge and again asks that his people be allowed to go free. When Pharaoh denies again. Aaron smites the water of the river with his rod and the waters are turned into blood. Again Moses appears before Pharaoh and again Pharaoh refuses his request. As God had commanded, Moses stretches his hand toward heaven and immediately a great storm of hail and lightning, such as they had never seen, descends on Egypt, killing man and beast and striking terror to the heart of Pharaoh. Pharaohs heart was again hardened and he still refuses to free the Hebrew children. Again Moses stretches his hand toward heaven, and a thick darkness, a darkness that might be felt, covered the land for three days, so that no one was able to rise from his place. The last and most terrible plague visited on Egypt for Pharaohs continued refusal is the death of all the Egyptian first born. The Feast of the Passover is instituted at this time. Moses directing all the Hebrew people to observe the Feast by killing and preparing a lamb. Moses commands the Children of Israel to sprinkle the door posts on both sides and on top with the blood of the lamb and on every house where they are to eat the Feast of the Passover, and to prepare the Feast. The Feast of the Passover is observed, according to the instructions of Moses, by every Jewish family in Egypt, the Feast consisting of roast lamb with unleavened bread and herbs. The same night that the Feast of the Passover is being observed by the Israelites, the Angel of Death passes over the land of Egypt in the last plague, the death of the first born. The Angel of Death enters every Egyptian home where there is no blood on the doorposts, and the first born of every Egyptian family is slain, from the first born in Pharaohs household to the first born of the captive in the dungeons. The Angel of Death, however, passes by every Jewish home, as God had promised to Moses that where He saw the blood on the doorposts He would pass them over and the plague should not be upon them. In Pharaohs palace Pharaoh and his court are feasting, when the Angel of Death enters and Pharaohs own first born is slain. Pharaoh is overcome with grief at this terrible visitation and sends for Moses and Aaron immediately. The death of his first born softens the heart of Pharaoh and when Moses and Aaron now appear before him he commands them to take the Children of Israel and to depart out of the land of Egypt. Moses and Aaron give the command to the Hebrew people, who immediately gather together their possessions and prepare to leave the land of their bondage with reverent and thankful hearts. With Moses and Aaron as leaders, the Israelites begin their exodus from Egypt, the land of the Pharaohs, where they had been slaves for so many years.
- The story, while not biographical, is founded on incidents in his life, showing his devotion for his sick wife, Virginia. Desperate from his utter helplessness to ameliorate his dying wife's suffering, owing to extreme destitution, he is in a frenzy of grief, when a raven is seen to perch on a bust of Pallas above the door of their cold, cheerless apartment. An inspiration! He sets to work, and that masterpiece. "The Raven," is the fruit. During his work he has divested himself of his coat, putting it over his wife to protect her from the cold. The poem finished, he rushes coatless and hatless to the publisher, where he meets with scant attention. One editor, however, thinks the work possesses some merit and offers ten dollars for it. Ten dollars for the greatest jewel in the diadem of fame - think of it! Poe thinks of the comforts, meager though they needs must be, for his poor wife and accepts the offer. Hastening to the store, he procures food, a heavy comfortable for the cot, and medicine, and with much lighter heart returns home. Spreading the quilt tenderly over Virginia, he takes her hand and gazes fondly into her sightless eyes, but the cold, unresponsive hand tells him the awful truth. "My God, she is dead!" and he falls prostrate across the cot.
- "Davy" Crockett, whose motto was "Be Sure You're Right, Then Go Ahead." Story opens with Davy's home. Next we see Blake and Anna, who arrive to have saddle girth mended. Davy a backwoods man mends girth, while the young lady reads a poem of young Lochinvar to him. They fall in love with each other. Later Davy sees storm arising, and follows them. They are about to be lost in the storm, when Davy rescues them from the wolves, after finding them exhausted. Later is shown where Anna is about to be married on the lawn of her Father's house to Blake, whom she now hates, when Davy rides in, grabs Anna, pulls her on the horse and rides away to a Country parson's house, marries Anna, takes her home to his own cabin, and says, "Mother, I have brought you a daughter."
