|
Roger la Honte
Also known as A Man’s Shadow in the USA
(1913) France
B&W : Short film
Directed by Adrien Caillard
Cast: Georges Dorival, Paul Capellani, Henri Collen, Maria Fromet
La Société Cinématographique d’Auteurs et Gens de Lettres [SCAGL] production; distributed by Compagnie Genérale des Établissements Pathé Frères Phonographes & Cinématographes. / Scenario by Jules Mary. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format. / The film was released in the USA (in 63 prints) by The Eclectic Film Company on 20 January 1914; © 12 November 1913 in the USA by The Eclectic Film Company [LU1565].
[?] Drama?
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? Roger Laroque, hearing of the dishonesty of Luverson, his employee, discharges him and earns his hatred. At a reception. Laroque meets Julia De Noirville, a lawyer’s wife, and becomes infatuated with her. She reciprocates his attentions and consents to meet him the next day. Noticing that she is depressed, he persuades her to tell him the reason. She confides to him that she is in dire need of a large sum of money in order to avert impending disaster. Laroque promises to raise the money for her. On the strength of an offer from the government for an invention which he had submitted, he obtains the money from a loan broker, who resides opposite to him. Luverson, the discharged employee, has secured a position with the money lender and sees Laroque get the money. He follows him and sees him give the money to the lawyer’s wife. Laroque’s wife and child go for a drive. During the absence of the mother, the horse runs away with the little girl. The lawyer, De Noirville, attempts to stop the runaway and is severely injured. Laroque hears of the lawyer’s bravery and calls with his wife and little girl to thank him. While there, Laroque meets Julia, who first learns that her lover is married. He tells her that he no longer loves her. Luverson, for revenge, smashes the engine invented by Laroque. Owing to the damage done, the government rescinds the order. As a result, the money lender becomes anxious, and persuaded by Luverson, requests Laroque to return the money loaned. The lawyer is present when the request is received and noticing that Laroque is greatly distressed, he writes to the money lender advising that Laroque will go bankrupt if forced to pay and might do something rash. However, Laroque is compelled to pay, and leaves after a stormy interview. Seeing his employer putting the money in a safe, Luverson returns at night, disguised as Laroque, to rob the safe. He is discovered by the loan broker, who attacks him. Luverson kills his employer and makes his escape with the money. Laroque’s wife, daughter, and servant, watching from their window for his return, witness the crime. Owing to the disguise, they believe that it was Laroque who committed the murder. Luverson, with threats of blackmail, compels the lawyer’s wife to write an anonymous note to Laroque, thanking him for the money, which is returned with the note. Next day the crime is discovered. The lawyer’s warning note is found and suspicion falls on Laroque. The police question his wife and child, but they deny all knowledge of the crime. The servant, however, confesses that she saw her master do the deed. The money, returned by Luverson, is found on Laroque. Bloodstains point to his guilt and he is arrested. De Noirville finds the note which accompanied the money and asks Laroque to tell to whom he loaned the money. To shield Julia, the lawyer’s wife, he refuses to tell. He is brought to trial and De Noirville offers to defend him. Luverson sends a note to the lawyer during the trial advising that Laroque received the money from the former’s wife. The lawyer is furious at this disclosure and refuses to defend the prisoner. He changes his mind, however, but owing to an attack of heart failure, he dies before he can disclose the name of the prisoner’s debtor. Laroque is subsequently convicted and sent to prison. While in prison, he learns of the death of his wife. He succeeds in escaping and determines to return for his little girl, who is being fostered by relatives. On the road, he sees a burning house and rescues two children from the flames. He is horribly burned. The children’s father gives him a suit of clothes to wear instead of his prison garb. Laroque calls at the home where his daughter is and takes her with him. Ten years pass. Terribly disfigured by his burns, and under an assumed name, Laroque escapes detection. Suzanne, his daughter, goes to sketch in a nearby park. Raymond De Noirville, the son of the lawyer, chances to pass while on a hunting trip and speaks to her. They meet a second time, and Suzanne learns his identity. She writes to him and confesses that she is the daughter of the convict, Laroque. Raymond has fallen in love with Suzanne and is distressed by the news. He determines to search through his father’s records and try to establish her father’s innocence. He discovers the note which Luverson wrote to his father at the trial telling him that his wife, Raymond’s mother, was the recipient of the money. Beside himself at the dreadful discovery, he confronts his mother with the proof of her perfidy. She confesses and promises to prove the innocence of Suzanne’s father. She sends for Laroque and the chief of police and tells them that she will show them the real murderer. Through a decoy note, she persuades Luverson to call on her. Confronted by Laroque and the chief, he sees that he is cornered and attempts to shoot Laroque, hut hits Raymond’s mother instead. Mortally wounded, she begs for Laroque’s forgiveness and passes away. With the stigma removed from her good name, Suzanne finds love and consolation in the arms of her lover, Raymond.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: (unknown) [France]; Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 23 August 2023.
References: LoC-MoPic-2 p. 520; Tarbox-Lost p. 210 : Website-IMDb.
|
