The Spirit and the Clay - Production & Contact Info

The Spirit and the Clay (1914)
Short | Short, Drama

Primary photo for The Spirit and the Clay

The Spirit and the Clay (1914)

Short | Short, Drama

After finishing his day's work in the field, Paul, a young farmer, who lives with his aged father and mother, goes with Marie, his orphan cousin, to an old shed which they have fitted up as a workshop and there sets to work at his ...See moreAfter finishing his day's work in the field, Paul, a young farmer, who lives with his aged father and mother, goes with Marie, his orphan cousin, to an old shed which they have fitted up as a workshop and there sets to work at his clay-modeling. While he is working, Galton, an artist, appears and realizing that Paul is a born sculptor, tells him to come to New York with him to his study. Marie, Galton and Paul tell the aged parents of the plan. They finally consent. Paul proves a worthy pupil and makes marvelous progress. Paul's father writes him to come home, as he is needed on the farm. Marie hears of it and she agrees to do Paul's work and her own too. She finally breaks down, but feels that it is well worthwhile for Paul's sake. Paul returns home successful, learns what Marie has done for him and marries her. They return to his studio in New York, but she quickly declines. Her physician orders her to leave the city and find more suitable climate. She is about to return to her home when she learns Paul cannot find a desirable model for his Statue of Fame, which he expects to place in competition. Marie consents to pose, and although the doctor advises her strongly against it, she will not listen. When the model is nearly completed, the strain proves too much for her and she falls dead. Paul's mind is affected by his great sorrow, and he sees a beautiful vision of his dead wife. Inspired by it, he works feverishly on his unfinished model. His friends watch his untiring industry, knowing his mind is safe in the occupation. When the statue is finished, his delirium returns and he believes the image to be his wife in the clay and tries to warm it into life by his mad kisses and embraces. His friends decide to make a last effort to save his sanity by stealing the statue and hiding it. After the doctor has given Paul an opiate, they cautiously approach the statue. Paul awakens, fights them off and backing toward the open window, crashes through it, carrying the statue with him. Lying amid the scattered fragments he sees again the vision of his wife beckoning to him. As the moonbeams play upon his upturned face, he dies with a smile on his lips. Written by Moving Picture World synopsis See less

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Cast	+ Add Cast
11 cast members

Name	Known for
Darwin Karr Paul Paul See fewer	Eugene Wrayburn (1911)
Naomi Childers Marie Marie See fewer	The Gay Lord Quex (1919)
Edward Kimball Galton Galton See fewer	The Christian (1914)
Rex Ingram Emil (as Rex Hitchcock) Emil (as Rex Hitchcock) See fewer	The Great Problem (1916)
George Stevens Gordon Gordon See fewer	Come Out of the Kitchen (1919)
Kate Price Gordon's Mother Gordon's Mother See fewer	Quality Street (1927)
William Shea Gordon's Father Gordon's Father See fewer	Davy Jones' Parrot (1910)
Paul Kelly Paul as a teenager Paul as a teenager See fewer	Flying Tigers (1942)
Audrey Berry Marie as a child Marie as a child See fewer	The Jarr Family Discovers Harlem (1915)
Dorothy Kelly Actress Actress See fewer	The Antique Engagement Ring (1914)
Robert Huggins Actor Actor See fewer	The Tell-Tale Step (1917)