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The Scarlet Crystal
(1917) United States of America
B&W : Five reels
Directed by Charles Swickard
Cast: Herbert Rawlinson [Vincent Morgan], Betty Schade [Priscilla Worth], Dorothy Davenport [Marie Delys], Raymond Whitaker [Maxfield Durant], Marie Hazelton [Peggy Lovel], Gertrude Astor [Helen Forbes], Dick Ryan [Billy Van Duyn]
The Universal Film Manufacturing Company, Incorporated, production; distributed by The Universal Film Manufacturing Company, Incorporated [Red Feather Photoplays]. / Scenario by J. Grubb Alexander. Cinematography by Harry Maguire (Harry McGuire Stanley). / © 20 January 1917 by The Universal Film Manufacturing Company, Incorporated [LP10038]. Released 19 March 1917. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format. / Actors Edith Johnson and Nicholas Dunaew were announced as cast members but did not appear in the final film. The film was originally announced for release on 5 February 1917.
Drama: Romance.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? Priscilla Worth, an innocent country girl, goes to the city to visit her aunt, a typical society butterfly, who has sent for her, thinking her child-like simplicity will afford a welcome relief to Vincent Morgan, a wealthy bachelor, and man about town. The plan works well. Vincent marries Priscilla, and takes her on a tour around the world. However, one of his sweethearts, Marie Delys, a vampire chorus girl, resents being cast aside; and after Vincent returns, although he struggles with his better nature, he again succumbs to her charm. Priscilla grieves, but the memory of his love keeps alive her faith. Maxfield Durant, an artist, who painted her portrait when she first came to the city, had also fallen in love with her, but before he declared his love, she accepted Vincent. He advertises for a model who is beautiful, but not of the brazen type, and secures Peggy Lovel, a girl from the slums. Both Vincent, who is having Marie’s picture painted, and his friend, Billy Van Duyn, become interested in Peggy. This arouses Marie’s jealousy. Priscilla, remembering her portrait, requests Durant to bring it to her. He cannot refrain from showing his great love. Vincent, seeing this, flies into a terrible rage. Priscilla, conscious of no wrong, seeks consolation in the coming of her child. She gazes into a crystal which they brought from Egypt, and views scenes of horror, but her love for her husband renews her faith in him. Durant, unable to longer endure being so near Priscilla, closes his studio and becomes a wanderer. This throws Peggy out of employment, and she goes to Vincent, seeking help for herself and invalid mother. Billy, intoxicated, wants her, but Vincent sends her away, and takes Billie to his home. Peggy, knowing her mother’s need of food, returns to Vincent’s apartment, where he finds her asleep. As Vincent removes the glass stopper from a bottle of liquor, he sees, as in a crystal; Peggy sacrificing herself, and being sneered at by Billy. She returns home, finds her mother is dead, and takes to drugs to forget her dishonor. Finally she goes to a café where Marie and Vincent are drinking, and falls dead at the foot of the stairs, while Marie stabs Vincent and herself. The horror of this vision awakens Vincent’s better nature and he sends Peggy home unharmed. Priscilla, who has been waiting with her baby, sees in the crystal, the fight for Vincent’s soul, and when the face of the Christus appears, she knows the victory is won. Soon after, Vincent returns repentant.
Survival status: The film is presumed lost.
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 10 October 2023.
References: Hirschhorn-Universal p. 27 : Website-AFI; Website-IMDb.
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