- In this beautiful and wonderfully acted picture we present some of the principal incidents connected with the eventful life of the Maid of Orleans. In the opening picture we see Joan as a peasant girl wandering carefree through the meadows and living a tranquil life among the simple country folks. Her country is besieged in war and she being a patriot and a very religious girl, hears heavenly voices and St. Michael appears before her, telling her to go to see the King and save her country from the enemy. Joan tells her parents of the visions which she saw, but they are amazed at her strange actions and try to persuade her that it is only imagination. Finally they consent to her carrying out her purpose, and she takes her departure from her home and goes with Captain Beaudricourt to see the King. Upon hearing of the strange girl, the King is prone to be skeptical and as a test of her sincerity, he places a substitute on the throne to receive Joan. The latter through her supernatural powers discovers the deception and goes over to the King, who is keeping in the background. She falls on her knees before him and begs to be given charge of the army to lead them on to victory, telling the King that it is divine providence which sends her to him. The King becomes convinced of her sincerity and in the presence of the amassed multitude he complies with her request. In the next picture we see Joan entering Orleans at the head of the army and attacking the famous towers and after a fierce fight they put the enemy to rout. Next we see Joan triumphantly entering the great cathedral at Rheims where Charles VII is crowned King. Finally, at Campiegne, Joan is captured by the enemy and thrown into prison, where she is charged with being a sorceress and condemned to death, and in the last picture we see her being burned at the stake in Rouen, May 14, 1431.
- A stencil-colored film detailing the life of Jesus Christ.
- We first see Moliere at work in his father's shop, when a boy. All the employees are busy at their appointed tasks, except the youthful playwright, who snatches time to re-read one of his earliest efforts. The door opens and the Italian comedian, Scaramouche, enters in quest of a particular style of chair. Moliere tenders his play for perusal; but, just as Scaramouche begins to be interested, Poquelin, the father of Moliere, comes in unexpectedly and the play is hastily thrown out of sight. Again the boy poet places it in the comedian's hand, and some clever work is done by Scaramouche, as he tries to read the manuscript without being detected by the stern upholsterer. The next scene shows Moliere at the Louvre palace, where he meets Louis XIV for the first time. Here we see the scorn of the courtiers for the actor-dramatist and the consideration shown for him by the King. This scene will be remembered for the delicate beauty of the interiors shown. Next we view the stately splendor of the festival at Versailles, where hundreds of courtiers, ladies in waiting and great nobles attend on Louis XIV. The beauty of the court costumes, which set the fashion for all the royal houses in Europe at that time, and the courtly air and demeanor of every individual in the royal pageant, have been faithfully reproduced. One cannot but marvel at the excellence of the training of this vast throng, every one of whom acts his or her part as if manor-born. We must take off our hats to this Gaumont producer. As Moliere comes into the scene, the acting of the King, the courtiers and of the great actor himself, is faultless. When the King places his arm around Moliere's shoulders and walks off with him, it is a delight to watch the faces of the surprised and jealous train of followers. And when next we see Louis seated at table with Moliere, serving him with his own hands, the cup of the courtiers is full. The scene showing the distraction of Moliere over the desertion of his wife is a pathetic picture and displays talented emotional acting. Then, when she appears before finally leaving him, and we watch the play of coquetry on her witching face and note her charm of manner and grace of deportment, we do not wonder at poor Moliere's abandonment to despair. The attempt of the faithful maid servant to arouse Moliere from his apathy and melancholia is a brilliant specimen of silent acting in both roles. The last appearance of Moliere, and his first in the role of Malade, is a fine depiction of the stage of the tennis court theater and of the French manner of acting a part in the seventeenth century. Then follow his sudden illness and death.
- An episodic film about Manuel Rodriguez's life and work. He is a military hero.
