Released 7/9/15 by Universal/Victor; Director: Lon Chaney; Screenplay: Milton M. Moore; 1 reel
CAST: Gretchen Lederer (Marguerita), Lon Chaney (Pedro), William Quinn (Maurice)
SYNOPSIS: Pedro is a violin maker who is deeply in love with his talented ward Marguerita. One day, while she is playing the violin, Maurice Puello hears the girl play and persuades her to give a recital at his theater. Her first appearance is a great success, and Pedro decides to make a special violin for the girl. He finishes the violin, the finest instrument he has ever made, and brings it to the theater. Waiting at the stage door, he sees Marguerita and Maurice come out arm in arm. Blinded with jealousy, he disguises himself as a blind beggar in order to spy on the girl. One night while he is playing the violin disguised as a beggar, Maurice and Marguerita are attracted by the music from the beautiful violin. The girl offers to buy the violin, but Pedro tells her that he made it for his sweetheart and refuses to sell it. She sees an inscription on the back "to by Marguerita," and, in anger, Pedro discloses his identity and smashes the violin. One night, Pedro wanders into a cafe where Marguerita is performing. He has a waiter take her a coin with a request for another tune. When the waiter points Pedro out to her as the requestor, she is touched, and plays a beautiful melody. She goes to the table and asks for Pedro's forgiveness. He is about to ignore her when he notices that she has repaired the violin he made for her then smashed. He is moved by the girl's devotion to him and the two are happily reunited.
"A strong character portrayal is here rendered by Lon Chaney in the role of an Italian violin maker. The story is original in many ways, and pleases all the time by its strong heart- interest action." ---Motion Picture News
© 1996,2008 Jon C. Mirsalis
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