Sin (1915)
Drama | 4 October 1915
The scenario was adapted from the 1911 opera, I gioielli della Madonna (The Jewels of the Madonna), composed by Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari with a libretto by Carlo Zangarini and Enrico Golisciani; the plot was based on a true story. The upcoming feature film adaptation, provocatively titled Sin, was announced in the 7 Aug 1915 Motion Picture News as the first Fox Film Corp. release under its new “one-a-week” policy, and as the next starring vehicle for actress Theda Bara, who achieved fame by playing temptresses or “vampires.”
The picture debuted in New York City on 3 Oct 1915 at the Academy of Music, followed by a general release and a Los Angeles, CA, opening at Miller’s Theatre on 4 Oct 1915.
According to the 30 Oct 1915 Moving Picture World, after the film encountered no resistance from censors in Kansas City, MO, Charles W. Harden, head of the regional Fox exchange, expected similar results in Topeka, the capital of neighboring Kansas. However, the state censorship board objected to the title and demanded the removal of several scenes. The state appeals board invited the censor and members of several women’s clubs to a private screening, and despite the women’s overall approval of the film, it was banned in Kansas. ...
The scenario was adapted from the 1911 opera, I gioielli della Madonna (The Jewels of the Madonna), composed by Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari with a libretto by Carlo Zangarini and Enrico Golisciani; the plot was based on a true story. The upcoming feature film adaptation, provocatively titled Sin, was announced in the 7 Aug 1915 Motion Picture News as the first Fox Film Corp. release under its new “one-a-week” policy, and as the next starring vehicle for actress Theda Bara, who achieved fame by playing temptresses or “vampires.”
The picture debuted in New York City on 3 Oct 1915 at the Academy of Music, followed by a general release and a Los Angeles, CA, opening at Miller’s Theatre on 4 Oct 1915.
According to the 30 Oct 1915 Moving Picture World, after the film encountered no resistance from censors in Kansas City, MO, Charles W. Harden, head of the regional Fox exchange, expected similar results in Topeka, the capital of neighboring Kansas. However, the state censorship board objected to the title and demanded the removal of several scenes. The state appeals board invited the censor and members of several women’s clubs to a private screening, and despite the women’s overall approval of the film, it was banned in Kansas.
Rosa, an Italian peasant girl, leaves her fiancé, Luigi, for the wealthy Pietro, head of a New York City crime syndicate known the Camorra, and departs for the U.S. Undaunted, Luigi follows Rosa across the ocean. Meanwhile, Pietro claims that he will steal the jewels of the Madonna for Rosa to prove his love. Impressed by this seeming devotion, Rosa informs Luigi of Pietro's boast. Refusing to be outdone, Luigi steals the jewels himself, and the theft is quickly discovered. Rosa makes her way through the Festival of the Madonna to find Pietro at Camorra headquarters. As a mob forms to hunt the culprit, Rosa begs Pietro for protection, but he throws her out into the street. Overcome by religious guilt, Luigi returns the jewels then kills himself at the church. Rosa collapses in a deranged stupor while police protect her from the angry mob. ...
Rosa, an Italian peasant girl, leaves her fiancé, Luigi, for the wealthy Pietro, head of a New York City crime syndicate known the Camorra, and departs for the U.S. Undaunted, Luigi follows Rosa across the ocean. Meanwhile, Pietro claims that he will steal the jewels of the Madonna for Rosa to prove his love. Impressed by this seeming devotion, Rosa informs Luigi of Pietro's boast. Refusing to be outdone, Luigi steals the jewels himself, and the theft is quickly discovered. Rosa makes her way through the Festival of the Madonna to find Pietro at Camorra headquarters. As a mob forms to hunt the culprit, Rosa begs Pietro for protection, but he throws her out into the street. Overcome by religious guilt, Luigi returns the jewels then kills himself at the church. Rosa collapses in a deranged stupor while police protect her from the angry mob.
Viewed by AFI
Partially Viewed
Offscreen Credit
Name Occurs Before Title
AFI Life Achievement AwardTOP SEARCHES
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
According to HR news items, "The Gentleman from Montana" (an unpublished story by Lewis R. Foster, alternately called "The Gentleman from Wyoming" by both contemporary and modern ... >>
It's a Wonderful Life
Philip Van Doren Stern's story, which, according to many contemporary and modern sources, was originally written in Nov 1939, was enclosed by him in his 1943 Christmas cards. Although ... >>
The Grapes of Wrath
According to materials contained in the Twentieth Century-Fox Records of the Legal Department at the UCLA Theater Arts Library, Fox paid John Steinbeck $70,000 for the rights to his ... >>
Batman Returns
According to a 14 Jun 1992 LAT article, Warner Bros. was very eager for Tim Burton to direct the sequel to his 1989 film Batman ... >>
The Sound of Music
The onscreen title reads "Rodgers and Hammerstein's The Sound of Music."
The Sound of Music was adapted from the Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein ... >>
