The Necklace
Plot
Mrs. Kendrick, eager to impress at a high society event, borrows what she believes to be an expensive jeweled necklace from a wealthy friend. During the evening, the necklace is stolen, and rather than face the embarrassment of admitting the loss, Mr. Kendrick takes on massive debt to purchase an identical replacement. The couple spends years in poverty and hardship, sacrificing their comfort and future to pay off the enormous debt, never learning that the original necklace was merely worthless costume jewelry. The thief who stole the necklace discovers its true valuelessness, while the Kendricks continue their tragic struggle, trapped by pride and misunderstanding.
About the Production
This film was part of D.W. Griffith's prolific period at Biograph where he directed approximately 450 short films between 1908 and 1913. The film was shot on 35mm black and white film stock typical of the era. Griffith was experimenting with narrative techniques and moral storytelling during this period, using simple domestic situations to explore complex social themes.
Historical Background
1909 was a pivotal year in American cinema, marking the transition from simple actualities and trick films to more sophisticated narrative storytelling. The film industry was still in its infancy, with nickelodeons providing the primary venue for exhibition. D.W. Griffith was revolutionizing filmmaking at Biograph, developing techniques that would become standard in cinema including close-ups, cross-cutting, and more sophisticated editing. This was also the year that the Motion Picture Patents Company (the Edison Trust) was formed, attempting to control the industry through patent pooling. Socially, America was experiencing rapid industrialization and urbanization, with growing tensions between old money and the emerging middle class - themes that Griffith frequently explored in his films. The Progressive Era was in full swing, with increasing attention to social issues and moral reform, which influenced the types of stories that were considered appropriate for motion pictures.
Why This Film Matters
'The Necklace' represents an important early example of literary adaptation in American cinema, demonstrating how filmmakers were already drawing from classic literature to create sophisticated narratives. The film's exploration of social class, materialism, and the destructive power of pride reflects Progressive Era concerns about social mobility and the dangers of conspicuous consumption. As one of Griffith's early moral tales, it helped establish the pattern of using simple domestic situations to explore complex ethical questions that would characterize much of his later work. The film also illustrates the emerging sophistication of American cinema in 1909, moving beyond simple chase comedies and trick films to tackle serious themes. Its survival provides valuable insight into early narrative techniques and the development of cinematic language. The film's themes of deception and misunderstanding would become recurring motifs in Griffith's work, culminating in more complex treatments in later masterpieces.
Making Of
The filming of 'The Necklace' took place during a crucial period in D.W. Griffith's development as a filmmaker. At Biograph, Griffith was given unprecedented creative freedom and was directing multiple films per week. The studio operated out of a brownstone in New York City and later moved to Fort Lee, New Jersey, where many early films were shot due to the favorable lighting and proximity to New York. Griffith was known for his meticulous attention to detail even in these early years, often rehearsing his actors extensively. The cast would have been paid daily rates typical of the era - approximately $5-15 per day depending on their status. The film was likely shot with a single camera setup, as was standard practice, with minimal editing between takes. Griffith was already developing his reputation for demanding performances and pushing the boundaries of what was possible in short-form narrative cinema.
Visual Style
The cinematography in 'The Necklace' reflects the standard practices of 1909 American filmmaking while showing Griffith's emerging sophistication. The film was likely shot by Biograph's regular cinematographers such as G.W. Bitzer or Arthur Marvin, using stationary cameras typical of the era. The lighting would have been primarily natural or studio lighting, with the characteristic high contrast of early film stock. Griffith was already beginning to use closer shots for emotional emphasis, though most scenes would have been filmed in medium long shot to capture the full action. The composition shows Griffith's attention to visual storytelling, using the frame to emphasize social status differences and emotional states. The film demonstrates the emerging use of editing to create narrative continuity and emotional rhythm, techniques that Griffith was helping to develop and standardize during this period.
Innovations
While not as technically innovative as some of Griffith's other 1909 works, 'The Necklace' demonstrates several important technical achievements of early cinema. The film shows Griffith's developing mastery of continuity editing, creating a clear narrative flow across multiple scenes and time periods. The use of intertitles to convey narrative information and dialogue represents the emerging language of silent cinema. The film's effective use of cross-cutting between different spaces to build tension and show parallel action reflects Griffith's experimentation with temporal manipulation. The production demonstrates the growing sophistication of mise-en-scène in early cinema, with careful attention to set dressing, costumes, and props to convey social status and character relationships. The film also shows the emerging ability to create emotional impact through performance and editing techniques that were still being developed and standardized during this period.
