La tulipe d'or

The great theater director comes to a country festival. There he sees the daughter of a miller dancing with her best friend, a young shepherd and is impressed. Should thy ever desire a theatrical career, he tells them, he'll give them a chance. When the girl's father is killed when lightning strikes her mill, her mother sends her to her sister in Brussels. She sees the director, and soon is advancing. Her shepherd friend comes, hoping to be with her, but his mother drags him away from the city. Years pass, and the girl grows up to be a great ballerina. Her mother weeps at the immorality of the life she leads. The shepherd tries to persuade her to return to their village, but she refuses. Will it take another lightning bolt to change her destiny?

Alfred Machin's movie is very simple for a feature of its length. He fills it with some lovely images, like a tulip farm, and a balloon floating high in the sky. His actors are restrained in their movements, giving a far less theatrical air to the movie than many of his European contemporaries managed. Unfortunately, the credits make it difficult for me to figure who is playing what role.