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The Rehearsal
(1915) United States of America
B&W : Short film
Directed by J. Searle Dawley
Cast: Vera Sisson [Evelyn Payne], José Ruben [Cecil King], Kate Bruce [Mrs. King, Cecil’s mother], Irma Dawkins [Cecil’s sister], Madge Kirby [Mabel Gray], G. Raymond Nye
Biograph Company production; distributed by The General Film Company, Incorporated. / Released 14 September 1915. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? Cecil King, a young playwright, sees a girl attacked by footpads, and rescues her. She is an orphan, Evelyn Payne, the daughter of a former great actress. King takes her to the studio building in which he lives and introduces her to Mabel Grey, his fiancée, an artist with a studio across the hall from his own. Mabel, with ill grace, consents to take care of Evelyn for a few days. Cecil requests his mother and sister, who live in the country, to take the girl in, and when they consent, Evelyn goes home with them. Cecil takes his play to a manager, who reports that, while it has a good idea, it is not rightly constructed. On hearing of his disappointment, Mabel tells Cecil that she has no time for a failure, but he vows always to wear her picture, for her memory will inspire him. But success does not come, and he returns home. Evelyn finds his discarded play in a waste basket, and is so moved by one of the scenes she begins to enact the principal role. Cecil overhears her and she encourages him to try again. Guided by her inherited dramatic instinct, he rewrites the play and it is accepted. During his absence, Mabel has an interview with Evelyn, in which she poisons her mind against Cecil. When he returns he suggests that they rehearse the big scene of the play. Maddened by jealousy, she plays the part of the avenging fury with such passion that Cecil has to struggle for his life. At last he wrests the dagger from her and exclaims: “You meant to kill me!” Sobbing, she tells of the suspicions fostered by Mabel. “She said you carry her picture always! I couldn’t bear the thought that you were false to me.” Thereupon, Cecil draws from his pocket the picture which he treasures so jealously. It is the portrait of Evelyn, not of Mabel. For months he has carried it, ever since he realized Evelyn’s nobility and the shallowness of the girl he once thought he loved. Mabel, her scheme exposed, sees Evelyn happy in Cecil’s love.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 12 October 2023.
References: Spehr-American p. 3 : Website-IMDb.
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