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Marah, the Pythoness
(1914) United States of America
B&W : Three reels
Directed by Joseph W. Smiley
Cast: Lilie Leslie (Lila Leslie) [Marah, the pythoness], Clarence J. Elmer (Clarence Elmer) [Jules Le Strange], Eleanor Blanchard [Prudence, Marah’s mother], Justina Huff [Marie, Marah’s foster sister], Joseph Smiley (Joseph W. Smiley) [Doctor Rowell], Frankie Mann [Jeanne-Druce], William Cohill (William W. Cohill) [John Sewell], Jack Delson [Frivole], John H. Smiley (John Smiley) [Hassan]
Lubin Manufacturing Company production; distributed by The General Film Company, Incorporated. / Produced by Siegmund Lubin. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? Marah Deane is known as “The Pythoness” because a tame python is her constant companion. She has many suitors, and finally chooses a rich man named John Sewell. Becoming ambitious to have a portrait painted, in which she shall appear fondling her serpent pet, Sewell writes to a friend of his, Jules Lestrange, a young artist, offering him the commission. Jules lives with his mother in comfortable quarters adjoining his studio, and living in his family is Marie Dalton, formerly his model, but now companion for his mother (Prudence) and also his promised wife. Sewell’s letter brings great joy into the Lestrange family. Marah, the Pythoness, is deeply struck with this poetical young man and he at once becomes enraptured with her. The sittings for the picture are many, and these are often interrupted by communions with each other, until after a time, the artist neglects his mother and his fiancée, being seldom seen at home except to sleep. But his mother and fiancée have a firm friend in Dr. Rowell, a noted physician, who during the widowhood of Prudence, has come every day with a bouquet of flowers and an offer of marriage, only to be refused, because she is still true to the memory of her husband. The doctor has the entree to the house and entertainments given by the Pythoness Marah, and expresses the opinion that he can induce Jules to overcome his evident love for her, and awaken him to the fact that he has neglected those who are nearer and dearer to him. His efforts, however, are unsuccessful, and he is compelled to return to the artist’s now unhappy home and report that the poor boy has really succumbed to the wiles of the temptress. The picture is finished and exhibited at a reception. The success of the artist seems to draw Marah closer to him, much to the rage and consternation of Sewell, who resolves to break the tie between them. A similar vow is made by the Doctor, who enlists in his services, one Jeanne Druce, a butterfly in Marah’s Bohemian circles, and she, taking Jules to a remote place in the reception room, tells him that he must cease all hope of ever winning Marah, since she will marry Jack Sewell and is only flirting. In an interview with Marah, Jules is told that it is only him she loves, and that she does not intend to marry Sewell. This interview is heard by the jealous Sewell, and while Marah is bidding her guests farewell for the night, he meets his artist rival in Marah’s den, and draws his pistol to shoot him. Jules is unarmed and it is decided to flip a coin to see who will win the loaded pistol. Jules loses the toss, Sewell deliberately aims at him and fires. Marah comes into the room, and while horrified at the plight of her lover, decides that the episode must not become known. It being discovered that Jules is probably not fatally wounded, he is taken at dead of night to Sewell’s yacht, and Sewell, Marah and a Doctor sail away with him to save his life. He lingers between life and death for several weeks, and in the meantime the mystery of his disappearance has caused his mother to fall desperately ill, and her life is despaired of. Many letters from Marie and Dr. Rowell have been written to Jules, but have been intercepted and destroyed. On recovery from his long siege of illness. Jules finds himself less in love with Marah, and full of remorse for his treatment of his family. One day while sunning himself on the deck of the yacht, he sees in the personal columns of a newspaper this notice: “Pythoness: Why are all letters to Artist unanswered? Tell him mother is dying.” Suddenly the truth flashes upon him, and he insists upon going ashore, which he does, accompanied by Marah. who refuses to be left alone, her object being to thwart his plans. At the same time Doctor Rowell enlists the services of the police in trying to find Jules for the suffering mother has passed away, and Jules comes ashore on the day of her funeral. Marah succeeds in convincing the police that she knows nothing of the whereabouts of Jules, and sends for Sewell, who repulses her and leaves her with no companion but her oriental servants and her pet serpent. Jules arrives at home just as Dr. Rowell and Marie are returning from the funeral of his mother, and is crushed by the awful news. After a sleepless night, he rises early, goes to a drawer in his neglected studio and, taking from it his pistol, is about to kill himself, when Marie appears and convinces him that he has something to live for after all. On the same morning Marah’s faithful servant Hassan goes to awaken her and finds her dead with the fatal folds of the Python about her neck.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 10 May 2020.
References: Tarbox-Lost p. 193 : Website-IMDb.
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