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Film, Video Judith of Bethulia

About this Item

Title

  • Judith of Bethulia

Summary

  • "The Judean fortress of Bethulia is attacked by the powerful army of Nebuchadnezzar, led by Holofernes. The walls withstand the assault, but many people are killed and Holofernes lays the fortress under siege. Judith, a beautiful and beloved widow, prays for guidance and has a vision that she must offer herself as a sacrifice to Holofernes in order to save Bethulia. She goes to the Assyrian camp dressed in her finest clothes and jewels and completely captivates Holofernes, who surrounds her in luxury. She gains his confidence by promising to betray Bethulia and arranges to spend an evening alone with him. Although she has fallen in love with Holofernes, Judith remembers her loyalty to the Judeans and decapitates the commander with his own sword after getting him drunk. She then goes back to Bethulia with his head. Holofernes' death stuns the Assyrian troops and they are overcome by the inspired Jews. A victory celebration then is held in Bethulia and Judith is hailed as the city's savior"--AFI catalog.

Names

  • Griffith, D. W. (David Wark), 1875-1948, direction, writing
  • Pierce, Grace Adele, writing
  • Woods, Frank E., writing
  • Bitzer, G. W., 1872-1944, camera
  • Sweet, Blanche, cast
  • Walthall, Henry B. (Henry Brazeale), 1878-1936, cast
  • Marsh, Mae, 1895-1968, cast
  • Harron, Robert, 1894-1920, cast
  • Gish, Lillian, 1893-1993, cast
  • Gish, Dorothy, cast
  • Bruce, Kate, 1858-1946, cast
  • Mailes, Charles H. (Charles Hill), 1870-1937, cast
  • Paget, Alfred, 1880-1925, cast
  • Carey, Harry, 1878-1947, cast
  • Lañoe, J. J. (Joseph Jiquel), 1875- cast
  • Hyde, Harry, cast
  • Aldrich, Thomas Bailey, 1836-1907
  • Biograph Company
  • General Film Company
  • Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress)
  • Niver (Kemp) Collection (Library of Congress)

Created / Published

  • United States : General Film Co., 1913.

Headings

  • -  Judith--(Biblical figure)--Drama
  • -  Civilization, Ancient--Drama
  • -  Courage--Drama
  • -  Betrayal--Drama

Genre

  • Religious films
  • Silent films
  • Feature films
  • Fiction films

Notes

  • -  LP1660 U.S. Copyright Office
  • -  Copyright: Biograph Co. (Thomas Bailey Aldrich, author); 31Oct13; LP1660.
  • -  Photographer, G.W. Bitzer ; editor, James Smith ; assistant director, Christy Cabanne ; choreographer, Gertrude Bambrick ; title designer, Frank E. Woods.
  • -  Blanche Sweet, Henry B. Walthall, Mae Marsh, Robert Harron, Lillian Gish, Dorothy Gish, Kate Bruce, Charles Hill Mailes, Alfred Paget, Harry Carey, J.J. Lanoe, Harry Hyde.
  • -  LC also holds a version with added sound track and color in the Copyright Collection.
  • -  According to the Internet movie database, the original running time was 61 minutes.
  • -  According to Niver's Early motion pictures, p. 172, Judith of Bethulia was released one reel at a time, however, an ad in the Moving picture world, March 14, 1914, p. 891 describes it as a feature film in four parts.
  • -  From the play, Judith of Bethulia, and the narrative poem Judith and Holofernes, both by Thomas Bailey Aldrich.
  • -  Paper print shelf number (LC 2545) was changed when the paper prints were re-housed.
  • -  Sources used: Early motion pictures: the Paper Print Collection in the Library of Congress; Moving picture world, v. 19, no. 10, p. 1242; Internet movie database WWW site, viewed May 7, 2012.
  • -  Not viewed.
  • -  Early motion pictures : the Paper Print Collection in the Library of Congress / by Kemp R. Niver. Library of Congress. 1985.
  • -  16 mm dupe neg pic renumbered: FRA 2748-2749 to FSC 0808-0809.

Medium

  • viewing print 1 film reel (ca. 45 min., 1,647 ft.) : si., b&w ; 16 mm.
  • dupe neg pic 1 film reel (ca. 45 min., 1,647 ft.) : si., b&w ; 16 mm.
  • reversal master pos pic 1 film reel (ca. 45 min., 1,650 ft.) : si., b&w ; 16 mm.
  • paper pos 4 rolls (ca. 4,000 ft.) : b&w ; 35 mm.
  • paper pos (copy 2) 4 rolls (ca. 4,000 ft.) : b&w ; 35 mm.

Call Number/Physical Location

  • FLA 5875-5876 (viewing print)
  • FSC 0808-0809 (dupe neg pic)
  • FSA 3794-3795 (reversal master pos pic)
  • Box 1004A, Box 1005A, Box 1006A, Box 1007A (paper pos)
  • Box 5731A, Box 5732A, Box 5733A, Box 5734A (paper pos, copy 2)

Digital Id

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2012601204

Online Format

  • image
  • video

Additional Metadata Formats

Rights & Access

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Credit Line: Library of Congress, Motion Picture, Broadcasting, and Recorded Sound Division.

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Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Pierce, Grace Adele, Writing, Frank E Woods, G. W Bitzer, Blanche Sweet, Henry B Walthall, Mae Marsh, Robert Harron, et al. Judith of Bethulia. directeds by Griffith, D. W. , Ection, Writing United States: General Film Co, 1913. Video. https://www.loc.gov/item/2012601204/.

APA citation style:

Pierce, G. A., Woods, F. E., Bitzer, G. W., Sweet, B., Walthall, H. B., Marsh, M. [...] Niver. (1913) Judith of Bethulia. Griffith, D. W., dir United States: General Film Co. [Video] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2012601204/.

MLA citation style:

Pierce, Grace Adele, Writing, et al. Judith of Bethulia. dir by Griffith, D. W. , Ection, Writing United States: General Film Co, 1913. Video. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2012601204/>.