The Minor Chord (1911)
Carl Danmitz, a poor but talented violinist, engages a room in an obscure boarding house and pursues his studies. Gretchen Bleeker resides across the street, and through the open window where she is wont to sit, hears the sweet strains of his violin. One day while Gretchen is listening, she knocks over a plant. The musician hastens out, picks up the flower, and thus they meet and go for a stroll. Carl receives an offer to play at a society benefit for charity. He is overjoyed at the chance. His happiness is of short duration, for he realizes that he has not the proper clothing to appear at the benefit. Gretchen has been hoarding her money, and offers to make a sacrifice for his sake. She gives him her little savings of months and he is enabled to make a presentable appearance at his debut. His first public performance is an immediate success. He is invited to the homes of the wealthy. He forgets the young girl who was kind to him in his poverty and he meets and falls in love with Marie von Blumen, the daughter of the woman who first brought him out. Gretchen, pining for her lover, gradually wastes away in strength. On the eve of dying, she expresses a wish to see Carl once more and hear the sweet tones of his violin. Her mother seeks him not, finding him at the home of his fiancée, surrounded by admirers. She is persistent in her request to see him and is finally admitted. She implores him to come to her daughter. Marie grasps the situation and urges him to go to the bedside of the girl and he does so, accompanied by his fiancée. They find Gretchen dying. She holds out her arms to Carl and is taken to him, happy, supremely happy in the knowledge that he loves her and ignorant of his vows to Marie. It is all explained to Marie and she bids her lover make the girl his wife. A marriage ceremony is hastily performed and then Carl plays as he has never played before. Gretchen expires in an ecstasy of joy, to the strains of her favorite melody.
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GenresDrama
Short
IMDbPro
See more details at IMDbPro
| Filmmakers | Role |
|---|---|
| Joseph W. Smiley | Director |
| Carl Laemmle | Producer |
| Cast | Role |
|---|---|
| King Baggot | |
| Isabel Rea | |
| Sue Balfour |
