Violin Maker of Cremona

Mary Pickford, Clara T. Bracy, John Compson, Arthur V. Johnson

Silent 10 mins B&W 1909

The scene is the Italian village of Cremona, where the mayor has offered a gold chain to whoever builds the best violin. One of the aspiring artisans is Filippo, an impoverished cripple. He hopes to win the prize so that he can marry the heroine, who will otherwise wed a handsomer violin-maker. Filippo wins the prize, but when he realizes that the girl is irrevocably in love with his rival, the hero generously returns the gold chain over to the amorous couple as a wedding present.