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Fanchon, the Cricket
(1915) United States of America
B&W : One reel
Directed by (unknown)
Cast: (unknown)
Independent Moving Pictures Company, Incorporated [IMP] production; distributed by The Universal Film Manufacturing Company, Incorporated. / From the novel La petite fadette by George Sand. / Released 7 June 1915. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama.
Synopsis: [The Universal Weekly, Volume VI, Number 24, 12 June 1915, page 22] Fanchon is a fascinating little girl, the grandchild of Mother Fadet, who is suspected of witchery by the people among whom she lives. At the opening of the story Mother Fadet is being attacked by a crowd, led by Father Barbond, the father of Landry and Didier, his twin sons, the former a handsome and bright lad, the latter, weak and foolish. / The old woman is about to be beaten when Fanchon arrives, and she also is set upon by the men. Both are in danger until Landry appears on the scene and upbraids the mob. He is attracted by the beauty of the little madcap, who thanks him as he leaves her. / The foolish Didier is in love with Madelon, the belle of the village, who scorns him, and who is in love with the handsome brother. Didier is heart-broken and tells him he is going to commit suicide. He rushes away, but is prevented from carrying out his intention by Fanchon, who follows him until he, tired, falls asleep in a clump of bushes. / Landry seeks everywhere for his brother, even asking aid of the witch. She refuses to assist him, but, meeting Fanchon, he asks for her help. This she promises if he will agree to dance whatever dance she may select at the fete to be held the next day. Anxious to find his brother, he consents, and she leads him to the spot where Didier sleeps. / The next day while the festivities are in progress, Fanchon dressed in her grandmother’s old-fashioned clothes, appears and demands her dance with Landry. He is dancing with Madelon, but, being a man of his word, he asks her to excuse him, and takes Fanchon as his partner. / Madelon, angered at the manner in which Landry has treated her, tells the others that Fanchon has bewitched him, by the aid of the witch’s claw she always wears around her neck in a bag. She incites the mob and they attack Fanchon, demanding to see the contents of the bag. This she hands to Landry, who reads on the paper “The Prayer of the Pure Maiden to the Holy Mother of Grace.” Ashamed, the mob leaves the unhappy girl who rushes home and tears off the clothes which she feels are the cause of her misery. / To get away from Landry, whom she now loves, she accepts an offer to go to the city, although he begs her to remain and marry him. Later the grandmother dies and appoints Landry’s father as her guardian. She returns to her home and, going to Father Barbond, asks him if he will accept the charge. At first he refuses but, realizing that the happiness of his son depends upon Fanchon, he consents and the formerly despised madcap has the pelasure of being begged by the old gentleman to marry his son. Needless to say she does.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 16 December 2009.
References: AFI-F1 n. F1.1278 : UnivWeekly-19150612 p. 22.
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