The Legend Beautiful

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The Legend Beautiful
Directed by Tom Ricketts
Written by Clarence J. Harris (Story)
Based onPoetry
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow [1]
Starring William Garwood
Perry Banks
Jack Richardson
Distributed by Mutual Film
Release date
  • January 4, 1915 (1915-01-04)
CountryUnited States
LanguagesSilent film
English intertitles

The Legend Beautiful is a 1915 American silent short drama film directed by Tom Ricketts. It stars William Garwood in the lead role with Perry Banks and Jack Richardson. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

Contents


Plot

The plot was described in The Moving Picture World :

Jose and Pietro are brothers living on their father's ranch. Both are attracted to Rachel, who loves Jose, but admires Pietro for his enterprise. However, she refuses to marry either of them.

In order to rouse Jose, the local Padre suggests to the boys' aged father that he tell his sons of gold in their neglected fields. However, it is Pietro who applies himself, and in his greed leaves his father to be cared for on his dying bed by Jose.

Rachel at last consents to marry Jose. Pietro, incensed, drugs his brother's wine and induces him to sell his share of their inheritance. The inebriated Jose goes to show Rachel the money. The girl, broken hearted at his rash decision, sends him away.

On coming to himself, Jose is beset with shame and despair, and wanders away from the ranch. Returning a few weeks later, he learns that that his brother has married Rachel. He goes to a certain rock and, putting the gold he has received from Pietro underneath, with a note swearing revenge to the death, he informs his brother that there is one rock he has overlooked. A short time later, Pietro and his bride discover the money, and the note.

Years pass, finding Pietro reduced to poverty and stricken with illness. Jose, now the owner of a gold mine, still thirsts for revenge. Returning to the ranch intending to kill Pietro, he stops at the cottage which was once his home. Exhausted from travel, he falls asleep.

Meanwhile, Leah, the eight-year-old child of Pietro, has been listening to the Padre's story of the Legend Beautiful; of a time when Christ appeared to him. She comes to the cottage with her basket full of bread and lilies and wakens the sleeping stranger. Hearing her recital of the legend, and that she is his brother's child, he is stirred to repentance: falling on his knees in the hut, he beholds a vision of Christ.

Jose hastens to Pietro's home and, clasping his brother in his arms, begs forgiveness. Not long after, Pietro succumbs to his sickness. On the threshold of taking holy orders, Jose learns of his brother's death. He and Rachel at last are united.

Cast

Reception

Motography called it a "beautiful film which would be a credit to any director", also praising the scenery and noting the handsome orange-yellow tinting of the film. They also praised the "virile character interpretations", finally calling it a "picture [belonging] to the class which not only satisfies an audience, but also impresses it and leaves with it a memory of grandeur which less artistic films fail to create." [4]

References

  1. ↑ Denis Gifford (1991). Books and Plays in Films, 1896–1915: Literary, Theatrical, and Artistic Sources of the First Twenty Years of Motion Pictures. McFarland. p. 95. ISBN   9780899506500 . Retrieved January 11, 2026.
  2. ↑ American Film Manufacturing Company (1914). "The Legend Beautiful". Motion Picture Copyright Descriptions Collection, Class L, 1912–1977. Library of Congress. Retrieved January 13, 2026.
  3. ↑ Braff, Richard E (2002). The Braff Silent Short Film Working Papers. McFarland & Company. p. 282. ISBN   0786410310.
  4. 1 2 "The Legend Beautiful — An Artistic Film". Motography. Vol. 13, no. 2. Chicago: Electricity Magazine Corp. January 9, 1915. p. 45. Retrieved January 11, 2026– via Google Books (Nickelodeon, Volume 13, Issues 1–26).PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  5. ↑ ""The Legend Beautiful (Two Reels—Jan. 4)"". Moving Picture World. Vol. 23. New York: Chalmers Publishing Company. January–March 1915. p. 272. Retrieved January 11, 2026.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  6. ↑ "Variety, Vol. 37, No. 5 (January 1, 1915)". Variety. New York: Variety Publishing Company. January 1915. p. 28. Retrieved January 11, 2026.


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