AllMovie

Pauline Frederick rendered her usual splendid, understated performance in this screen version of Israel Zangwell's play The Moment Before. While attending the funeral of her nobleman husband, the Duchess of Maldon (Frederick) is stricken by a heart attack. In her last few moments on earth, all the events of her life pass before her eyes. We learn that, in her early years, Madge (as the duchess was known) was the sweetheart of fiery gypsy captain John (J.W. Johnston). But she gave up her lover upon being informed by a fortune teller that she will (a) marry a Duke, (b) commit a murder, and (c) die herself at the stroke of Noon. This being a motion picture, everything predicted for our heroine comes to pass -- but it takes at least 20 years for these prophecies to be fulfilled, by which time Madge has journeyed from England to Australia and back again.