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The Curfew Bell
(1909) United States of America
B&W : One reel / 960 feet
Directed by Edwin S. Porter
Cast: (unknown)
Edison Manufacturing Company production; distributed by Edison Manufacturing Company. / © 3 June 1909 by Edison Manufacturing Company [H127992, H127993, H127994, H127995]. Released 1 June 1909. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama: Historical.
Synopsis: [The Moving Picture World, 19 May 1909, page ?] Cromwell’s time was a period of blood and iron, yet the gold thread of romance may be found in some of even the sterner scenes of the dramatic epoch. Such a one is the story of the loyalist gentleman, his sweetheart, a gentle lady, and the curfew bell. The lady’s father did not look with favor on the gentleman’s suit, and to meet they must have appointment at a public inn. Here an accident contributes to have the lady’s fair name brought into question by a roundhead officer, and the gentleman defended it so well that he had to flee for his life. His hiding place in a mighty ruin was discovered by Cromwell’s men under circumstances which, false though they were, caused the gentleman to believe his sweetheart had betrayed him, and this was indeed a greater blow than the short shrift at the hands of a summary court martial, which condemned him to death when curfew rang that night. Torn with agony and despair, the gentle lady sought mercy for her lover, for little should his attack on the officer merit death, coming as it did in just resentment of an insult to her name, but her prayers fell on deaf ears. Vainly she besought the sexton who rang the fatal curfew to forego his duty that night, but he was obdurate. Despair gave an idea to her mind, the idea to alone prevent that bell from sending forth its signal of death, and alone she did. In the high belfry she threw herself to the clapper and as the great bell swayed back and forth, she clung and stayed its tongue. Bruised and torn, she staggered down to find Cromwell returned, and from him, touched by her wounds, received her lover’s life and the right to leave the country for an asylum in France with him. The gentleman, it is almost needless to say, was not long in learning that his belief in his sweetheart’s betrayal of him was founded on premises of falsity. It is one of the most beautiful stories in English history and has been notably portrayed in this splendid film.
Reviews: [The Moving Picture World, 5 June 1909, page ?] From the Edison studio comes a beautiful film, beautiful in conception and beautiful in technical execution. It is likely that everyone knows the old story of the curfew bell and Cromwell, and in this picture the Edison actors have reproduced it with sufficient power to make it live before one. All the intense dramatic power and interest of the story has been retained, and as Cromwell tells the heroic young woman that her lover shall live, one can see the tremor which runs over the audience. The actors all do their work exceptionally well, and the principal character, the girl who prevents the bell from ringing, is particularly strong. Technically the film is up to the Edison standard, even though the subject was particularly difficult to photograph satisfactorily.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 15 April 2024.
References: Pratt-Spellbound p. ? : Website-AFI.
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