Music
Like all films of 1909, 'The Necklace' was originally presented as a silent film with live musical accompaniment. The typical nickelodeon presentation would have featured a pianist or small ensemble providing background music appropriate to the mood of each scene. The music would have been selected from popular classical pieces, hymns, or specially compiled cue books that matched emotional situations - dramatic music for tense moments, sentimental melodies for emotional scenes, and faster-paced music for moments of crisis. Some larger theaters might have had small organs or even orchestras. The musical accompaniment was crucial in conveying emotion and narrative emphasis in an era before synchronized sound. The score would have been improvised or selected by the house musician based on the film's content and their musical judgment.
Memorable Scenes
- The moment when the Kendricks first see the replacement necklace and realize the enormous debt they must undertake
- The thief's discovery that the stolen necklace is merely worthless costume jewelry
- The final scene showing the aged, impoverished Kendricks still struggling to pay their debt, unaware of the tragic irony
Did You Know?
- This film is an adaptation of Guy de Maupassant's famous 1884 short story 'La Parure' (The Necklace), though Griffith made significant changes to the original plot
- The film was released during Griffith's most productive year at Biograph, when he directed 142 films in 1909 alone
- Rose King, who plays Mrs. Kendrick, was one of Griffith's favorite early actresses before he discovered Mary Pickford
- Herbert Prior, who plays Mr. Kendrick, was a British actor who appeared in over 200 films between 1908 and 1918
- Anthony O'Sullivan, who appears in the film, would later become a director himself at Biograph
- The film represents Griffith's early exploration of social class themes that would become central to his later work
- Like most Biograph films of this era, it was likely shot in just one or two days
- The film was part of Biograph's strategy to produce films with moral lessons that appealed to middle-class audiences
- The original negative was likely destroyed in the 1914 Biograph studio fire, though some copies survived
- This film was released just as Griffith was beginning to develop his signature cross-cutting techniques
What Critics Said
Contemporary reviews of 'The Necklace' were generally positive, with trade publications like The Moving Picture World praising its moral message and effective storytelling. Critics noted the film's clear narrative progression and emotional impact, which was considered impressive for a film of its length. The Biograph Bulletin, the studio's own promotional publication, described it as 'a powerful lesson in the dangers of pride and the importance of honesty.' Modern film historians view the film as an important example of Griffith's early development, noting how he was already experimenting with techniques to create emotional impact and moral resonance. While not as technically innovative as some of Griffith's other 1909 works, it's recognized for its effective adaptation of literary material and its role in establishing the pattern of moral storytelling that would characterize much of early American cinema.
What Audiences Thought
Audiences in 1909 responded positively to 'The Necklace' and similar moral tales from Biograph. The film's clear message about the dangers of pride and the importance of honesty resonated with middle-class nickelodeon patrons who were the primary audience for motion pictures during this period. Contemporary accounts suggest that audiences appreciated films with recognizable social situations and moral lessons, which they could discuss and relate to their own lives. The emotional arc of the Kendricks' suffering and sacrifice would have been particularly effective in eliciting audience sympathy, demonstrating the growing power of cinema to create emotional engagement. The film's tragic irony - that the couple suffers for nothing - would have provided audiences with a powerful moral lesson about honesty and the dangers of social pretension.
Film Connections
Influenced By
- Guy de Maupassant's 'The Necklace' (1884)
- Victorian moral literature
- Progressive Era social reform movements
- 19th century domestic melodrama
This Film Influenced
- Various later adaptations of 'The Necklace'
- Griffith's later moral tales such as 'A Corner in Wheat' (1909)
- Early 1910s social problem films
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Film Restoration
The film survives in archives and is considered preserved, though the original Biograph negative was likely destroyed in the 1914 studio fire. Prints exist in several film archives including the Library of Congress and the Museum of Modern Art. The film has been restored and digitized as part of various early cinema preservation projects.