Vintage original 8 x 10 in. US double-weight matte photograph from the silent film drama/romance, THE CONQUERING POWER, released in 1921 by Metro Pictues Corporation and directed by Rex Ingram.
The image features a beautiful soft-focus design of Charles Grandet (Rudolph Valentino) looking sad as he opens an ornate wooden box on the table in front of him. This photograph was taken by the renowned Hollywood photographer, Arthur C. Rice. It is in fine- condition as shown with light waviness along the side borders.
*"The Conquering Power (1921) is an American silent romantic drama directed by Rex Ingram and starring Rudolph Valentino, Alice Terry, and Ralph Lewis. The film was based on the 1833 novel Eugénie Grandet by Honoré de Balzac. Its sets were designed by Ralph Barton. A review from Photoplay claims that "The thoughtfully worked out characterizations and the general atmosphere are not only faithful to Balzac but go to make absorbing and valuable entertainment."
*(source: Wikipedia)
*"Although based on Honorè de Balzac’s 1833 novel, Eugénie Grandet, the 17 Jun 1921 Var announced that director Rex Ingram’s next feature film would be released under the title, The Conquering Power. An earlier adaptation of Eugénie Grandet was produced by the Eclair Film Co. in 1910. The 12 Nov 1921 Exhibitors Trade Review noted that June Mathis’s scenario remained faithful to the source material except for the ending, which had been changed for the screen.
For the look of the film Ingram researched French architecture and consulted poster artist and magazine illustrator Ralph Barton, as reported by the 4 Jun 1921 Motion Picture News. A 14 May 1921 Motion Picture News item noted that nearly all the principal cast members had previously worked with Ingram on his most recent feature, The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (1921)--most notably Alice Terry, who married Ingram shortly after the production of The Conquering Power.
An item in the 17 Dec 1921 Exhibitors Trade Review also named Andrée Tourneur among the supporting players, while the 18 Jun 1921 Moving Picture World stated that Mayme Krame, a businesswoman from Omaha, NE, had won a small role through a popularity contest conducted by her local newspaper in conjunction with Metro Pictures Corp. The 11 Jun 1921 Motion Picture News estimated that filming would be completed in approximately ten days."
*(source: AFI Catalog of Feature Films)
3RB