|
The Necklace of Rameses
(1914) United States of America
B&W : Three reels
Directed by Charles Brabin
Cast: Marc McDermott [Detective Imbert], Miriam Nesbitt [Diamond Mary], Rex Hitchcock (Rex Ingram) [English Jim], Marjorie Ellison [Diamond Jim’s accomplice], Robert Brower [Rameses II], Mary Fuller [Princess Ameena], William Bechtel [the museum director], Mrs. William Bechtel, Gertrude Braun, Charles Vernon
Thomas A. Edison, Incorporated, production; distributed by The General Film Company, Incorporated. / Scenario by Charles Vernon. / Released 23 January 1914. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format. / The production was shot in Europe.
Drama.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? When his daughter Princess Ameena died, Rameses, the Egyptian Pharaoh, placed a necklace about her neck and swore that whoever took it thence should never rest in peace until it was returned. Some thousands of years later, Ameena’s mummy was unpacked in the New York Art Museum and the necklace was discovered. The news of the discovery of the priceless relic reached the ears of a band of thieves and “Diamond Mary” was dispatched to steal the necklace. She was successful in her mission, but the tremendous sensation caused by the theft made disposing of the jewels in America absolutely impossible. Accordingly Mary sailed for England, where she was joined by accomplished criminal “English Jim.” Detective Imbert was engaged by the museum to conduct the search for the missing relic. Imbert followed Mary to England and had her arrested, but not before she had given the necklace to her confederate. The pair escaped to Paris, and there Imbert had “English Jim” arrested with equally futile results. Then he followed them to Venice, where they overpowered him after an exciting chase in gondolas. Then to Rome, where “English Jim” paid the penalty of his ill-spent life by falling from a roof in an attempt to escape the relentless sleuth. How Imbert gave up the chase in Naples and how he finally recovered the gems in New York there is not space to tell. Nor is there room to describe the wonderful historic settings in which so many of the scenes are laid. We can only mention Notre Dame in Paris, the Grand Canal, the Campanile and the Doge’s Palace in Venice, the Forum, the Colosseum, and St. Peter’s.
Reviews: [The Moving Picture World, 7 February 1914, page ?] This three reel number plunges at once into an absorbing story. The first scene is in Egypt, 2,000 B.C. depicting the death of Princess Ameena. The next scene shows her as a mummy, still wearing the sacred necklace, in the Metropolitan Art Museum, New York. The necklace is stolen and the rest of the story has to do with an interesting chase through England, France and Italy to recover it. The plot itself could have been told in two reels, but the splendid views in Paris, Venice, Rome and other cities make the longer production desirable. Marc MacDermott, Miriam Nesbitt and Rex Hitchcock are in the cast. A fine scenic number.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 3 June 2024.
References: Website-IMDb.
|
