Hypocrites (1915)

The parallel stories of a modern preacher and a medieval monk, Gabriel the Ascetic, who is killed by an ignorant mob for making a nude statue representing Truth, which is also represented by a ghostly naked girl who flits throughout the film.

Director:

Lois Weber (uncredited)

Writer:

Lois Weber

Stars:

Courtenay Foote, Myrtle Stedman, Herbert Standing

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Courtenay Foote	...	Gabriel - the Ascetic (as Mr. Courtenay Foote)
Myrtle Stedman	...	The Woman (as Miss Myrtle Stedman)
Herbert Standing	...	The Abbot (as Mr. Herbert Standing)
Adele Farrington	...	The Queen (as Miss Adele Farrington)

Storyline

The parallel stories of a modern preacher and a medieval monk, Gabriel the Ascetic, who is killed by an ignorant mob for making a nude statue representing Truth, which is also represented by a ghostly naked girl who flits throughout the film.

---

Plot Keywords:

monk | statue | ascetic | f rated | title directed by female | 

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 January 1915 (USA)

Also Known As:

Den nøgne Sandhed

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hobart Bosworth Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

49 min (alternate) 54 min

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

It took 100 years for the film to be shown in Ipswich, Suffolk. After lobbying by the Suffolk silents Society, the local council granted the film a 12A certificate.

---

Connections

Referenced in The Silent Feminists: America's First Women Directors (1993)

User Reviews

my thoughts

This was my first time ever watching a silent film and I enjoyed it thoroughly. I believe one of the most important things that I noticed while watching this film was that I can create my own words or theme for the film. The film doesn't push its thoughts into your head, but allows you to think and create your own scenes. Many movies today don't afford you this opportunity and I believe it is one that is greatly missed whether we recognize it or not. In the beginning the film had me lost and wondering what exactly was going on or what I should be looking for, but then it quickly changed and speed up once the pastor finished his sermon. I noticed the way the people where criticizing him and the way that people were disrespecting the sanctuary, because there was no sound it wasn't hard to notice those incidents. I also enjoyed the way the movie moved from the present into a type of dream. The way the dream ran parallel to reality was great because then it gave the viewer a better understanding of what the director was actually trying to convey. The way the preacher was saying that the people don't want to accept the truth or don't like to see the truth was shown in the dream. It was shown when he went in search of the truth and it was on "the road less traveled" and only a few people had the urge to even try to make it up the path. Some tried and found it too hard, but only one person actually made it all the way up with the priest. I think the director was saying that most people really don't care about that truth and if something is too demanding or requires too much of their time or effort then they aren't going to work for it. They believe that there has to be another way and if not then it obviously wasn't worth their time to begin with. The author also presented the view that the truth is ever fleeting and that many aren't prepared for it to be revealed to them.