The Eternal Sin (1917)

Genres - Historical Film  |   Sub-Genres - Biopic [feature], Period Film  |  
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Synopsis by Hal Erickson

Filmmaker Herbert Brenon indulged in his usual spectacular excesses in The Eternal Sin. Victor Hugo's novel Lucretia Borgia is used as the springboard for a fanciful tale of love and treachery during the Renaissance. Florence Reed stars as Lucretia, to whom no sin is unmentionable: from poisoning to incest, she caves into her every whim. The nominal leading man is Richard Barthelmess, but audiences were more fascinated by the antics of villains William E. Shay, Stephen Grattan (as Cesare Borgia) and Alexander Shannon. Brenon's wife Juliet shows up as "Bianca, a maid of honor." Produced by Lewis J. Selznick (David O.'s dad), The Eternal Sin apparently no longer exists.

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Keywords

aristocracy, incest, poisoning, Pope, treachery