The Empress

1917 Drama 66 minutes Directed by Alice Guy-Blaché

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About The Empress

After Louis de Baudry (William A. Morse) sells his painting The Empress, he takes his model Nedra (Doris Kenyon) to the country. He forces his way into her room. The hotel owner, Peters, photographs the two of them. A year later Nedra is married to the rich Eric Bruce (Holbrook Blinn). Peters uses the photograph as blackmail.

Cast & crew

More about The Empress

Alice Guy directed. Frederick Chapin, Guy, and Holbrook Blinn are credited with the writing. John G. Haas photographed it. Pathé Exchange released it on 11 March 1917. Lyn Donelson plays the Woman in the Dark. A circulating copy runs 66 minutes.

Themes

  • a painter and his model
  • a photograph used as blackmail
  • a later rich marriage
  • The Empress
  • Nedra
  • de Baudry
  • hotel photograph
  • Alice Guy
  • Pathé

Look

John G. Haas photographed the feature for Guy.

Music

Silent, with English intertitles.

Notes

  • Doris Kenyon plays Nedra. Holbrook Blinn, who also shares a writing credit, plays her husband Eric.
  • The blackmail rests on a photograph taken at a hotel, not on a letter.
  • Guy was directing features in the United States under the name Alice Guy and, in other credits, Alice Guy-Blaché.

Scenes

  • De Baudry breaks into Nedra's hotel room and Peters photographs them.
  • A year later Peters brings the picture to the marriage.

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