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The Mission Father
(1911) United States of America
B&W : One reel
Directed by [?] Gaston Méliès and/or Robert Goodman?
Cast: Francis Ford [Don Hernando]
G. Méliès production; distributed by The General Film Company, Incorporated. / Produced by Gaston Méliès. / Released 21 December 1911. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama: Western.
Synopsis: [From Méliès promotional materials] Padre Ernesto, in saving a slave from the brutal anger of Don Hernando, a powerful nobleman, incurs the latter’s displeasure and abuse. Yet he alone volunteers to nurse the Don when that nobleman contracts the dread disease small-pox. When Hernando recovers and the Padre dies, the slave becomes enraged that the noble Padre should have been sacrificed for an unworthy brute, so swears to avenge his death. But as he is about to strike the blow, the Don falls in prayer, truly repentant, and the slave realizes that the victory of the Padre’s death lay in the saving of Hernando’s soul. // [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? The setting is in old California when it was under the rule of Mexico. Don Hernando is a powerful feudal lord who is arrogant and cruel. Padre Ernesto is a noble priest, greatly beloved by his congregation. In trying to save Pepe, an Indian slave of Don Hernando’s, from being punished by the latter, the Padre is struck and mistreated by the Don. He bears no resentment, however, and later, when the Don is stricken with the dread disease, smallpox, it is none other than the Padre himself and Pepe who risk their lives to nurse him back to health. But just as Don recovers, the Padre is himself stricken with the disease, to which he succumbs. Pepe is heartbroken, and from that moment swears to avenge himself for the Padre’s death by taking the life of the Don. Pepe brings up the rear of the funeral procession, but instead of entering the Mission, lays in wait for the Don. Don Hernando comes and pauses. Pepe sneaks up behind him and raises high in the air the knife that is to strike the blow. With full force he brings it down, but at that very moment the Don falls upon his knees in prayer, truly repentant of his crimes, and an almost supernatural power stays Pepe’s arm. Master and slave are reconciled and lead different lives under “the new light.”
Reviews: [The Moving Picture World, 6 January 1912, page ?] A tale of hacienda life in old California. In this picture the Melies people have produced a work of much dignity and beauty. There are scenes in it that will appeal strongly to the most fastidious and critical lover of art and the picture as a whole will appeal as strongly to the natural feelings, because of its human truth. It tells the story of an Indian slave’s heart, the Mission father being brought in merely as a means to that end. In the first scene (excellently conducted and there is no scene in the picture that is poor) the slave is beaten by his master, the Don, and for a little fault; the Mission father intercedes for him. When the Don is stricken with small-pox, the slave and the priest show forth as more competent than any around them. The priest nursing the Don back to health, catches the disease and dies. The slave half-mad with grief would have killed the Don, if he hadn’t also shown much grief just in time. It is a beautiful picture.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 25 May 2024.
References: Thompson-Star p. 231 : ClasIm-226 p. 55 : Website-IMDb.
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