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The Roman
(1910) United States of America
B&W : One reel
Directed by Frank Boggs (Francis Boggs)
Cast: Hobart Bosworth [Spurius Maelius], Betty Harte, Robert Z. Leonard
The Selig Polyscope Company, Incorporated, production; distributed by The Selig Polyscope Company, Incorporated. / Produced by William N. Selig. Scenario by Otis Turner. / Released [?] 14 or 24? February 1910. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama: Historical: Roman.
Synopsis: [Film Index, 19 February 1910, page ?] ‘THE ROMAN.’ — Hobart Bosworth as Spurius Maelius. — At the opening of this story of Roman political warfare, we find Valerius Volscus, a wealthy patrician, determined to rid himself of his infant child for reasons of state. Poppea, his wife by Roman alliance, under his compulsion, places the infant in a basket, and her slave woman thrusts it into the river Tiber. The mother heart rebels at such an act, but Poppea must obey her lord and master. As we wander down the Tiber, we find a Roman camp. The officers are gathered about their general, Spurius Maelius, for beloved is he by them all. Suddenly a cry from one of the soldiers! The basket is sighted floating down the stream. Immediately Tomasso Santchius, a daring soldier of well known intrepidity, is ordered to rescue the child. He plunges into the river, and at last we see Spurius clasping the babe to his breast, as he vows to adopt it. FIFTEEN YEARS LATER. — A long period has elapsed and we find Valerius in the forum. A political fight is on wherein Valerius is endeavoring to be elected by the Senate as Dictator. Spurius opposes his candidacy and urges the Senators not to elect this degenerate to the throne. His pleadings are in vain, for eventually Valerius is made Dictator. Now, Valerius has a slave, Aulus, and as he fears the great power that Spurius holds over the army, he determines to find, if possible, some act of treason, whereby he can rid himself of this leader of men. Aulus is told to watch Spurius, to follow him everywhere and to report everything to his master. This he does, and at the home of Spurious he sees young Lucius Tarquitius pleading to him for the hand of Lisa, his adopted daughter. He hears the story of her infancy, how she was discovered in a basket on the river Tiber, and at once reports this news to his master. Upon the hearing of this, the Dictator conceives a plan whereby he may rid himself of his political foe, and orders on of his generals to bring Spurius and his daughter before him, his idea being to cut Spurius to the heart by proclaiming Lisa as daughter of his slave woman, Agrippa. THE HOME OF SPURIUS. — Our scene has changed. We find Spurius receiving the Dictator’s order, and this is his reply to the bearer: ‘Back to thy master, dog, and tell him that Spurius Maelius would tear his heart out from his breast ere he would suffer this pure child to be polluted by a single touch of his slimy hand. Away thou hireling, lest these two ready hands enforce the desperate precept of my rising heart, and wreak vengeance on the slave who dares to face me with such demand as this.’ But, in spite of his rightful indignation, and because of the great power of the Dictator, we see him and his daughter by adoption, and young Lucius in the presence of Valerius. There Lisa is proclaimed the daughter of the slave Agrippa, but in spite of that the young lover claims her for his wife. Surprised, and at first disheartened, Spurius abases himself at the feet of the Dictator, begging that Lisa be not taken from him. His only recompense is a sneer, for Valerius laughs these words to the prostrate form: ‘Thou dog at my feet! Good! ’tis where thou belongest!’ Hearing this, Spurius, regardless of consequences, seizes the Dictator by the throat and half throttles him. Immediately there is an uproar, for just what Valerius has planned and foreseen has occurred. This attack is an act of treason, and death is the consequence. The result is that Spurius is cast into a dungeon, and poor little Lisa is given as wife to Cinna, a sensual Roman of dissolute habits. But the Gods have decreed well and wisely for the little maid, for rescue comes before marriage with this beast-man can be consummated. THE SAME DAY. — Lucius, knowing that upon the army alone can he rely in order to rescue Lisa and Spurius, exhorts them to revolt. ‘Your master, the man under whose commands you have fought your way to victory, lies like a slave in a dungeon. Ye are men of Rome, not dogs of a tyrant. Follow me to him and freedom!’ Gladly they follow their young leader to rescue their chieftain. He once freed, they rush to the home of the old profligate, Cinna, whom Lucius strikes to the floor and then clasps his beloved Lisa in his arms. ONE HOUR LATER. — Before us is Valerius cowering before the angry Spurius, who now at liberty has gone directly to his enemy’s home. Both men realize that the crucial moment has arrived. One or the other must succumb. It is Spurius who speaks: ‘I thank the Gods, Valerius, that I am given this moment of sweet revenge. Thy lips are white; thy knees do shake. Canst speak, or dost the sight of a wronged father and an outraged citizen of Rome freeze the tongue in thy mouth. Look me in the face and tell me now that Lisa, my child, is the daughter of a slave. Come, thou hast lived too long.’ With that he draws his sword and bids Valerius to do likewise, and after a combat of right and might on the one side, and frenzied cowardice on the other, we see Valerius fall, and as a closing picture, reunited happy and contented are Spurius, Lisa and Lucius. // [Variety, 19 February 1910, page ?] A young woman [orders] her girl slave to deposit in the waters of the Tiber a child which she has cause to be rid of. The infant is found by one of the aristocracy and adopted. In later years she is betrothed, but just before the wedding the ruler of the land claims the young woman, on the ground that she was born in slavery. By military force she is torn from the arms of her foster father and taken to the ruling house, where she is held captive for only a few hours, as the father and young lover have aroused a popular rebellion which overthrows the ruler, end[ing] in his death and the defeat of his defenders.
Reviews: [The Moving Picture World, 26 February 1910, page ?] Perhaps the most attractive feature of this picture is the reproduction of early Roman costumes and Roman surroundings. It is a story of political intrigue, with all the contests and disagreeable features connected therewith in the ancient city. But the reproduction of manners and customs and the historically correct scenery and settings add immensely to the interest and insure attention when perhaps the mere political story would scarcely be considered. The greatest service the motion picture can do is in the direction of educating the people, and a film like this, which faithfully illustrates long past and perhaps partially forgotten life, is of vast importance and deserves a cordial reception. The Selig players have brought enthusiasm to their work and have put much ability and life into the interpretation of this play.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Keywords: Roman Empire
Listing updated: 29 June 2023.
References: Bardèche-History p. 63; Blum-Silent p. 10; Lahue-Selig p. 65 : Website-AFI; Website-IMDb.
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