- Young Magda is stifled by the regimentation and provincial thinking of the small village she grew up in, and the result is that her parents throw her out of the house. Determined to make her own way, she heads to the big city to be a professional singer. There she falls in love with a cad named Kellner and marries him, only to discover that the marriage was phony and now she's alone and has a child to support. She's reduced to singing in seamy dance halls and even on the street until one day her former singing teacher hears her and takes her under his wing. Her problems aren't over, however--her father still wants nothing to do with her, and now her phony "husband" Kellner shows up.—frankfob2@yahoo.com
- Magda is a beautiful girl with a gift for music. The pastor of her father's church falls in love with her. He gets her father's consent to ask her to marry him, but Magda doesn't love him. The father tells her that she must either marry the pastor or leave his house. Magda leaves his house and goes to a neighboring city as companion to an old lady. The father closes his door to the girl. Ten years later at a great musical festival in the town, Magda, now a great singer, known as Maddalene dall'Orto, appears. She is wealthy and famous, and made much of by the governor and other high officials. Her father announces he will forgive her and insists that she leave the hotel and stay under his roof. Once under his roof, he begins again to treat Magda the great singer as he treated Magda the girl of sixteen. The pastor whom she refused and who still loves her, has been instrumental in getting her to return to her father's home. Magda does so on the condition that her father will ask no questions about her outside life. The father resents this condition. Magda shocks their staid friends. She amazes them by her wealth, offers to dower his sister Marie so that she can marry well. Magda meets at her father's house the man who, years ago when she was alone and friendless, studying music, betrayed her. He is now a rising man and anxious to appear immaculate in the eyes of his fellow townsmen. In his interview with Magda, he learns for the first time that he has a child by her, that to support this child from starving, Magda, in her early days, sang in cafés and anywhere to earn money. The father enters, learns there is something between them, gets the truth from Magda, determines to challenge Von Keller, and avenge his honor and that of his daughter. Von Keller tells him he is willing to marry Magda. Magda doesn't want this. She can't make these provincial people understand that she has a tremendous career in the world of art. Her father insists in treating her as an erring daughter who must be guided by him for the best. Magda finally, out of love for her father and at the persuasion of the pastor, consents. Von Keller tells her that she must give up her career, and informs Magda that he doesn't intend to recognize their child. Magda's indignation flares up at this. She orders Von Keller from the house, utterly refusing to disown the child. His father gives his word of honor to Von Keller that his daughter will do as he wishes. He tries to force Magda to do this, locks the door and threatens to kill her and himself unless she consents. As he aims the pistol at Magda, he has a stroke of paralysis and dies. Magda is left free to live her own life.
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