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Captain Fracasse
(1915) United States of America
B&W : Two reels
Directed by (unknown)
Cast: Alan Hale [Baron de Sigognac, also known as Captain Fracasse], Vola Smith (Vola Vale) [Isabelle], Kate Bruce [Madame Leonarde], Charles H. Mailes (Charles Hill Mailes) [the duke], Herbert Barrington [the duke’s father], G. Raymond Nye [Agostino], [?] J. Farrell MacDonald?
Biograph Company production; distributed by The General Film Company, Incorporated. / From the novel Le Capitaine Fracasse by Théophile Gautier. / Released 25 May 1915. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format. / The novel was previously filmed as Le capitaine Fracasse (1928).
Drama: Historical.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? A troupe of strolling players, journeying through the country, sustain a breakdown of their wagon near the chateau of the impoverished young Baron de Sigognac, and are hospitably entertained by him. Among the members are two women to whom the young baron is particularly drawn, Madame Leonarde, the beloved duenna of the troupe, and Isabelle, a beautiful girl. Isabelle persuades the baron to join the troupe, and he is nothing loath to seize an opportunity of basking in her smiles. On the road the baron is rehearsed in his first part, from which he assumes the name of Captain Fracasse. The wagon is ambushed by bandits under the leadership of Agostino, but Captain Fracasse leads the actors in a charge and drives off the bandits, after capturing a young girl, who, in response to questions, replies that she is a waif, named Chiquita, and adopted into the band by Agostino. Captain Fracasse gives Chiquita her freedom. That night, at an inn where they stop for safety, the players fall in with the profligate Duke de Vallombreuse and his friends. The duke makes advances to Isabelle and, being rebuffed, makes a wager with his friends that he will kiss the girl. The troupe repairs to the theater where a performance is to be given, and Captain Fracasse asks Isabelle to be his wife. She confesses her love, but says, “I am only a strolling player, while you are noble, and I love you too well to mar your future by marrying you.” The duke, scheming to win his wager, is embarrassed by the sudden arrival of his father, who enters the box where Vallombreuse and his friends are seated. After the performance the duke makes his way behind the scenes and is about to kiss Isabelle, whom he has seized in his arms, when Captain Fracasse hurls him away. Swords are drawn, but the duke’s friends implore him not to soil his weapon on a vagabond actor. The duke’s father recognizes in Madame Leonarde an old acquaintance, and, strangely overcome with emotion, she leads him to a box where they may talk unheard. “That poor dying actress left your child in my care,” she tells the sorrowful man before her, who conjures up visions of his wild youth, and of the girl he betrayed. “Isabelle is that child, your daughter,” Madame Leonarde goes on, and the man starts up, eager to see his child, but when they reach the green room Isabelle is gone, abducted by Agostino and the other bandits at the behest of Vallombreuse. Despite the efforts of Captain Fracasse and his aids, they have taken her to the castle. Word of their destination is brought by little Chiquita, and she leads Captain Fracasse to the window through which he plunges in time to save Isabelle from self-destruction with the dagger which has menaced Vallombreuse in vain. The duke’s father, following with his adherents, breaks into the room and stops the duel. To his abashed son he explains the hideous nature of his schemes in the words, “She is your sister.” Thus, also, he gives Isabelle her birthright and raises her from vagabondage to the level of the noblesse.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Keywords: Authors: Théophile Gautier (1811-1872)
Listing updated: 9 January 2025.
References: Spehr-American p. 1 : Website-IMDb.
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