Esther (1913) [N/A]
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Featuring:
Stacia Napierkowska, Henri Andréani, Eugene Creissel
Directed by:
Henri Andréani
Release Date:
January 1, 1913
Original Title:
Esther
Genres:
Drama
Production Companies:
Pathé Frères
Production Countries:
France
Ratings / Certifications:
N/A
Runtime: 25
In the days of King Ahasueras, who reigned over all the provinces from India to Ethiopia, a feast was given to show the riches of his kingdom. Thinking to display the great beauty of his queen, Vashti, the king commanded her to appear before him. But Vashti refused to obey the king's command, which greatly angered him. The wise men of the kingdom counseled the king that he should punish the queen for her disobedience lest all the wives should rebel against the will of their husbands. So it was decreed that Vashti should no longer be queen. Then the officers of the king gathered together the young girls of the kingdom so that he might choose a new queen. Now. there was a certain Jew named Mordecai in the palace and he had brought up Esther, the daughter of his uncle. And when the king beheld her, he was well pleased and chose her from among all the rest to be queen instead of Vashti. But Mordecai charged her not to reveal that she was a Jewess. And it chanced that one day Mordecai learned of a plot against the king's life, and this he told to Esther, who informed the king. The plotters were hanged and Mordecai' s name was written in the king's book of chronicles. There was in the kingdom a prince, Haman, who was held in high esteem by the king. And all the king's servants reverenced Haman, but Mordecai would not bow before him. Then was Haman angered against him and he induced the king to order the destruction of all the Jews. When Mordecai learned of this he sent word to Esther, beseeching her to influence the king in behalf of the Jews, her people. But there was a law in the land forbidding anyone to go before Ahasueras unless ordered to do so, and Esther feared the wrath of the king. However, Mordecai persuaded her and she appeared before the king and was received by him. Esther invited the king and Haman to a banquet the next day. Haman was much pleased to be thus honored. When he beheld Mordecai at the king's gate, he ordered gallows to be erected that the Jew might be hanged thereon. But the king desired to honor Mordecai for his deed in warning him of the plot to murder him, and asked Haman how he might reward a faithful servant. Haman, thinking that the king wished to honor him, suggested great honors. When he learned that it was Mordecai who was to be rewarded. Haman was in great fear lest the king should hear of his intention to hang Mordecai, who was then arrayed in the king's apparel and the royal crown was placed upon his head. Then Haman led Mordecai through the streets of the city, proclaiming that the king thus honored the Jew. On the next day, when the king attended the banquet, Esther told him that she was one of the Jews and that Haman had sought to destroy all of her people. Then was the king angered against Haman and ordered him to be hanged on the gallows, whereon he had sought to hang Mordecai. Mordecai was then given the house and lands of Haman and was made a great man in the kingdom. And so also was Esther greatly honored and peace was declared unto all her people.
