The Pilgrimage
(1912) United States of America
B&W : One reel
Directed by George LeSoir
Cast: Thomas Moore (Tom Moore) [William], Lottie Pickford [Gretchen], Stuart Holmes [Gretchen’s father], Alison Skipworth [William’s mother], R.B. Mitchell (Ralph B. Mitchell) [the priest]
Kalem Company, Incorporated, production; distributed by [?] The General Film Company, Incorporated? / From a poem by Heinrich Heine. / Released 17 May 1912. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? In a picturesque German village William meets Gretchen and when he returns home he tells his mother of the beautiful face which he has seen. As the days pass the acquaintanceship ripens into love and the sweethearts become downcast when it is found that William must leave for the city to enter his apprenticeship. The young couple visit the Shrine of the Virgin Mary, where they plight their troth and exchange many promises of constancy. Two years elapse and William returns home. He greets his mother and hastens to Gretchen’s house, only to find that the girl has been unable to withstand the sorrow of separation and has passed away. William is almost distracted and his mother endeavors to console him. A party of pilgrims pass the house on their way to the shrine and the good mother suggests that they, too, visit the sacred spot. Through an old tradition the pilgrims prepare a wax symbol of their afflictions, which they present to the Mother of God with their prayers and William, therefore, molds a waxen heart which he places before the shrine, promising to honor the Holy Mother all the days of his life. When William and his mother return home the young man falls asleep. A vision of the Virgin appears to him, touches his heart and tells him he is soon to be reunited with his loved one. The mother turns to her son and finding his life has departed, she realizes that Providence has offered this deliverance from his grief, and the good woman kneels to offer a prayer.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 15 October 2023.
References: Everson-American p. 164 : Website-IMDb.
|