The Devil's Needle
6.4
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
9 people
Norma Talmadge
Renee Duprez
Also in
Going Straight
The Children in the House
Tully Marshall
John Minturn
Known for
Scarface
This Gun for Hire
Marguerite Marsh
Patricia Devon
Also in
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages
The Master Mystery
F.A. Turner
Marshall Devon
Known for
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages
Howard Gaye
Sir Gordon Galloway
Also in
The Birth of a Nation
Flirting with Fate
John E. Brennan
Fritz
Also in
The No-Account Count
While Father Telephoned
Paul Le Blanc
Buck
Also in
A Child of the Paris Streets
Monte Blue
Bartender (uncredited)
Known for
Key Largo
Orphans of the Storm
William Courtright
Old Farmer (uncredited)
Also in
That's My Wife
Duck Soup
Chester Withey Director · Roy Somerville Writer
United States release August 12, 1916 · Produced in United States · Languages English, No dialogue
Production
Fine Arts Film Company
Production
United States
Produced in
Languages
Original language
English
Spoken on screen
English · No dialogue
Release dates
United States · August 12, 1916
Theatrical
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Some details come from TheTVDB.