| The New Moon | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Chester Withey |
| Written by | Chester Withey H. H. Van Loan |
| Produced by | Norma Talmadge |
| Starring | Norma Talmadge |
| Cinematography | David Abel |
| Distributed by | Select Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 72 minutes |
| Country | USA |
| Language | Silent..English intertitles |
The New Moon is a 1919 silent film adventure drama directed by Chester Withey and produced by and starring Norma Talmadge, with Pedro de Cordoba and Charles K. Gerrard. [1] [2] [3]
Princess Maria Pavlovna (Norma Talmadge) is at a grand ball in the palace of the Pavlovnas, given in honor of her engagement to Prince Michail Koloyar (Pedro de Cordoba). Marie reveals a democratic side in her kind treatment of the peasants, and is beloved by them.
In the midst of the gaiety, a Bolshevik mob led by Orel Kosloff (Stuart Holmes) invades the palace to ruthlessly kill and plunder, leaving the palace in ruins. Kosloff is actually a tool of an uninvited guest, Theo Kameneff (Charles Gerard), who is only a pretend Red, being paid by a foreign government to ruin Russia. The Prince makes one gallant fight after another to save Marie, and finally succeeds in sending her away in a carriage, but loses track of her as he makes his own escape.
Disguising himself as a peasant courier, who is a Red, with access to military centers, he searches for her. Michail is caught and ordered to be shot, but he escapes. She, meanwhile, using her jewels, manages to purchase a grocery store in the village of Volsk, to provide a hideout. She creates the peasant identity of Sonia Sazonoff to run the store as its shopkeeper.
By accident, Marie is discovered by the unscrupulous Kameneff, who is now in love with her, though he is unknown to her. He issues a mandate that all females between 17 and 32 must register, and Marie does so under her assumed name, supposing it is for good work.
The women are undeceived when they find a second mandate makes them national property at the disposal of men. They appeal to Marie at a moment when Kameneff is within hearing. She says she will make an appeal to Kameneff.
Once she is alone with him, he reveals his identity and offers to revoke the order if she will live under his protection. With indomitable spirit, she denies him. Instead, she secretly helps women escape to the border. An orgy of brutality follows. Kosloff rapes potter Vasili Lazoff's (Marc McDermott) daughter. Marie locks Kameneff's sister, Nadia Kameneff (Marguerite Clayton), in a room to keep her away from one of his lustful henchmen. He tries to break open the door with an ax, and Marie grabs a large whip and beats him. He throws the ax, missing her face by inches. He then wrestles her to the floor before being driven off by an ax-wielding Lazoff. Marie is caught aiding women to escape and becomes a candidate for execution. She is arrested and taken to Kameneff's headquarters. Lazoff becomes an instrument of vengeance and chokes the brutal Kosloff to death. Kameneff, meanwhile, has executed a group of women, including his own sister. Michail, despite being told that Marie is Kameneff's mistress, goes to her rescue, and reads her innocence in her eyes. Lazoff holds the pistol that Kameneff uses to commit suicide. Michail and Marie escape across the border, to enjoy new freedom and true happiness, though betrothed under the unlucky full moon (sic, confusing full moon with new moon; but, in the film, only a crescent moon is shown.) [Source: adapted and compiled from various sources at https://web.stanford.edu/~gdegroat/NT/oldreviews/nm.htm#variety, with additional information from Janiss Garza at https://www.allmovie.com/movie/v103825]
Norma Marie Talmadge was an American actress and film producer of the silent era. A major box-office draw for more than a decade, her career reached a peak in the early 1920s, when she ranked among the most popular idols of the American screen.
Constance Alice Talmadge was an American silent film star. She was the sister of actresses Norma and Natalie Talmadge.
The Lane That Had No Turning is a lost 1922 American silent drama film that was directed by Victor Fleming. It was produced by Famous Players–Lasky and released through Paramount Pictures. It is based on the short novel with the same title by Gilbert Parker, which is included as the title story of Parker's 1900 collection The Lane that Had No Turning, and Other Tales Concerning the People of Pontiac.
Charles K. Gerrard, also known as Charles Kavanagh, was an Irish-American motion-picture actor, and the elder brother of actor and film director Douglas Gerrard.
Lady Robinhood is a 1925 American silent drama film directed by Ralph Ince, starring Evelyn Brent, and featuring Boris Karloff.
The Legion of Death is a 1918 American silent drama film directed by Tod Browning, and released by Metro Pictures Corporation.
The Secret of the Storm Country was a 1917 American silent drama film directed by Charles Miller and starring Norma Talmadge. The film is described as not a direct sequel but a "continuation" of the 1914 film Tess of the Storm Country, starring Mary Pickford. The film is now considered lost.
Smilin' Through is a 1922 American silent drama film based on the 1919 play of the same name, written by Jane Cowl and Jane Murfin. The film starred Norma Talmadge, Harrison Ford, and Wyndham Standing. It was co-written and directed by Sidney Franklin, who also directed the more famous 1932 remake at MGM. The film was produced by Talmadge and her husband Joseph M. Schenck for her company, the Norma Talmadge Film Corporation. It was released by First National Pictures. Popular character actor Gene Lockhart made his screen debut in this film.
Her Husband's Trademark is a 1922 American silent drama film directed by Sam Wood and starring Gloria Swanson and Richard Wayne. Produced by Famous Players–Lasky and distributed by Paramount Pictures, the film was shot on location in El Paso, Texas.
The Branded Woman is a 1920 American silent drama film released by First National Pictures. It stars Norma Talmadge who also produced the film along with her husband Joseph Schenck through their production company, Norma Talmadge Productions. The film is based on a 1917 Broadway play Branded, by Oliver D. Bailey and was adapted for the screen by Anita Loos and Albert Parker who also directed.
The Isle of Conquest is a 1919 American silent drama film starring Norma Talmadge and produced by Talmadge and her husband Joseph Schenck. The film is now considered lost.
The Probation Wife is a 1919 American silent comedy-drama film directed by Sidney Franklin and starring Norma Talmadge. Talmadge served as her own producer with distribution through Select Pictures.
Kathleen Mavourneen is a lost 1919 American silent drama film directed by Charles J. Brabin and starring his wife Theda Bara. It was produced and distributed by Fox Film Corporation. A much filmed story based on the poem, Kathleen Mavourneen, by Annie Crawford and play by Dion Boucicault.
On Time is a 1924 American silent comedy drama film directed by Henry Lehrman and starring Richard Talmadge.
A Daughter of Two Worlds is a surviving 1920 silent film adventure drama directed by James Young and starring Norma Talmadge, Jack Crosby, and Virginia Lee.
The Woman Gives is a 1920 American silent drama film directed by Roy William Neill and starring Norma Talmadge, John Halliday, and Edmund Lowe.
Love's Redemption is a 1921 American silent adventure drama film directed by Albert Parker and starring Norma Talmadge, Harrison Ford, and Montagu Love. The film is presumed to be lost.
She Loves and Lies is a 1920 American silent comedy drama film directed by Chester Withey and starring Norma Talmadge, Conway Tearle, and Octavia Broske.
Poppy is a 1917 American silent adventure drama film directed by Edward José and starring Norma Talmadge, Eugene O'Brien, and Frederick Perry.
Graustark is a 1925 American silent romantic adventure film produced by Dimitri Buchowetzki for Norma Talmadge Productions and distributed by First National. It is based on the novel Graustark by George Barr McCutcheon. It was directed by Dimitri Buchowetzki with Norma Talmadge as the leading woman.
