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The Bride of Lammermoor
Also known as [The Bride of Lammermoor: A Tragedy of Bonnie Scotland]
(1909) United States of America
B&W : Short film
Directed by J. Stuart Blackton
Cast: Annette Kellerman, Maurice Costello
The Vitagraph Company of America production; distributed by The Vitagraph Company of America. / Scenario by Liebler (Theodore A. Liebler Jr.), from the novel The Bride of Lammermoor by Sir Walter Scott. / Released 5 January 1909. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format. / The novel was subsequently filmed as [The Bride of Lammermoor] (1912).
Drama: Historical.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? A young girl is being urged by her father to marry a Duke. She refuses and leaves the room, closely followed by the Duke who remains unseen. She enters the garden, where she meets her lover. The couple plight their troth. The young man gives his sweetheart a ring in token, then hastily departs. The girl, turning, meets the Duke face to face. He follows her to the house, tells her father of the scene he has witnessed. The old man angrily orders his daughter from the room, then with the Duke concocts a plan to cure the girl’s love. They dispatch a note, signing the lover’s name, making an appointment for that evening. She unsuspectingly goes to the spot designated, waits anxiously for her lover, and when he does not appear, returns home, convinced that he is false. Another forged note but adds to her grief, and when the Duke again presses his suit the girl reluctantly consents. In due time the wedding takes place and as the bride signs the marriage contract, her former lover enters and demands an explanation. The girl tells of the letters. He angrily asks for the betrothal ring, throws it to the ground, grinds it beneath his feet, bitterly curses her and her family, then leaves. The young girl realizing the deception practiced upon her, shows signs of madness. Her father, entering with the Duke, becomes alarmed at her condition. The latter is frightened at her wild appearance, and as he approaches she stabs him before her father can intercede. She kisses the picture of her lover, walks among the guests still carrying the dagger. During this time the lover in his room is bemoaning his fate, when the fearful news is brought to him. He hastens to the castle and pleads with his sweetheart, trying to bring back her wandering senses. She gazes at him wildly at first, then gradually her memory returns. The forged letters arc again brought out and when the lover denies having written them, the knowledge that he still loves her and the fact that she has been cruelly deceived, drives her again to madness and she dies in her lover’s arms.
Survival status: The film is presumed lost.
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 9 January 2025.
References: Website-IMDb : with additional information provided by Mary Cade.
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