The Pretty Sister of Jose (1915)

Drama | 31 May 1915

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HISTORY

The scenario was based on the 1889 novel, The Pretty Sister of Jose by Frances Hodgson Burnett, and her 1903 play of the same name. On 28 November 1914, Motion Picture News claimed that it was the first feature to be produced Famous Players Film Co. studios in Los Angeles, CA, although the article noted that at least two Mary Pickford films were made in the city earlier that year. Studio manager Albert A. Kaufman and director Allan Dwan had already arrived at the West Coast facility, with lead actress Marguerite Clark was soon to follow. Production was underway by 19 December 1914, as noted in that day’s Motion Picture News. The completion of filming was reported 2 Jan 1915 issue.
       The Pretty Sister of Jose was released on 31 May 1915, preceded by a 28 May 1915 opening at the Strand Theatre in New York City. Other openings followed on 6 June 1915 at the Imperial Theatre in San Francisco, CA, and at Tally’s Theatre in Los Angeles.
       An article in the 4 June 1915 Variety noted that the Ohio Board of Censors demanded unspecified cuts to the film. Local journalists complained that such deletions generally included the “thrills and punches necessary to give the picture any strength.”
       The National Film Preservation Board (NFPB) included this film on its list of Lost U.S. Silent Feature Films as of October 2019. ...

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The scenario was based on the 1889 novel, The Pretty Sister of Jose by Frances Hodgson Burnett, and her 1903 play of the same name. On 28 November 1914, Motion Picture News claimed that it was the first feature to be produced Famous Players Film Co. studios in Los Angeles, CA, although the article noted that at least two Mary Pickford films were made in the city earlier that year. Studio manager Albert A. Kaufman and director Allan Dwan had already arrived at the West Coast facility, with lead actress Marguerite Clark was soon to follow. Production was underway by 19 December 1914, as noted in that day’s Motion Picture News. The completion of filming was reported 2 Jan 1915 issue.
       The Pretty Sister of Jose was released on 31 May 1915, preceded by a 28 May 1915 opening at the Strand Theatre in New York City. Other openings followed on 6 June 1915 at the Imperial Theatre in San Francisco, CA, and at Tally’s Theatre in Los Angeles.
       An article in the 4 June 1915 Variety noted that the Ohio Board of Censors demanded unspecified cuts to the film. Local journalists complained that such deletions generally included the “thrills and punches necessary to give the picture any strength.”
       The National Film Preservation Board (NFPB) included this film on its list of Lost U.S. Silent Feature Films as of October 2019.

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GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS
SOURCE CITATIONS
SOURCE
DATE
PAGE
Los Angeles Evening Express [Los Angeles, CA]
3 Jun 1915
p. 6
Motion Picture News
28 Nov 1914
p. 28
Motion Picture News
19 Dec 1914
p. 42
Motion Picture News
2 Jan 1915
p. 34
Motion Picture News
22 May 1915
p. 63
Motion Picture News
12 Jun 1915
p. 68
Motion Picture News
10 Jul 1915
p. 92
Motion Picture News Studio Directory
21 Oct 1916
p. 129
Motography
28 Nov 1914
p. 741
Motography
5 Jun 1915
p. 953
Moving Picture World
6 Feb 1915
p. 779
Moving Picture World
28 Aug 1915
p. 73
New York Clipper
17 Oct 1914
p. 804
NYDM
2 Jun 1915
p. 28
New York Times
27 May 1915
p. 20
San Francisco Examiner [San Francisco, CA]
3 Jun 1915
p. 8
Variety
26 Mar 1915
p. 26
Variety
4 Jun 1915
p. 17
CAST
PRODUCTION CREDITS
NAME
PARENT COMPANY
PRODUCTION COMPANY
DISTRIBUTION COMPANY
NAME
CREDITED AS
CREDIT
DIRECTOR
PRODUCER
WRITER
PHOTOGRAPHY
SOURCES
LITERARY
Based on the novel, The Pretty Sister of Jose by Frances Hodgson Burnett (New York, 1889) and her play of the same name (New York, 10 Nov 1903).
LITERARY SOURCE AUTHOR
DETAILS
Release Date:
31 May 1915
Premiere Information:
New York opening: 28 May 1915; Los Angeles and San Francisco openings: 6 Jun 1915
Production Date:
Dec 1914
Physical Properties:
Silent
Black and White
Length(in reels):
5
Country:
United States
Language:
English
SYNOPSIS

In Spain, Pepita, a radiant beauty, and her playful brother, Jose, witness their mother, whose faded beauty led her husband to abandon her for another, plunge a dagger into her heart. After their uncle avenges the death, Pepita develops a fierce hatred of men and pledges never to marry, while Jose leaves for Madrid with a benevolent padre. Sebastiano, Spain's most famous toreador, arrives in town and, after seeing Pepita, spurns the pretty Sarita, who dies hopelessly infatuated. Later, Pepita encounters Sebastiano again during a visit to her brother in Madrid. She responds to Sebastiano's protestations of love with vehement hatred. He leaves for Lisbon, Portugal, and his departure awakens Pepita's love. When Sebastiano returns with a fiancée, Pepita suffers intense jealousy. During a bullfight, Sebastiano glances at Pepita and is gored by the bull. As he is about to die, Pepita, ready to die with him, declares her love, and Sebastiano revives. ...

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In Spain, Pepita, a radiant beauty, and her playful brother, Jose, witness their mother, whose faded beauty led her husband to abandon her for another, plunge a dagger into her heart. After their uncle avenges the death, Pepita develops a fierce hatred of men and pledges never to marry, while Jose leaves for Madrid with a benevolent padre. Sebastiano, Spain's most famous toreador, arrives in town and, after seeing Pepita, spurns the pretty Sarita, who dies hopelessly infatuated. Later, Pepita encounters Sebastiano again during a visit to her brother in Madrid. She responds to Sebastiano's protestations of love with vehement hatred. He leaves for Lisbon, Portugal, and his departure awakens Pepita's love. When Sebastiano returns with a fiancée, Pepita suffers intense jealousy. During a bullfight, Sebastiano glances at Pepita and is gored by the bull. As he is about to die, Pepita, ready to die with him, declares her love, and Sebastiano revives.

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Legend
Viewed by AFI
Partially Viewed
Offscreen Credit
Name Occurs Before Title
AFI Life Achievement Award

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The American Film Institute is grateful to Sir Paul Getty KBE and the Sir Paul Getty KBE Estate for their dedication to the art of the moving image and their support for the AFI Catalog of Feature Films and without whose support AFI would not have been able to achieve this historical landmark in this epic scholarly endeavor.