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The Evil Women Do
(1916) United States of America
B&W : Five reels
Directed by Rupert Julian
Cast: Elsie Jane Wilson [Ernestine Bergot, also known as Sarah Brandon], Francelia Billington [Henriette Ville Handry], Rupert Julian [Count Ville Handry], Hobart Henley [Daniel Champcey], C.N. Hammond (C. Norman Hammond) [Sir Thomas Elgin], Douglas Gerrard [Justin Chavessat], Tom Lockhart [Chrochard], Sydney Dean (Sydney Deane) [Malgat; Papa Ravinet]
Bluebird Photoplays, Incorporated, production; distributed by Bluebird Photoplays, Incorporated, through The Universal Film Manufacturing Company, Incorporated. / Scenario by E.J. Clawson (Elliott J. Clawson), from the novel La Clique dorée by Émile Gaboriau. Cinematography by Stephen Rounds. / Released 26 September 1916. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? Ernestine Bergot is a child of the Paris streets. One day she begs a few sous from a student of the Latin quarter. He becomes interested in her, takes her to his studio, and declares he will adopt her. Later she meets Justin Chevassat, another artist, and a mutual infatuation springs up. Gradually Ernestine becomes a beautiful “vampire,” hardened to any crime. One day she shoves her benefactor out of the studio window after robbing him of a large sum of money. When he dies as a result of the fall, Ernestine and Justin leave the Latin quarter. To further their schemes they take into partnership Sir Thomas Elgin, who poses as Ernestine’s uncle. The woman changes her name to Sarah Brandon her reckless adventures soon make her known as the most evil woman in the city. Malgat, a banker’s clerk who has access to the funds, is her first victim. Sir Thomas Elgin, acting as Sarah Brandon’s decoy, feigns illness one day while walking in Boise de Bologne and attracts the attention of Count Ville Handry, who assists the supposed sick man to Sarah Brandon’s home, where the woman proceeds to practice her wiles upon the old nobleman. In the end Count Handry asks her to marry him, and their engagement is announced. The Count’s daughter Henriette objects, especially when Daniel Champcey, her betrothed, a French naval officer, informs her of Sarah Brandon’s reputation. The Count persists, Daniel is ordered to China, and Henriette is left alone in her father’s home with the mistress of the house and all the servants (by Sarah’s conniving) turned against the daughter. Before leaving Daniel has mistakenly entrusted Henriette to the “tender” mercies of Chavessat, tool of Sarah. When Henriette is no longer able to endure the humiliation she suffers in her father’s home, she begs Chavessat to take her away to some quiet spot where she can live respectably until she can get word to Daniel in China. Chavessat’s treachery imprisoned Henriette in a house of ill repute, where he threatens, by starvation, to compel the girl to submit to his will. In the same building where Henriette is confined lives Malgat, the banker’s clerk Sarah ruined, and it is through his discovery of Henriette’s identity and his further activities in association with the Parisian police that Sarah is finally exposed at the moment when Count Handry, ruined by her iniquity, is about to commit suicide. Daniel has hurriedly returned to Paris in response to Henriette’s appeal, and with Malgat and the girl, faces Sarah Brandon in Count Handry’s home. Rather than submit to arrest Sarah Brandon drinks from a vial of poison and falls dead, as the police lead away to prison Chavessat and her other accomplice, Sir Thomas Elgin.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 10 November 2022.
References: Edmonds-BigU p. 86; Hirschhorn-Universal p. 23 : Website-IMDb.
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