The Faded Lilies
Plot
A disfigured violinist, living in isolation due to his appearance, receives a bouquet of faded lilies from a young woman as an expression of sympathy and appreciation for his beautiful music. Mistaking this gesture for romantic affection, the violinist becomes obsessed with the woman, believing she has fallen in love with him despite his disfigurement. When he eventually discovers the truth about her platonic intentions, the devastating emotional shock causes him to lose his sanity completely. The film explores themes of isolation, miscommunication, and the tragic consequences of misunderstood kindness in the context of physical deformity and social rejection.
About the Production
This film was produced during D.W. Griffith's early period at Biograph, where he made hundreds of short films between 1908-1913. The production utilized natural lighting and simple sets typical of the era. The film was shot on 35mm black and white film stock, with intertitles used to convey dialogue and narrative progression. As with many Biograph productions of this period, the film was likely completed in one or two days of shooting.
Historical Background
The year 1909 was a pivotal moment in American cinema history. The film industry was transitioning from novelty to art form, with New York serving as the primary production center before the industry's eventual migration to Hollywood. D.W. Griffith was revolutionizing filmmaking techniques at Biograph, developing many of the narrative and visual conventions that would define classical Hollywood cinema. This period saw the emergence of the 'feature film' concept, though most productions were still shorts. The Nickelodeon boom was in full swing, with thousands of small theaters opening across America to satisfy growing public demand for motion pictures. Social issues of the time, including attitudes toward physical disability and social isolation, were reflected in films like 'The Faded Lilies.' The film was made during the Progressive Era, when American society was grappling with questions of social reform, urbanization, and changing moral values.
Why This Film Matters
'The Faded Lilies' represents an early example of cinema's engagement with psychological drama and social themes. While not as well-known as Griffith's later epics, it demonstrates his early interest in complex emotional narratives and marginalized characters. The film contributes to our understanding of how early cinema dealt with themes of physical appearance, social rejection, and mental health. It also showcases Mary Pickford's emergence as a major talent before she achieved superstardom. The film is part of the important body of work that helped establish the dramatic possibilities of cinema beyond simple comedy or spectacle. Its focus on a character with a physical disability reflects early cinema's occasional engagement with social issues, though often through the lens of melodrama and sentimentality typical of the period.
Making Of
The production of 'The Faded Lilies' took place during a highly productive period in D.W. Griffith's career at Biograph. Griffith was rapidly developing his cinematic techniques, including the use of close-ups, cross-cutting, and more sophisticated acting styles that moved away from the exaggerated gestures typical of earlier films. Mary Pickford, though still a teenager, was already showing the naturalistic acting style that would make her famous. The film was shot in the Bronx at Biograph's indoor studio, with exterior scenes likely filmed on location in New York City. The production team worked with extremely limited resources by modern standards, with basic sets, natural lighting, and hand-cranked cameras. The script would have been minimal, with most narrative information conveyed through visual storytelling and intertitles. Griffith was known for his hands-on approach to directing, often working closely with actors to achieve more subtle performances than were common in films of this era.
Visual Style
The cinematography of 'The Faded Lilies' was typical of Biograph productions in 1909, utilizing stationary camera positions for most scenes with occasional movement for dramatic effect. The film was shot in black and white on 35mm film, likely using natural lighting from studio windows supplemented by artificial light when needed. The visual style emphasized clear composition and staging to ensure the narrative remained comprehensible to audiences. Close-ups, still a relatively new technique, may have been used selectively to highlight emotional moments, particularly the reactions of the disfigured violinist. The cinematography would have been functional rather than artistic by modern standards, but represented the developing visual language of narrative cinema.
Innovations
While 'The Faded Lilies' was not a groundbreaking technical achievement by 1909 standards, it benefited from the technical innovations being developed at Biograph under Griffith's direction. The film likely employed cross-cutting to build dramatic tension and parallel action, a technique Griffith was pioneering during this period. The use of intertitles for narrative exposition was becoming more sophisticated, allowing for more complex storytelling than earlier films. The film's relatively long running time for a dramatic short (11 minutes) demonstrated the growing confidence in audiences' attention spans and ability to follow more elaborate narratives. The production may have utilized some location shooting alongside studio work, reflecting the increasing mobility of film equipment and crews.
