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[Two Christmas Morns]
Also known as [Two Christmas Morns]
(1913) France
B&W : Short film
Directed by (unknown)
Cast: (unknown)
Société des Etablissements L. Gaumont production; distributed by [?] Société des Etablissements L. Gaumont? / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format. / The film was released in the USA in December 1913.
Drama.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? One morning Fouche, Commissioner of Police under Napoleon I, was in a bad humor. A gang of miscreants, known by the name of “The Red Hand,” had not been captured. The irate monarch naturally turned to the chief of his police and required an explanation from him. In turn Fouche transmitted the ill-humor of his august master to those unhappy members of his staff who chanced to be within calling. Apparently none of them could give him satisfaction, therefore he sent for Captain Lange, a special investigator, whom he charged with the duty of arresting all who were assisting the Red Hand Gang. Lange was a widower, and every Sunday he went to the convent school to spend a little time with his daughter, Marie, a child of eight years. It was the eve of Christmas and he took Marie home to spend Christmas Day with him. Before going home they attended Midnight Mass, and when in his rooms together he on his violin played and the little girl sang, Midway through they were interrupted by the arrival of a police officer who handed Lange an order from Fouche to meet him at once before a hotel door at the junction of two streets some distance away. He was not at all pleased at the idea of leaving his daughter in the empty house, but realizing that his chief had been spurred to supreme efforts by the Emperor, he obeyed the order. At the street corner a surprise awaited him. Neither Fouche nor any other officer was there, and after perambulating the neighborhood for some time he returned home anxious to see his little girl. But she has disappeared, and a note left on the table stating that The Red Hand had kidnapped her, and she would be held as a hostage. In his extremity he went to the Commissioner of Police. He suggested that Lange should publish the report of his own death, so as to save his daughter from danger, and in order to assist him gave him a passport which authorized him to search for her in any part of the Empire. He adopted the suggestion of his chief and, going to the quayside, went down the steps, took off his hat and coat, and left them there with a note stating that in order to guard his daughter from injury from The Red Hand he had decided to do away with himself. Marie, when kidnapped, was taken into a forest and there held until the chief of the gang communicated with his comrades. The stratagem succeeded. It was believed that Lange had committed suicide, and the leader wrote: “Captain Lange has committed suicide. Release the child at the edge of the forest.” It was Christmas time and the intruder, having usurped the place of Marie’s father, was spending a thoroughly happy time. Coming from the midnight service the villagers congratulated the girl on having found her father, and it was a merry party that sat down at the gendarmerie to partake of the traditional supper in the early hours of Christmas morning. While one wanderer had the seat of honor, another of his calling was knocking at the gates of the gendarmerie begging a night’s lodging. He was accommodated in one of the cells of the prison, and while he was reflecting on the kindness of heart shown him by the gendarmerie, Marie in the next room was endeavoring to recall to her old father, “the last carol they had sung together fifteen years before.” But the old man had forgotten the carol which Marie remembered so well, and although she sang it to him it did not recall old memories in him, and it seemed strange to her that a recollection which was so vivid to her could have fled from him. In the adjoining cell the old wanderer heard the singing and, taking his violin from the bag in which he had carefully treasured it for so many years, begin to play the same tune. The sweet strains were heard in the next room, and the company demanded that the musician should he brought in to play to them. Marie had already recognized that carol which was being played, and when the old man was seated at the table opposite her supposed father, she asked him to repeat the air which meant so much to her. But before the old man could begin, he noticed that sitting on the other side of the table was the man who had stolen his passport. With the cry, “It was yon who stole my passport,” he sprang up and demanded to know why the other man had adopted the name of Lange. Marie learned that the newcomer was really her father, and her lover coming forward, the intruder was roughly thrust to the back of the room, and while he sat there bemoaning the fate which had overtaken him on Christmas morn, Lange played the carol while Marie sang.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: (unknown) [France]: Public domain [USA].
Keywords: Christmas
Listing updated: 29 August 2023.
References: Tarbox-Lost p. 141 : Website-IMDb.
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