The Prison on the Cliff - Production & Contact Info

The Prison on the Cliff (1912)
Short | Short, Drama

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The Prison on the Cliff (1912)

Short | Short, Drama

The gray, bleak, silent prison castle of Roucras still towers above the vast expanse of crag and sea that isolates it from the rest of humanity. It was in this place that captives of the state were condemned to imprisonment, and that the ...See moreThe gray, bleak, silent prison castle of Roucras still towers above the vast expanse of crag and sea that isolates it from the rest of humanity. It was in this place that captives of the state were condemned to imprisonment, and that the French government during the Revolution of 1796-9 sentenced all plotters found guilty of treason. In this silent fortress of Roucras on the rugged cliffs of the Bay of Gascony, close to the frontier of Spain, lived the prison governor, his wife and mother. On this August evening the governor starts back with amazement when he finds that his colleague of early years, the Marquis de Fiers, is the next victim to the doomed walls of the dungeon. Without any explanation to his family, the executive hastens to the wide stairs down which the prisoner is descending and holds out his hands with a promise that while he remains at the head of the institution he will see that his prisoner is as comfortable as possible. The governor's wife, alarmed at the actions of her husband, starts in pursuit and is surprised to find him so pained and worried over the arrival of the prisoner that she inquires the reason. He explains to her the circumstances and she understands at once, with the result that she decides to do all in her power to make the lot of Roucras' latest captive as pleasurable as possible. Setting aside the prison rules and regulations the governor visits his captive, asks him to dinner and also allows it to become a regular custom for the marquis to spend his evenings with his pretty wife and mother. De Fiers and his fair hostess share a passion for music, wherefore many pleasant hours are spent in playing and singing to the accompaniment of the harpsichord. Unfortunately, however, the prisoner is overcome by his hostess's charm of femininity and all unwillingly and without evil intention is carried away by her singing and beauty to the extent of engaging in a dangerous flirtation. While the pair are momentarily enjoying terms that are rather too friendly, the governor's mother happens into the room and discovering this circumstance, informs her son of his wife's supposed infidelity. Consumed by jealousy the governor's friendship and laxity turns to hate. He plans that the marquis must now die and under the guise of helping him to escape he in reality forces his prisoner to commit suicide. Further impetus for his dastardly deliberations is engendered when he receives a letter from the court requesting him to release the marquis, on whose behalf further exonerating evidence has been conclusively supplied. The plan he works out is that the prisoner, without knowledge of his pardon, must kill himself. Under the guise of assisting the nobleman to escape, he presents him with a rope and file, to help him descend the precipitous wall of the tower, having carefully arranged that the rope is too short, so that the prisoner will be dashed to pieces at the bottom of the castle. The marquis thanks his friend and sets vigorously to work, on the iron bars of his cell, soon succeeding in removing one and throwing down the rope, thereby letting himself down hand over hand. Soon he realizes that he has been foiled when he gets to the end of the hempen ladder and attempts to climb back to the top, only to find that his strength is exhausted and that he must loosen his hold and fall to destruction. Morning brings returning consciousness and the marquis recovers to find the fast rising tide the next enemy he has to contend with. Crawling painfully away, dragging his bruised body over the rugged rocks of the prison base he is soon overtaken by the surging inrush of the sea, but manages to combat it successfully, and reaches safety, drenched to the skin and faint from want of nourishment. In the meantime, the governor has conveyed to his wife the fact that the marquis has been pardoned by letter from court, and hands this letter of deliverance to his wife, suggesting that she be the hearer of the good tidings to its consignee. Little suspecting the schemes which have been carried out against her friend, she rushes to the prisoner to release him. Finding that he has escaped, the two return to the governor and the wife is openly accused of proving faithless to him through her intimacy with the marquis. In his fury he acknowledges having allowed the prisoner to escape thereby hoping to effect his death. During this scene of declamation, a letter is received from the escaped prisoner, who, while forgiving his friend for the attempt on his life, assures him that he has no cause whatever to be suspicious of his fair spouse. On the strength of this letter the governor is relieved of his mental turmoil. He begs for forgiveness and eventually succeeds in restoring happiness in the isolated family in the prison castle of Roucras. Written by Moving Picture World synopsis See less

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Cast	+ Add Cast
5 cast members

Name	Known for
Suzanne Grandais Madame Bertin Madame Bertin See fewer	Graziella, the Gypsy (1912)
Paul Manson Monsieur Bertin Monsieur Bertin See fewer	L'énigme de la Riviera (1915)
Renée Carl Madame Bertin mère Madame Bertin mère See fewer	Severo Torelli (1914)
René Navarre Marquis de Fiers Marquis de Fiers See fewer	Fantômas: In the Shadow of the Guillotine (1913)
Ernest Bourbon Actor Actor See fewer	Onésime et le billet de mille (1918)