Elsie Venner - Production & Contact Info

Elsie Venner (1914)
Short | Short, Drama

Elsie Venner (1914)

Short | Short, Drama

Elsie Venner is a posthumous child that is infected with the venom of the snake that killed her mother previous to the birth of Elsie. She is beautiful in appearance, except for the blemish of a birthmark resembling the bite of a snake, ...See moreElsie Venner is a posthumous child that is infected with the venom of the snake that killed her mother previous to the birth of Elsie. She is beautiful in appearance, except for the blemish of a birthmark resembling the bite of a snake, which is kept concealed by a heavy gold chain about her neck. In fits of temper which occur upon the slightest provocation, the characteristic rage of the deadly reptile is plainly evident. Her every action is suggestive of the movements of the serpent, and she subconsciously exerts the hypnotic influence of the rattlesnake, whose nature has become part of her own. Dick Venner, her cousin, is madly in love with Elsie and is insanely jealous of Barnard Langdon, the young school master, for whom Elsie shows a decided preference. Elsie comes upon Langdon sitting in the woods and discovers a snake, coiled and ready to strike him. She hypnotizes it, and saves his life. Dick threatens to kill Langdon if he does not cease his attentions to Elsie, and plots with Arabella Brown, with whom he is carrying on a clandestine love affair, to discredit Langdon. Langdon confides in Doctor Kittredge, the Venner family physician, telling him of his love for Elsie and of the strange influence she has over him. Doctor Kittredge, realizing that the secret must now be divulged, tells Langdon of Elsie's half serpent nature and advises against marriage. Langdon refuses to be dissuaded and the doctor hurries to Mr. Venner with a powerful but dangerous antidote, that he believes will cure Elsie, but may prove fatal. He explains to Mr. Venner that the time has come when a desperate chance must be taken, and informs him that for safety sake, he has labeled the bottle "Poison." Mr. Venner, hesitating to take so serious a step, places the bottle on the mantle shelf. Langdon, disregarding the advice of the doctor, proposes marriage to Elsie and is accepted. Elsie in her joy tells of her happiness to the old negress, who was her mother's maid. The faithful old servant, fearful of the results of a marriage, tell Elsie of the circumstance of her mother's death, and the effect it has had on her, and advises her never to marry. Elsie, feeling that the old servant has attempted to rob her of her happiness, goes into one of her wild rages and drives the old negress from the room. She finds the bottle labeled "Poison.'' and conceals it in her dress, determined to take it, if anything prevented her marriage to Langdon. On his way through the woods to visit Elsie, Langdon is intercepted by Arabella, who at a signal from Dick, throws her arms about Langdon's neck, just as Elsie arrives, having been told by Dick that Langdon was waiting there. Believing her lover unfaithful, Elsie rushes off into the thickest part of the woods, and drinks the contents of the bottle. After an all night search she is found by her father, the doctor and Langdon. The doctor, finding the empty bottle, removes the gold cord from her neck, and discovering that the birthmark has disappeared, announces that she has been cured, just as Elsie recovers consciousness and is folded in the arms of her lover. Written by Moving Picture World synopsis See less

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Cast	+ Add Cast
6 cast members

Name	Known for
Constance Crawley Elsie Venner Elsie Venner See fewer	Thais (1914)
Arthur Maude Dick Venner Dick Venner See fewer	The Lure (1933)
Joe Harris Actor Actor See fewer	Bare Fists (1919)
Edith Bostwick Actress Actress See fewer	Thank You (1925)
Fred L. Wilson Actor Actor See fewer	Go and Get It (1920)
Jay Morley Actor Actor See fewer	The Little Boss (1919)