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The Fencing Master
(1907) United States of America
B&W : Short film
Directed by (unknown)
Cast: (unknown)
American Mutoscope & Biograph Company production; distributed by American Mutoscope & Biograph Company. / Released 27 April 1907. / [?] Biograph 35mm spherical format? / Biograph production number 3279.
Drama.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? The story is of the affaire de coeur of two French swordsmen, both rivals for the hand of the same fair Parisienne. The opening scene is at the academy of the Fencing Master. A friendly bout with the foils between the Master and his then unknown rival is indulged in, which clearly proves the former indeed a master of the art. A letter is received by the Fencing Master from his sweetheart breaking off their engagement and requesting the return of her letters. He, obedient to her wishes, meets her at Place Royal and returns the treasured epistles. Here his rival appears and a wordy combat ensues, which terminates in a challenge to fight a duel. Notwithstanding his mother’s earnest entreaty, the Fencing Master accepts the challenge, apprising the girl that he will “let her lover take the life that is worthless without her love.” The next scene is the duel in the snow. Both men are eager for the fray. A spirited contest is waged, when the rival, with a well-directed thrust, which meets with no resistance, sends the Fencing Master to the ground seriously wounded. The final scene shows the Fencing Master at the hospital, where he is visited by his opponent. There is a reconciliation, both attributing the affair to a woman’s whim, when the girl enters and, hysterical from remorse, falls prostrate across the wounded man’s cot, making an intensely dramatic climax to a most thrilling production.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 4 November 2022.
References: Musser-Emerge pp. 455, 602 : Website-IMDb.
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