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The Adventures of Francois Villon
(1914) United States of America
B&W : Serial / Three chapters / [?] Three or Six? reels
Directed by Charles Giblyn
Cast: Murdock MacQuarrie [François Villon], Pauline Bush [Philippa de Annonay (chapter 1); and Lady Eleyne (chapter 2)], Lon Chaney [Chevalier Bertrand de la Payne (chapter 1); and Sir Stephen Fitz Allen (chapter 2)], H.C. Crane (Doc Crane) [King Louis XI], Chester Withey (Chet Withey) [Colin], Millard K. Wilson [Philip de Soisson; and the Almoner (chapter 3)], Frank Lanning [Oliver Le Dain], Marc B. Robbins [Sir Haco Hubba], Mark Fenton [Oliver De Breuil], Benjamin F. Horning (Ben Horning) [Jean Ballue], Agnes Vernon [Madame De Breuil (chapter 3)]
[?] New York Motion Picture Company [101-Bison]? production; distributed by The Universal Film Manufacturing Company, Incorporated. / Produced by Joseph De Grasse. Scenario by H.G. Stafford (Harry G. Stafford), from a screen story by George Bronson Howard. Cinematography by Lee Bartholomew. / Three chapters: [1] “The Oubliette,” released 15 August 1914; [2] “The Higher Law,” released 19 September 1914; [3] “Ninety Black Boxes,” released 21 November 1914. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama: Historical.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? [Chapter 1] Francois Villon, vagabond, poet and philosopher, and his friend Colin, leave the vagabond camp and start for Paris. En route to that city, Villon’s heart is touched at sight of the eviction of an elderly couple from their poor home. Whereupon he empties his own and Colin’s purse, pays the Beadle, and then resume their journey. Overcome with the pangs of hunger, they “lift” the purses of a couple of corpulent monks. For this breach of law both Villon and Colin are arrested and thrown into prison. They succeed in overpowering the turnkey and, assisted by Colin, who insists that his friend don the clothes of the turnkey, Villon makes his escape. Colin is tried, convicted and hanged. At the foot of the gibbet, Villon’s farewell to the swinging Colin is interrupted by the entrance of the Chevalier do Soissons. Villon resents the knight’s tirade against the corpse of Colin. Fight ensues and the crafty vagabond slays the knight, using as a weapon a great stone. The rich purse, armor, etc., of de Soissons proves too strong a snare for the impoverished Villon, who quickly changes habiliments with the dead knight, props the body against the gallows and then continues on his way to Paris. Philippa de Annonnay, the fair ward of the Chevalier Bertrand de Pogne, is held prisoner in an inn. Villon chooses this inn wherein to satisfy the cravings of hunger. Here he meets de Pogne. From her window she sees the entrance of Villon and determines to appeal to the strange knight. An animated discussion between Villon and de Pogne is interrupted by a scream from Philips. Villon starts to climb the stairs to the gallery of the inn. De Pogne bars the way and a terrific battle with swords ensues. The fight continues up the stairs and toward Philippa’s window, through which the girl reaches as the fight continues on the balcony and stabs de Pogne, who falls to the floor below, dead. Villon conducts Philippa safely to her castle, then resumes his journey to Paris. Having dissipated the proceeds of the de Soissons adventure, Villon hies himself to a garret, where he spends his time in courting the muses. Louis XI, the “Prowler,” determines to test the loyalty of Villon. To this end, the king hies himself to a dungeon in the Bastille, causes the arrest of Villon, then offers that worthy his freedom if he will help overthrow the king. Villon indignantly refuses to purchase his freedom at such a price. Whereupon Louis reveals himself to the poet and presents Villon with a bound copy of his (Villon’s) manuscript, which was the first book to be printed in France. Then Louis knights him, bestowing upon Villon the title Chevalier des Loges. // [Chapter 2] The youthful monarch, Edward IV of England, is treacherously advised by Sir Stephen Fitz Allen, who is the King’s boon companion, in favor of turning down the offer of Louis XI to cease the controversy that has been pending so long. The King, Edward IV, follows the advice of his companion and the French messenger meets with an insult, returning to the French court in a quandary. The old roue, remembering through a vision his scene with Villon