''Mignon'' is a 1915 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. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...

directed by

William Nigh William Nigh, born Emil Kreuske (October 12, 1881 – November 27, 1955), was an American film Film director, director, screenwriter, writer, and actor. His film work sometimes lists him as either "Will Nigh" or "William Nye". Biography Nig ...

with production supervised by Alexander E. Beyfuss. It is based on the 1866 opera ''

Mignon ''Mignon'' () is an 1866 ''opéra comique'' (or opera in its second version) in three acts by Ambroise Thomas. The original French libretto was by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré, based on Goethe's 1795-96 novel '' Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre''. ...

'' that was from the 1795-96 novel '' Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre'' by

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Johann Wolfgang (von) Goethe (28 August 1749 – 22 March 1832) was a German polymath who is widely regarded as the most influential writer in the German language. His work has had a wide-ranging influence on Western literature, literary, Polit ...

.Progressive Silent Film List: ''Mignon''
at silentera.com

Plot

The nobleman Lothario seduces Musette, the daughter of Giarno, the leader of the nearby Gypsy camp. When Musette learns that Lothario is married and has a baby, Mignon, she jumps off a cliff. For revenge, Giarno kidnaps Mignon. After Lothario's wife dies of grief, Lothario becomes a mad, wandering minstrel. When Mignon is sixteen, the young nobleman

Wilhelm Meister Wilhelm Meister is the main character in Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's novels ''Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship'' and its sequel '' Wilhelm Meister's Journeyman Years''. Description and history Wilhelm Meister's story concerns how he comes from a ...

, seeing her mistreatment, buys Mignon from Giarno. Mignon falls in love with Wilhelm, but she believes that he loves the actress Filina. At a fete, Filina locks Mignon, whom Lothario has befriended, into her room. Filina traps Wilhelm into proposing, but as he announces their engagement, Lothario, acting on Mignon's earlier suggestions, sets the castle on fire. Wilhelm rescues Mignon, but because she still believes that he loves Filina, she leaves with Lothario. When an innkeeper recognizes Lothario and shows him a piece of the baby Mignon's belt, Lothario's memory returns. As Mignon has the other piece, she is revealed to be his daughter. Wilhelm finds them, and he and Mignon vow to marry.

Cast

* Beatriz Michelena as Mignon * Robert House Peters as

* Clara Beyers as Filina *

Belle Bennett Ara Belle Bennett (April 22, 1891 – November 4, 1932) was a stage and screen actress who started her career as a child as a circus performer. She later performed in theater and films. Early life and career Bennett was born in Milaca, Minnes ...

as Musette *

Ernest Joy Ernest C. Joy (January 20, 1878 – February 12, 1924) was an American stage and film actor of the silent era. He appeared in 76 films between 1911 and 1920. Selected filmography * '' Article 47, L (1913) * '' Salomy Jane'' (1914) * '' ...

as Laertes *Emil Krushe as Giarno *Andrew Robson as Lothario *Baby Wallace as Mignon (as a child) *Frank Hollins as Lothario's servant *Mrs. Frank Hollins as Baby Mignon's nurse *Harold B. Meade as Lothario's servant *Demetrios Mitsoras as Innkeeper *William Pike as Frederick *Rollin Warwick as Baron Rosenberg

Uncredited

* George Cheseboro *Ted Edlin

References

External links

* 1915 films 1915 drama films American silent feature films Films based on works by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Films based on operas Films set in the 1790s Films set in Germany Films set in Italy American black-and-white films Silent American drama films World Film Company films Works based on Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship Films directed by William Nigh 1910s American films 1910s English-language films English-language drama films {{1910s-drama-film-stub