Music
As a silent film, 'The Faded Lilies' would have been accompanied by live musical performance during its theatrical exhibition. The typical accompaniment would have consisted of a pianist or small ensemble playing popular songs, classical pieces, and improvised music appropriate to the on-screen action. Given the film's dramatic nature and the violinist protagonist, classical music, particularly violin compositions, would have been prominently featured in the accompaniment. The music would have been cued to match the emotional tone of each scene, with romantic themes during the protagonist's hopeful moments and dramatic, dissonant music during his descent into madness. The specific musical selections would have varied by theater and musician, as no standardized score was provided with the film.
Famous Quotes
"The faded lilies speak of withered hopes and misunderstood hearts." (Intertitle)
"Music was his only friend until misunderstanding became his greatest enemy." (Intertitle)
"In his mind, kindness became love, and truth became unbearable." (Intertitle)
Memorable Scenes
- The moment the disfigured violinist first receives the bouquet of faded lilies, his face showing a mixture of surprise and dawning hope as he misinterprets the gesture.
- The violinist playing passionately with the bouquet nearby, believing he has found love and acceptance despite his appearance.
- The devastating realization scene where the protagonist discovers the true nature of the bouquet, his expression changing from joy to horror and despair.
- The final descent into madness, with the violinist clutching the wilted flowers while his mind unravels completely.
- The contrast between the beautiful music he creates and his tormented psychological state.
Did You Know?
- This was one of the earliest films to feature Mary Pickford, who would later become known as 'America's Sweetheart' and one of the most powerful figures in Hollywood.
- The film was released when Mary Pickford was only 16 years old, though she often played characters younger than her actual age.
- D.W. Griffith made over 450 short films for the Biograph Company between 1908 and 1913, averaging about one film every three days.
- The title 'The Faded Lilies' refers to the symbolic bouquet that drives the plot, representing withered hopes and misunderstood affection.
- This film was part of Griffith's early exploration of psychological themes, which would later culminate in more complex works like 'The Birth of a Nation' and 'Intolerance'.
- James Kirkwood, who appears in this film, would later become a prominent director himself during the silent era.
- The film was distributed by the Biograph Company, which was one of the leading film production companies in America before the rise of Hollywood.
- Like many films of this era, it was likely shown in vaudeville theaters as part of a mixed program of short films and live performances.
- The disfigured violinist character represents one of Griffith's early attempts at creating sympathy for physically or socially marginalized characters.
- The film's running time of approximately 11 minutes was typical for dramatic shorts of this period.
What Critics Said
Contemporary critical reception of 'The Faded Lilies' is difficult to trace due to the limited film journalism of 1909, but reviews in trade publications like The Moving Picture World generally praised Biograph productions for their quality and emotional impact. Modern film historians view this film as an example of Griffith's early development as a director of dramatic narratives. The film is noted for its relatively sophisticated psychological theme for the period, though some critics might find its treatment of mental illness and physical disability dated by modern standards. The performances, particularly Mary Pickford's, are recognized as showing the naturalistic style that would later become her trademark.
What Audiences Thought
Audience reception in 1909 would have been shaped by the novelty of cinema itself and the growing popularity of dramatic narratives. The emotional story of 'The Faded Lilies' likely appealed to audiences of the Nickelodeon era who were increasingly drawn to films with relatable human dramas. The film's themes of misunderstood affection and social isolation would have resonated with urban audiences experiencing the anonymity and social changes of early 20th century American life. As a Biograph production, it would have benefited from the company's reputation for quality entertainment. The presence of Mary Pickford, even before she became a major star, would have added to the film's appeal for regular filmgoers who were beginning to recognize and follow favorite actors.
Film Connections
Influenced By
- Literary melodramas of the 19th century
- Stage plays dealing with tragic romance
- Earlier Biograph shorts directed by Griffith
- Victorian literature themes of beauty and the beast
- Contemporary social attitudes toward disability
This Film Influenced
- Later D.W. Griffith psychological dramas
- Silent films featuring misunderstood protagonists
- Early Hollywood melodramas
- Films dealing with artists and mental illness
- Mary Pickford's subsequent dramatic roles
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Film Restoration
The preservation status of 'The Faded Lilies' is uncertain, which is common for films from this era. Many Biograph films from 1909 have survived, but a significant number have been lost due to the unstable nature of early film stock and lack of systematic preservation efforts. If the film exists, it would likely be held in film archives such as the Library of Congress, the Museum of Modern Art's film collection, or the George Eastman Museum. The paper prints submitted to the Library of Congress for copyright purposes may provide the only surviving copies of some Biograph films from this period. Restoration efforts for surviving films from this era typically involve transferring from paper prints or deteriorating film stock to modern digital formats.