in the dungeon, sends for the Poet Laureate to solve the riddle. Villon suggests that it might not be a bad idea to remove Sir Stephen, thereby causing the weakling, Edward IV, to fall into his hands. Louis XI considers the advice good and orders Villon to proceed to England and to move against Sir Stephen. Sir Haco Hubba, long tired of the strife and bloodshed, has shut himself up in Castle Lyme, where he dwells in peace with an only daughter, the Lady Eleyne. Villon learns of Sir Haco, begs an interview, and is invited to call at Lyme Castle. Villon accepts. Here he impresses upon the mind of Sir Haco the fact that it is better that one perish, than that the lives of countless thousands be sacrificed. Sir Haco agrees, but can see no way whereby the wily Sir Stephen can be induced to enter a trap. The Lady Eleyne enters and Villon informs Sir Haco that his beautiful daughter is the bait whereby to catch the fish. Eleyne’s scruples are overcome and she agrees to go to court and there ensnare Sir Stephen. The action follows and Sir Stephen, now madly in love with Eleyne, follows her to Castle Lyme. Villon is on the watch, and catching Sir Stephen prowling about the castle halls, summons Sir Haco’s men-at-arms, who quickly dispatch Sir Stephen, whereupon Villon returns to Louis’ court and acquaints his master with the success of the expedition. // [Chapter 3] King Louis XI of France is beset with the idea that his uncle, the aged King Rene, is trafficking with England and Burgundy against the French throne. So well has Francois Villon served his royal master that Louis sends him to Rene’s court, there to either realize or set at rest the suspicion. The poet-ambassador obeys the will of Louis and soon convinces himself that the French king’s suspicion is unwarranted. His diplomatic business being at an end, Villon lingers to enjoy himself at Rene’s court. Guests of King Rene are the Duke and the Duchess De Breuil. The young Duchess, charmed with Villon’s poetry, draws the susceptible poet into a mild flirtation. Her husband, the Duke, discovers Villon and the Duchess in the garden. The Duke his anger getting the better of his good judgment, insults Villon and hurls his gage at the feet of the poet. The action takes place before King Rene, who, while regretting that the quarrel has been forced upon Villon, tells the poet that the lists are at his service. Villon is no fighter, nor is he a coward; he prefers a battle of wits rather than a battle with swords. To save his face, Villon picks up the Duke’s glove and with it lightly assaults its owner, then claims protection on the plea that a vow prevents his indulging in an assault at arms. To further fortify himself against such a possibility the poet requests that the king set him some knightly task, that life may be saved. The request pleases the aged monarch. Thought immediately comes to him concerning one John Ballue, a man of great cruelty, of whom it is known that his prisoners, having once gotten into his clutches, never escape, each prisoner being confined in a narrow box, to which there are no keys. The King informs Villon that he, accompanied by the Duke De Breuil, shall go to Anjou and pit themselves against John Ballue. The Duke, knowing the history of Ballue, refuses. Villon sneers at the Duke, then accepts the King’s mission. We next find Villon at the palace of John Ballue, measuring his wits against those of the jailer. Villon wins the mental battle, succeeds in shutting Ballue into one of his own boxes and liberates the prisoners. En route to Rene’s court, Villon is foolish enough to offer Ballue an opportunity to fight for his life. Once out of the box the crafty prisoner makes good his escape. Humiliated and fearing the wrath of Rene and the ridicule of Louis XI, Villon bids the released prisoners go their various ways then seeks out the camp of his vagabond friends. Here we leave him, though not for long, for it is known that the French king, after three years, sought him out and raised him to a dignity greater than that which he enjoyed prior to his return into Vagabondia.
Survival status: Print exists in the Library of Congress film archive [chapter 1 only].
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Keywords: France - Serials - Writers: Poets: François Villon
Listing updated: 6 May 2020.
References: Spehr-American p. 100; Weaver-Twenty p. 76 : Website-IMDb.
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