When Leaves Fall (1911)

• 79%
• 1911
• Louis Feuillade

Yvette, the popular favorite of the Italian Opera Company, is in the opening scene of this picture singing Gluck's "Orpheus" when she is suddenly seized with illness, which causes her to fall prostrate on the floor and the audience is completely grief stricken. Some of the more thoughtful ones, however, rushed to her assistance, among whom were the first violinist and the Marquis of Montreville, both of whom prove to be madly infatuated with the cantatrice. The Marquis, realizing the extent of the singer's illness, offers his country estate at the seaside and, inasmuch as her physicians prescribe absolute rest and change of atmosphere, Yvette gladly accepts. During her absence from the opera the first violinist found life quite intolerable. Desiring to see her, he pays a visit to the country estate of the Marquis, only to be refused admission at the door. As a retort to this insult the musician proposes a duel with the Marquis, who, believing it an opportunity to rid himself of the rivalry of the fellow for the hand of Yvette, gladly takes him up. The duel takes place in the courtyard of the estate and results in the death of the violinist. Shortly before his end, however, the latter picks up his violin and draws out the desolate, mournful strains of the opera "Orpheus." The sickly Yvette from her window recognizes the tune and, seating herself alongside of the casement, looks out only to recognize that her musician admirer has been mortally wounded. Yvette passes away in the arms of the Marquis, who has come to claim her as his bride.