Kreutzer Sonata
Cast & Crew
Herbert Brenon
Nance O'neil
Theda Bara
William E. Shay
Mimi Yvonne
Herbert Brenon
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Miriam Friedlander, the daughter of an Orthodox Jew, falls in love with Count Belusoff, an army captain. They cannot marry, however, because consent of the parents is necessary in Russia, and Belusoff's father will not allow a mixed marriage, while Miriam's will not let her convert. After Belusoff kills himself, Miriam tells her father that she is pregnant. Friedlander convinces Gregor Randar, the conceited, pampered son of a bandleader, to marry Miriam for a sum of money, and the couple goes to New York, where the child is born. Later, Friedlander and his family move to a farm in Connecticut. After Miriam's sister Celia runs away to Miriam, she and Gregor, who quarrels with Miriam and beats the child, carry on a flirtation, which later is consummated. After Celia goes West to give birth to a child, which is placed in an orphanage, Miriam learns about the romance and in a mad rage, kills both Gregor and Celia, before shooting herself.
Director
Herbert Brenon
Cast
Nance O'neil
Theda Bara
William E. Shay
Mimi Yvonne
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The book, The Kreutzer Sonata, written by Count Leo Nikolayevich Tolstoy, published in 1890, figures in the story in that Count Bresuloff and Miriam read it together. He gives the book to her, along with a photograph and letter, before he kills himself. She later reads it during various crises and Celia taunts Miriam that she does not have the courage to follow the example in the book. Advertisments for the film stated that it was based on Tolstoy's The Kreutzer Sonata. According to the copyright entry, however, the film was based on the Jacob Gordin version of The Kreutzer Sonata. There was a trade showing of the film in New York on March 2, 1915. One review refers to the character played by William E. Shay as "Gregor Moskowitz."
