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The Lure of the Sacred Pearl
(1913) United States of America
B&W : Split-reel
Directed by [?] Bertram Bracken?
Cast: (unknown)
Méliès Star Films [American] production; distributed by [?] The Vitagraph Company of America through The General Film Company, Incorporated? / Produced by Gaston Méliès. / Released 19 June 1913; in a split-reel with Diving for Pearl Oysters at Thursday Island (1913). / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format. / The production was shot on-location in Australia and Java.
Drama.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? Freeman, a young American traveler, landing at Surabaja, Java, purchases a catch of Thursday Island oysters. Opening them, he finds in one a black pearl, the stone that is sacred to Buddha. A Buddhist religious fanatic perceiving the stone, tries to wrench it from the American, but without success. Freeman repairs to a hotel with his friends where the fanatic, disguised, makes an offer for the pearl that he may present it to Buddha; but his offer is too low and Freeman refuses. From that day on the American is shadowed from morning till night and at last is attacked and seriously wounded. Regaining consciousness, he discovers that the pearl has been stolen and suspicion is at once directed towards the fanatic. Knowing the use the fanatic would make of the jewel. Freeman journeys to the temple of Boro-Budur; “the temple of the thousand Buddhas,” where he disguises himself as a Buddhist priest and makes a search of all the statues for his missing pearl. Giving up almost in despair, he suddenly sees the fanatic coining to offer the pearl to “make merit” with Buddha. Freeman quickly calls in the police and the fanatic, caught with the goods, but fearing that Buddha, deprived of the pearl, will have revenge, gives his whole fortune for the gem.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Keywords: Australia - Java - Pearls
Listing updated: 13 December 2024.
References: Thompson-Star p. 234 : Website-IMDb.
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