The Violin Maker of Cremona (1909)

A contest is being held in Cremona for the best violin, with Giannina's hand in marriage as the prize. Filippo is secretly in love with her, but is also ashamed of being a cripple, so he ... See full summary »

Director:

D.W. Griffith

Writers:

François Coppée (story), Frank E. Woods

Stars:

Herbert Prior, Mary Pickford, Owen Moore

Cast

Credited cast:
Herbert Prior	...	Taddeo Ferrari
Mary Pickford	...	Giannina, Taddeo's Daughter
Owen Moore	...	Sandro
David Miles	...	Filippo, the Cripple
Harry Solter	...	The Judge
Marion Leonard	...	The Judge's Companion
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Charles Avery	...	Worker / In Crowd
Clara T. Bracy
John R. Cumpson	...	In Crowd
Arthur V. Johnson	...	In Crowd
Violet Mersereau	...	In Crowd
Anthony O'Sullivan	...	Worker
Mack Sennett	...	In Crowd

Storyline

A contest is being held in Cremona for the best violin, with Giannina's hand in marriage as the prize. Filippo is secretly in love with her, but is also ashamed of being a cripple, so he switches his superior violin with that of another apprentice, Sandro, whom Giannina loves.

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Genres:

Short | Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 June 1909 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Biograph Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

10 min

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This is said to have been Mary Pickford's first credited film. Although it is unclear if she had been background in earlier Biograph films.

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Connections

Featured in Star Power: The Creation of United Artists (1998)

User Reviews

A Flower from Mary Pickford

Crippled violinist David Miles (as Filippo) is very much taken with lovely young Mary Pickford (as Giannina Ferrari); when she tosses him a flower, he lovingly places it in a special vase. Ms. Pickford is rather free with her flowers, however, and also has one for Mr. Miles' dashing friend Owen Moore (as Sandro); for Mr. Moore, Pickford includes an amorous "come hither" look. The residents of Cremona are apparently violin enthusiasts; Miles and Moore enter a contest to see which man can make the best violin in town. The prizes are a gold chain and… Mary Pickford's hand in marriage, allowed by her father Herbert Prior (as Taddeo Ferrari)! Who will the winner be?

Interesting as an early co-starring role for Pickford; with a few exceptions, she is not as impressive in her early film roles as might be expected after viewing her later, sometimes exceptional, performances. Pickford's best moment is her repulsion when she realizes the "lame" Miles will enter the contest to win her hand in marriage, obviously because he is disabled! Miles is the real star of this D.W. Griffith film; given the best role, he gives the most interesting performance. A hundred years later, you can finally call "The Violin Maker of Cremona" lame.

*** The Violin Maker of Cremona (6/7/09) D.W. Griffith ~ David Miles, Mary Pickford, Owen Moore