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L’opera tenebrosa
Also known as Tracked Across the Desert in the USA
(1914) Italy
B&W : Short film
Directed by (unknown)
Cast: (unknown)
Itala Film production; distributed by Itala Film. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format. / The film was released in the USA on State Rights basis by Itala Film Company of America as Tracked Across the Desert in March 1914.
Drama.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? Between Marney and the huge sum of money he coveted stood his niece, Ida. He resolved at all costs to obtain the money. It was essential to the gratification of his pleasure-loving tastes, to the maintenance of his position in society. Besides, he was ambitious; he yearned to enter politics and become noted. By her physician’s advice Ida, for the benefit of her health, undertook a trip to Algeria. Her uncle, Marney, formed one of the party. There were agreeable times on shipboard, crossing the Mediterranean, until Marney began his villainy. He disguised himself, drugged his niece, placed her, as he thought, in an extemporized coffin and threw her body into the sea. But he threw the wrong box over shipboard, and the girl escaped. Undismayed, Marney made another attempt to remove his niece. He suspended a heavy weight in the rigging under which she sat on deck, calculating that when the weight dropped it would fall on her head and kill her. The weight dropped harmlessly on the deck, and again she escaped. Arrived in Algeria, Marney bribed a party of Arabs to abduct Ida and kill her. Death by strangulation seemed to be her fate. Her apparently lifeless body was flung over the cliffs. But once more she escaped. A friendly Arab came to her rescue, and in violation of his oath to his tribe, saved her life and escorted her to a place of safety. Meanwhile, the news of her reported death reached her parents at home. They were grief-stricken. Marney also returned home, and being the next heir made legal claim to Ida’s money. He had his hand on the documents which placed him in possession of the long-coveted wealth, when in the nick of time Ida appeared to foil him and hand him over to justice.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: (unknown) [Italy]; Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 25 August 2023.
References: Tarbox-Lost p. 209 : Website-IMDb.
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