- Kit Carson, the scout, picturesquely attired, mounted on a whirlwind horse, saves a band of settlers from the attack of an Indian band. The savages are discovered by Carson In full war paint riding at breakneck speed to the attack. In a sensational gallop from cabin to cabin he rounds up the settlers and sees them safely installed in the stockade. Scene after scene of startling intensity is shown, holding the audience breathless as the mad race for cover is made, with the shrieking Indians missing their quarry by a providential second. Carson knows full well that the little band cannot long withstand the attack of the savages, and rides for reinforcements, urging his steed to a terrific pace. While he is absent the unequal conflict is raging, the pioneers' wives and children loading the guns and the men tiring. The Indians circle round and round, showering volleys of arrows into the little fortress. The ranks of the whites are thinned and the redmen suffer heavy losses when the invaders succeed in setting fire to the stockade. In the meantime Carson has reached a camp of trappers. The situation is explained in a word and they dash furiously to the rescue, arriving in the nick of time. The Indians are put to rout, followed to their camp and destroyed, and their tepees burned. The last picture shows the whites riding away, leaving behind them a spectacular blaze as a grim reminder of their vengeance.
- This is the oldest found dramatic film from Serbia made in 1911. "Karadjordje" is a biography of a famed leader of a rebellion against the Turkish empire in 1804. We can see his whole life since childhood until his death in 1817 and all historic events he took part in.
- At the opening of the story, Nell Gwynne, a popular English actress, is seen as an orange girl selling her goods in and around the old Drury Theater. While she is bantering, Lady Olivia Vernon, the ward of Lord Jeffreys, Chief Justice of England, appeals to Nell for a hiding place. Lady Olivia is being pursued by her guardian and his soldiers and Lord Jeffreys is trying to force Lady Olivia to marry a wealthy lord. By quickness of wit, Nell secures a hiding place for Lady Olivia and later directs Lord Fairfax, Lady Olivia's lover, to the hiding place. While the soldiers are searching for the young couple, Nell distracts their attention by her powers of mimicry. Nell has been endeavoring to secure a part in one of the productions at the Drury Lane Theater, but has been unable to secure an opportunity to show her ability. In desperation she had assumed the role of the orange girl, hoping in this way to find occasion to demonstrate her histrionic ability to the manager of that theater. On the occasion of the illness of one of the principal characters in a production, Nell secures an opportunity to appear in the part. She makes an instantaneous hit, and from then on her success is assured. Lord Jeffreys tries to force Lady Olivia to marry the wealthy Lord Rochester, but Nell Gywnn repeatedly outwits the chief justice. Fairfax, Lady Olivia's lover, is finally captured by Lord Jeffreys and thrown into prison. Lord Jeffreys has trumped up charges against Fairfax, and by trickery has made King Charles believe them. Nell seizes an opportunity to disguise herself as Lord Jeffreys, and to issue orders which help release Fairfax. Nell's final appeal to the King saves her young lover, and he is set free to join his sweetheart. Lord Jeffreys, for his trickery, is dismissed by the King. Nell continues on her rollicking way, and is the idol of the country. Her final good deed is the presentation of a wonderful hospital to the nation. Although she is now the favorite of the King, Nell does not forget her old friend.
- The story of this film is particularly interesting, because our old friend Max has recently undergone a very serious operation, and this is his first reappearance. He plays this little sketch with a view of assuring his friends that he has entirely recovered, and he is ably assisted by his sister and father and mother. In the picture Max arrives at his home town, is met at the station by his sister, who accompanies him home, where he meets his father and mother and all the pets of the household. The story is built around these pets and is a corking good comedy.
- Although several others are ahead of him in the line of succession, Richard of Gloucester is determined to gain the throne. Through deceit, manipulation, and murder, he does become King Richard III of England. But once he becomes king, he soon finds out that the many enemies he has made will make it very difficult for him to remain on the throne for long.
- An account of the life of Jesus Christ according to the New Testament, told as a series of tableaus interspersed with Bible verses.
- Episodes from the life of Elizabeth I, Queen of England (1533-1603), focusing on her ill-fated love affair with Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex.
- While on a vacation, an elderly Buffalo Bill dreams of his adventures as a young man when he scouted for the cavalry, fought Indians and captured outlaws.
