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Betrayed by a Handprint
(1908) United States of America
B&W : One reel / 833 feet
Directed by D.W. Griffith
Cast: Florence Lawrence [Myrtle Vane], Harry Solter [Mr. Wharton], George Gebhardt [the palmister], Mack Sennett [the butler], Linda Arvidson [the maid; and a party guest], Gene Gauntier [a party guest], [?] Kate Bruce? [Mrs. Wharton]
American Mutoscope & Biograph Company production; distributed by American Mutoscope & Biograph Company. / Scenario by [?] D.W. Griffith? Cinematography by Arthur Marvin and G.W. Bitzer. / © 27 August 1908 by American Mutoscope & Biograph Company [H115136]. Released 1 September 1908. / [?] Biograph 35mm spherical format?
Drama.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? Dashing widow Mrs. Wharton gives a party at her beautiful villa in honor of the presentation to her of a handsome diamond necklace by her fiancé, during the evening bridge party participated in by a number of the guests. One, Miss Myrtle Vane, is having wretched luck and Mrs. Wharton advises her several tomes to desist, but she plays on in the vain hope of fortune’s tide turning, until finally, in extreme desperation, she stakes her all — and loses. Shame and disgrace stare her in the face. What can she do to recoup her depleted fortune? Another guest is eminent palmist Professor Francois Paracelsus, who of course, was called upon to read the palms of those present. Sheets of paper were prepared and each imprinted their hand on a sheet to be read by the erudite soothsayer at his leisure, so were left on the drawing room table. All have now retired to the apartments assigned them by Mrs. Wharton, but there seems to be a sleepless night before Myrtle, and she suffers mental agony until the thought of the necklace flashes before her mind’s eye — if she only possessed those treasures all would be well. The more she thought of it the more unconquerable became her covetousness, until the inimitable determination to secure them seized her, but how? To enter her room by the door would not only arouse the hostess, but maybe the guests as well. There was but one way, by the window, and this undertaking was decidedly hazardous, for it meant that she must crawl along the narrow ledge between her window and that of Mrs. Wharton, a distance of 20 feet, and one slight misstep would result in her being dashed to death on the walk below. But she makes the trip without mishap, and entering the room she searches noiselessly for the top of the dresser, finds it, secures the necklace, and makes her way back to her apartment. Now to hide the jewels. An ingenious idea strikes her. She cuts in two a bar of soap, and hollowing it out, places the treasure inside and joins the parts together. Meanwhile Mrs. Wharton, aroused from her slumber, intuitively looks to her diamonds, but finds them gone. “What’s this? A clue!” On the dresser there is a sheet of the palmister's paper on which there is a handprint of dust. Down to the drawing room for the corresponding imprint. There it is, and signed “Myrtle Vane.” To Miss Vane’s room goes the furious Mrs. Wharton, and during the scene that transpires the soap is brushed from the table and breaks open, exposing the necklace, at the same time convicting the poor girl. Upon the recovery of her jewels, Mrs. Wharton’s anger subsides and she is inclined to be charitable towards the unfortunate girl kneeling at her feet, so she not only forgives her, but insists upon aiding her financially.
Survival status: Print exists in the Library of Congress film archive (paper print collection) [16mm preservation reduction positive].
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 20 December 2024.
References: Barry-Griffith p. 40; Fell-History pp. 56, 62; Spehr-American p. 1 : Website-AFI; Website-IMDb.
Home video: DVD.
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