''The Higher Law'' is a 1914 American silent

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super ...

directed by

Charles Giblyn Charles Giblyn (September 6, 1871 – March 14, 1934) was an American film director and actor of the silent era. He directed nearly 100 films between 1912 and 1927. He also appeared in 23 films between 1914 and 1934. He was one of the found ...

and featuring Murdock MacQuarrie, Pauline Bush and

Lon Chaney Leonidas Frank "Lon" Chaney (April 1, 1883 – August 26, 1930) was an American actor. He is regarded as one of the most versatile and powerful actors of cinema, renowned for his characterizations of tortured, often grotesque and affli ...

. It was written by Harry G. Stafford, based on a story by George Bronson Howard. This film was the second in a series of four films called ''The Adventures of Francois Villon''. Lon Chaney was featured in this one, as well as in the first installment, ''

The Oubliette ''The Oubliette'' is a 1914 American silent historical drama film directed by Charles Giblyn, featuring Murdock MacQuarrie, Pauline Bush, and Lon Chaney. It is part one of a four-film series directed by Giblyn called '' The Adventures of Fran ...

'' (1914), but did not appear in the other two. The film is now considered to be

lost Lost may refer to getting lost, or to: Geography *Lost, Aberdeenshire, a hamlet in Scotland * Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail, or LOST, a hiking and cycling trail in Florida, US History *Abbreviation of lost work, any work which is known to have bee ...

Plot

The King of France, Louis XI, extends an offer of peace to Edward IV of England. King Edward's treacherous advisor, Sir Stephen (Lon Chaney), advises him to reject the offer. King Louis asks Francois Villon for his advice, and Villon tells the king that he should get rid of Sir Stephen once and for all. Villon travels to England to deal with the problem and hires a beautiful young woman (the Lady Eleyne) to seduce Sir Stephen. She lures him to her father's castle where he is made to look like a prowler, and Villon and his men execute him. Villon then returns to France to facilitate the peace treaty, free of Sir Stephen's interference.

Cast

* Murdock MacQuarrie as

François Villon François Villon ( Modern French: , ; – after 1463) is the best known French poet of the Late Middle Ages. He was involved in criminal behavior and had multiple encounters with law enforcement authorities. Villon wrote about some of these ...

* Pauline Bush as Lady Eleyne *

Doc Crane Doc Crane (1847 – April 17, 1920) was an American silent film actor. Crane was a medical doctor in Boston who served in the Civil War and returned to his practice after its end. When he was 65, he moved to California to retire. After financia ...

as King Louis XI *

as Sir Stephen Fitz Allen *

Millard K. Wilson Millard K. Wilson (May 5, 1890 – October 5, 1933) was an American actor of the silent film era. He appeared in 94 films between 1914 and 1930, co-starring with Lon Chaney Sr. in some of them. Chaney and Wilson were life-long friends.Blake, ...

Chester Withey Chester "Chet" Withey (8 November 1887, Park City, Utah – 6 October 1939, California) was an American silent film actor, director, and screenwriter. He participated in the production in total of some 100 films. Born in Park City, Utah, ...

(aka Chet Withey) * Jessalyn Van Trump

Reception

Moving Picture World wrote: "This is the second of the series being produced by Charles Giblyn, picturing scenes in the life of the vagabond poet, Francois Villon. Murdock MacQuarrie has the name part and Pauline Bush and Lon Chaney are also in the cast. In this number Villon acts as the emissary of Louis XI, and by his wits succeeds in luring to destruction Sir Stephen, favorite of Edward IV. The atmosphere and costuming are good, and the final scenes dramatic and stirring. Villon appears to advantage in his more poetical aspects. In this incident he is a little too much of the villain. But the prediction is a commendable one, and above the average in general construction." Motion Picture News wrote: "The director, Charles Giblyn, has proven himself worthy of great praise. The old costumes and castles, the joviality of the tap-room, the dignified and stately action of the court followers, all lend a decidedly mediaeval atmosphere to the picture...but the picture does not rely solely on its meritorious costumes and atmosphere for success. There is sufficient scheming, brawls, duel scenes and the like to appease the appetites of the keen lovers of sensationalism, and those who would not be content with the great character study that the picture offers."

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Higher Law, The 1914 films 1914 short films 1914 drama films 1914 lost films American silent short films American black-and-white films Lost American films Films directed by Charles Giblyn Films about François Villon Silent American drama films Cultural depictions of François Villon Cultural depictions of Louis XI of France Lost drama films Universal Pictures short films 1910s American films 1910s English-language films