Theda Bara presents The Forbidden Path
The Forbidden Path (Fox; 6 reels; released February 1918).
Cast: Theda Bara (Mary Lynde); Hugh Thompson (Robert Sinclair); Sidney Mason (Felix Benavente); Walter Law (Mr. Lynde); Florence Martin (Barbara Reynolds); Wynne Hope Allen (Mrs. Lynde); Alphonse Ethier (William Sinclair); Lisle Leigh (Mrs. Bryne); Reba Porter (Tessie Bryne).
Directed by J. Gordon Edwards. Written by E. Lloyd Sheldon (from his story From the Depths). Photography by John Boyle.
The Forbidden Path was a melodrama of artist life in Greenwich Village, scripted by E. Lloyd Sheldon from his own story. Theda played Nellie Lynn, who in her time poses as both the Madonna and -- to get revenge against the man who wronged her -- as "Sin." This movie was somewhat different from the typical Theda vampire plots, in that she was not intrinsically evil from the opening shot, though she made up for it at the end of the film. The other performers were Hugh Thompson, Sidney Mason, Walter Law, Florence Martin, Wynne H. Allen and Alphonse Ethier. In this "throbbing story of everyday life," the Boston Post's reviewer found "a very trashy story."
Critical Reviews:
none yet collected.
From Allmovie.com:
This Theda Bara drama was called a "Fox Standard," but it just as well could have been called a "Standard Bara," since it's pretty much interchangeable with most of the other films she was making at the time. Mary Lynde (Bara) is an innocent girl who has grown up in New York's Greenwich Village. One of the artists there, Felix Benavente (Sidney Mason), uses her as a model when he paints a portrait of the Madonna for a church. His friend Robert Sinclair (Hugh Thompson) corrupts Mary so that her father (Walter Law) casts her from his home. She goes to live with Sinclair in his mountain lodge, but after the birth of a child, he callously casts her aside. Subsequently, her baby dies and she sinks to the depths of despair. Benavente is commissioned to paint a portrait of "Sin," and when he finds Mary, he once again uses her as the model. And, once more, she runs across Sinclair, who is planning to marry Barbara Reynolds (Florence Martin). To keep their association a secret, Mary forces Sinclair to give her large sums of money by stealing from the bank where he works. Finally she makes him choose between marrying her or being arrested for his theft. He chooses marriage, but at the altar Mary exposes him completely. --Janiss Garza.
Released 3 February 1918.
Survival Status: The film is presumed lost.
[email protected]