Beyond the Rocks

In 2003, Beyond the Rocks

(1922) was rediscovered at the...

Nederlands Filmmuseum.

(The Netherlands Film Museum)

It is the only film in which

Hollywood stars Rudolph Valentino...

and Gloria Swanson appear together. The

film had been considered lost for decades.

The newly found, unique

nitrate print is...

virtually complete and

has Dutch intertitles.

Beyond the Rocks has been

digitally restored by the...

Nederlands Filmmuseum.

Dutch composer Henny Vrienten...

has written a new score.

For this English version,...

the Dutch title cards were

substituted by English...

intertitles, based on the

original continuity script.

The original continuity

script is courtesy of...

the Margaret Herrick

Library, Academy of Motion...

Picture Arts and Sciences,

and paramount Pictures.

The restoration of Beyond the Rocks

was supported by ING Real Estate.

The Nederlands Filmmuseum presents:

BEYOND THE ROCKS

Based on the novel by Elinor Glyn (18641943)

Staring:

Gloria Swanson and Rudolph Valentino.

Directed by Sam Wood.

In a sequestered village on

the Dorset Coast of England -

- lives the gay and kindly

Captain Fitzgerald, on the -

- meagre pension of a broken

and retired guardsman.

Captain Dominic Fitzgerald.

(Actor:
Alec Francis)

Clementine and Sarah,

daughters of a -

- misalliance of the

Captain's youth, see in -

- their beautiful young half-sister the

only hope of restoring the family fortunes.

"Theodora mustn't acquire romantic notions

about husbands being Prince Charmings!"

"She must marry a rich man, and

help poor dear papa - and us!"

Theodora Fitzgerald.

Love for dear papa is -

- Theodora's religion.

(Actress:
Gloria Swanson)

Hector, tenth Earl of

Bracondale, inherits his title -

- from a long line of English

noblemen and his -

- passionate love of life

and beauty from a highborn -

- Italian grandmother.

(Actor:
Rudolph Valentino)

"Why, it's Bracondale!"

"It is a narcissus - but I'm afraid its

fragrance has all been washed away. "

"It was Lord Bracondale who saved me!"

"Wonderful - but not the marrying kind. "

Eventually Fate brings for Theodora a

suitor who meets the family requirements.

Josiah Brown, risen from grocer's assistant

to multi-millionaire, is eager to crown -

- his achievement by a marriage with youth

and aristocracy. (Actor: Robert Bolder)

"I wish he weren't quite so impossible. "

"My dear, no man with

millions is impossible. "

"Has he proposed?"

"No - but I am afraid he's going to. "

"Why, Theodora, you don't

mean to say that you would -

- hesitate to do a little thing

like that for dear papa?"

"Oh, I'd do anything for dear papa. "

"You're a lucky girl, Theodora!"

"We're going on to the church. "

"Have you seen the marriage settlement?"

"Darling child, you need not marry

this man if you do not want to. "

"Yes, dear - I - I - want to. "

After the wedding breakfast -

Mr. And Mrs. Josiah Brown.

"Are you happy, papa?"

A quaint inn, high in the snow-clad Alps,

should offer a paradise for lovers.

But Theodora finds her honeymoon sadly

different from that of her girlish dreams.

That same evening a party of

distinguished English folk arrives.

The Countess of Bracondale,

Hector's mother. (Actress: Edythe Chapman)

Morella Winmarleigh, an English heiress,

whom the Countess of Bracondale -

- hopes to have as a daughter-in-law.

(Actress:
Gertrude Astor)

- Narcissus Perfume -

Jane McBride, a rich

American widow, has taken -

- Theodora under her wing.

(Actress:
Mabel Van Buren)

"What you need is exercise

- I'm going to take you climbing tomorrow. "

"My dear lady, in this altitude I can

hardly get my breath sitting still. "

Next morning.

"Theodora - help is coming!"

"We can't pull you up. "

"Lower us to the next ledge. "

"Our rope's too short.

We are going for help. "

"Fate seems to send you to me when

I most need you, Lord Bracondale. "

"Don't you remember pulling

me out of the water?"

"Why, you're Fitzgerald's little daughter!"

Rescue may come too soon.

The next day finds Josiah Brown

in a flutter to quit the Alpine altitudes -

- they no longer appeal to

him as a place of rest and quiet.

"We shall meet in Paris soon. "

Theodora has always

looked forward to Paris -

- as a playground of love

and laughter, but...

"You and Theodora ought to get out

more, Josiah - dine with me tonight. "

"Well, there's no reason why you

should not come, dear girl. "

Lord Bracondale was close on the heels of

Mrs. McBride when she arrived in Paris.

"When do you expect the Browns?"

"You are rather interested

in the Browns, aren't you?"

Acquaintance may ripen

rapidly in the hour between -

- the headwaiter's

greeting and the coffee.

"Some day soon I'm going

to kidnap your father -

- he has promised to

show me Versailles. "

"Oh, I should love to go too - as

soon as Josiah feels well enough. "

"I shall always associate this

wonderful perfume with you - "

Versailles holds no

attraction for Josiah; -

- but Hector contrives to

be one of the party.

From the gilded glories of the

Palace they stroll through the -

- historic gardens and come at

last to the Arbor of Psyche.

"It was here the gallants of long ago

played their stately games of love. "

"Suppose we call them back

again - out of the past?"

"How wonderful that would be!"

"Among the Queen's ladies

was a little Marquise. -

- She was bewitching, -

- yet so reserved that she was the despair

of all the gallants of the Court - "

" - until one lover,

bolder than the rest - "

"Wasn't it fortunate for the

bold lover that the heart -

- of the Marquise was as warm

as her eyes were tender?"

"You are more beautiful,

more bewitching than she -

- Theodora, I love you - I adore you - "

"Oh, Hector, it was all so real,

so beautiful - and now - "

"Forgive me - I did not realize

- I love you too much to make you unhappy. "

"And I love you - "

" - but if we are not stronger than

our love, we must not meet again. "

Hector returns to London.

Lady Anningford, Hector's

sister, has always been -

- his pal and confidante.

(Actress:
June Elvidge)

"Is something troubling my boy?"

"Morella will be so glad to see you. "

"Well, Hector, tell me all about

it - who is she this time?"

Anne has listened to many of

Hector's love affairs but -

- she realizes that this one

is altogether different.

"But, Hector, she is married - you

cannot continue such an affair!"

"I know, but I can worship and serve her

- and I want you to be her friend. "

"Well - I'll call on her as soon

as she comes to town. "

Anne not only calls upon

Theodora, but carries the Browns -

- off to Beachleigh, her country

place, for Whitsuntide.

And while Theodora is rehearsing

her part in the pageant -

- Josiah is listening

with feverish interest -

- to Sir Lionel Grey, the

celebrated explorer.

" - and if I can

persuade you to finance -

- this expedition into

Northern Africa, I am sure -

- you will find the trip of interest -

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