- As is known, Columbus visited nearly every Court in Europe for assistance to carry out his great project. The Selig films introduce him to us in Portugal, where he sought the favor of John II. We see him visit a quaint votive shrine in Portugal accompanied by his son Diego, who is seen leading the lone donkey, which carried their scanty effects. They are on the way to Spain, where the mariner hopes to gain an audience with the good Queen Isabella. We next see the little party at an old mission in Spain, where Columbus stops and explains his plans and theories to the pious fathers. Most of the latter, we can see, are astounded at his views on geography and shake their heads gravely as they ponder. However, he interests Fra Antonio, one of the Queen's confessors, who succeeds in getting him an audience with her Majesty. The meeting takes place in the royal tent on the field of Granada, where at the time, a conflict rages between the royal troops and the Moors. Just as Columbus has won the Queen's ear and he has spread his charts on the table, messengers arrive from the battlefield and announce the surrender of the Moors, putting an end to the interview. Isabella turns Columbus over to the wise men of Salamanca to test his sanity, and one can easily see that they look on him as a mad theorist. But Fra Antonio persuades the Queen to grant Columbus another audience, and we are treated to a splendid Court scene, where Isabella and Ferdinand listen to the great mariner. The Queen offers to sell her jewels to support Columbus on his quest, but she is spared the sacrifice by the generosity of Fernandez, the Court physician, who finances the undertaking. Next we see Columbus made an admiral by King Ferdinand, in presence of the Court, and a great procession of ecclesiastics, a vestal choir, famous dignitaries and other members of the laity as they march past the royal stand. This is one of the most imposing scenes in the three films and forms a fitting close to the first reel. And now the three caravels pass before us in order; first the flagship Santa Maria, next the Pinta and then the Nina. They are first seen anchored in the quiet harbor of Palos, from which they set sail on an epoch-making voyage. We catch a glimpse of Sunday mass on board the Santa Maria as the little vessels plow their ways further into unknown seas. And soon we notice discontent and disaffection among the sailors. The captains of the smaller craft see it and, half in accord with the spirit, try to influence Columbus to turn back to Spain. They visit him again as mutiny flaunts its face, and we see the intrepid Commander quelling the turbulent spirits by his presence and cheering words of hope. Shortly afterwards we see the faces of Columbus and others raised aloft in ecstasy, as the lookout cries, "Land Ho!" "Away to the West," he further cries in answer to the Admiral. And then, with hearts full of thankfulness to the Giver of all Good, we see the worn out sailors join with their Commander in offering thanksgiving. Then a bird is caught in the rigging by a sailor, and every eye is strained to catch a glimpse of the shore from which it has flown. Next we view the fleet at anchor and the landing on the island, on the coast of which a body of natives watches the strange white men from the clouds. The standard of Spain is reared on the new soil on which Columbus had first planted the emblem of the cross. The third reel opens with a magnificent scene showing the welcome extended Columbus and his men at the Court of Ferdinand and Isabella. It is one fully befitting the occasion, and fairly flashes with royal and courtly splendor. In the midst of the great assemblage, where even stoical grandees applaud the success of Columbus, he is knighted by King Ferdinand. A fine interior scene is devoted to the "egg" incident. We see the insulting courtier, who had tried to belittle the feat of Columbus, humbled by the simple problem of standing an egg on end. This scene is artistically posed and is worthy of being ranked with a great painting. The third voyage is undertaken by Columbus and we see him mourning over the destruction of his colony, La Navidad. Insolent and avaricious Spanish nobles had wrought the ruin, and already they had planned the ruin of the Great Discoverer. While he is endeavoring to rebuild the colony and the fortunes of the natives who love him, Francisco de Boabdilla arrives to take him back in chains to Spain. As the arrest is being made the following proclamation is read: "Whereas, one Christoper Columbus, governor of the Antilles, has been found guilty of malfeasance in office and has not accounted for much gold promised the Crown, the Commissioner of the Crown, Boabdilla, will cause his arrest and conduct him to Spain for trial. Ferdinand." We see the natives determined to set Columbus free; but we also see him dissuading them from their purpose. Then our blood boils as we watch them riveting the cruel chains on his ankles, and witness the further shame of Spain as he sails away, bound and alone, in the vessel's hold. The final sub-title in the third reel, "Sic transit Gloria virum," is scarcely fitting in this case. True, the honors heaped on a man by the world may pass away, but the glory of great deeds performed by him for the human race cannot pass away. The glory of Columbus is greater now than ever before. While cheated of his right to have the great continent, discovered by him, named after him, the story of his life is known to all, while one is obliged to refer to an encyclopedia for information about Amerigo.
- Spartacus sold as a slave rises up and battles the evil Crassus.