The Necklace
About The Necklace
Louise Kendrick wants a life her clerk's household cannot pay for. Invited to a reception for a foreign prince, she has nothing to wear. John pawns his watch and chain for a gown, and a neighbor lends a necklace. A sneak thief lifts it while Louise talks with the prince. The Kendricks buy what they think is a duplicate for $20,000, borrowing against John's salary and his friends, and return that piece. The thief learns the original is paste and throws it away. Years of night work follow. After the last penny, they write the neighbor and confess. She comes with the worthless necklace, puts it on Louise, and Louise falls back dead. John is found dead in a chair at the head of the bed.
Cast & crew
More about The Necklace
D. W. Griffith directed. Frank E. Woods is the writer on Wikidata. Arthur Marvin and G. W. Bitzer photographed. From Guy de Maupassant's story La Parure. Biograph production number 3586. Released 1 July 1909. Copyright 3 July 1909, H129504 (Silent Era prints the number as J129504). One reel, 969 feet. Wikidata duration is 11 minutes.
Themes
Making
Biograph shifted Maupassant's story so the couple die in the room when the truth arrives, which Moving Picture World called another picture like a shroud.
Reviews
Moving Picture World of 10 July 1909 praised the acting and most of the photography, then asked whether killing the couple for vanity was worth the work, and said the film holds the audience at the theft and at the reveal.
Look
Arthur Marvin and G. W. Bitzer photographed it.
Preservation
A 35mm paper positive survives at the Library of Congress (paper-print collection), with 16mm reductions. A viewing copy is on Wikimedia Commons.
Notes
- The Biograph synopsis names the couple John and Louise Kendrick. The borrowed necklace is costume jewelry, and the jeweler's copy costs $20,000.
- Unlike Maupassant's ending, both Kendricks die when the friend brings the paste necklace back.
- Silent Era cast list includes Rose King, Herbert Prior, Caroline Harris, Mary Pickford, Anthony O'Sullivan, Charles Avery, Charles Inslee, Arthur V. Johnson, James Kirkwood, Florence Lawrence, Stephanie Longfellow, David Miles, Owen Moore, Lottie Pickford, Frank Powell, Billy Quirk, and Mack Sennett.
- Moving Picture World of 26 June 1909 printed the company's synopsis, and the 10 July issue reviewed the film.
- A 35mm paper positive is in the Library of Congress paper-print collection, with 16mm reduction copies. A file is also on Wikimedia Commons.
Scenes
- A sneak thief takes the necklace while Louise speaks with the prince.
- The thief finds it is paste and throws it on a rubbish heap.
- The neighbor clasps the necklace on Louise as she dies, and John is found dead in the chair.
Influenced by
- Guy de Maupassant's short story La Parure (1884; AFI cites the 1883 collection)
Also available
- Wikimedia Commons (The Necklace (1909).webm)
