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Entombed Alive
(1909) United States of America
B&W : One reel / 994 feet
Directed by (unknown)
Cast: Annette Kellerman
The Vitagraph Company of America production; distributed by The Vitagraph Company of America. / From the short story “La grande Breteche” by Honoré de Balzac. / Released 30 October 1909. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama.
Synopsis: [The Moving Picture World, 30 October 1909, page ?] A very fine adaptation of a French classic which introduces the company of Italian players recently added to the Vitagraph Stock Company. Camilla Frugoni is so unfortunate as to attract the attention of Lugi Zuccari, a miserly old man, to whom her father is under heavy financial obligations. For his sake, she is polite to the withered old usurer, but she shrinks from his touch and barely can endure his presence. Guido Marini, a handsome young fellow, is her heart’s choice and expects some day to be accepted by the family as her husband. The match is approved by her parents and she looks forward to the time when they shall he united. But Zuccari is determined to win her, and when her father defaults in his payments, the miser presses him for a settlement and at last makes formal demand for the money due, threatening to have Frugoni thrown into jail unless he meets the obligation. There is hope that the money presently will be forthcoming when Frugoni’s ship comes to port, but even as they are discussing the matter, a sailor arrives with the evil news that the ship is a total loss. Zuccari offers to cancel the note if Camilla will promise to marry him, and in despair the girl gives her hand to save her father from imprisonment and ruin. It is the hand alone she gives, for union with the old dotard is worse than death, and she shrinks from his caresses. Zuccari knows of her love for Guido, and wrongs her by suspecting her of infidelity. He pretends to go on a journey, and Guido, seeing him depart, is unable to withstand the temptation to see her once more. She is delighted when he comes to her and pours for him a glass of wine. They have just settled down for a chat when Zuccari is heard returning, and she begs Guido to conceal himself in a closet. The miser perceives her agitation and his suspicions are aroused, for in her terror she has forgotten her dislike and is unusually demonstrative. He asks why two wine glasses are filled, and her explanation that she poured one for him when she heard him coming does not satisfy him. He questions her closely, but she denies that anyone has been there. A noise in the closet confirms his suspicions. He commands her to swear that no one is concealed there, and she makes oath. Masons are working on the garden wall, a part of which is falling down, and Zuccari sends for them and orders the arch to be walled up. Closely he watches her face, but she does not give way until the wall is breast high and rapidly being completed. To save Guido, she confesses his presence and Zuccari sends the workmen away. He throws her to the ground and is strangling her to death when Guido, hearing her cries, breaks open the door and, throwing down the barrier, is about to engage the old man in combat when the heart disease, from which Zuccari has been shown to be suffering, again attacks him, and over the dead body of the dotard, the lovers are united.
Reviews: [The Moving Picture World, 13 November 1909, page ?] A company of Italian players have been added to the Vitagraph’s actors, and to them was assigned the presentation of this subject. In some ways it is a marvel of merit. In others it is less to our taste, because it exhibits the worst side of human nature so graphically that it can be seen in all its repulsiveness, and largely, too, because of the sympathy the audience have with the girl who is forced into a repulsive alliance. The acting is finished, and, so far as the elements of dramatic art go, it would be difficult to conceive anything better. But to see a young man walled up alive merely because he dared to love a girl is not quite to one’s liking, even though it is only a drama. And when he breaks out and the miser drops dead at the lovers’ feet, universal satisfaction is expressed by the spectators. The picture is beautifully staged, and the acting is of a high order. The new actors have proved their ability in this highly dramatic piece of work. They and the Vitagraph Company are to be congratulated upon its success. The public will look for more of this sort of thing from them, even though they may not have liked the subject. The acting and the presentation are unquestionably above the average.
Survival status: The film is presumed lost.
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 8 August 2023.
References: Website-IMDb : with additional information provided by Mary Ann Cade.
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