The Devil's Needle

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The Devil's Needle (1916)

Directed by Chester Withey

Drama · 1h 06m

Renee is a French artist's model who uses morphine as an escape from the dull reality of her life. She recommends it to a neurotic artist because "it kindles the fires of genius." The artist quickly becomes addicted to the drug and the quality of his work begins to disintegrate. He takes on a new model, marries her, and starts her on the same path of moral degradation, until a guilt-ridden Renee decides to intervene in order to save them both. According to silent film historian Kevin Brownlow, THE DEVIL'S NEEDLE was banned by the state of Ohio, but the censor board reversed its decision after recognizing the positive message beneath the film's scandalous surface. This special edition was mastered from a 35mm preservation print of the 1923 re-release version. The only known surviving copy, the element suffers significant nitrate decomposition during some scenes.

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Cast

Norma Talmadge Renee Duprez Tully Marshall John Minturn Marguerite Marsh Patricia Devon F.A. Turner Marshall Devon Howard Gaye Sir Gordon Galloway John E. Brennan Fritz
P
Paul Le Blanc Buck Monte Blue Bartender (uncredited) William Courtright Old Farmer (uncredited)

Crew

Director
Chester Withey
Writer
Chester Withey, Roy Somerville

Details

Release date
1916-08-12
Runtime
1h 06m
Genres
Drama
Original language
EN
Spoken languages
No Language
Countries
United States of America
Production
Fine Arts Film Company