Name: Jephtah's Daughter: A Biblical Tragedy
Genre: Short, Drama
Released: 1909-05-22
Duration: 6 min
Cast: Annette Kellerman

The subject has been admirably worked out

A Biblical subject which has been considered one of the dramatic events of ancient Jewish history, and which, in capable hands, lends itself very readily to thrilling reproduction. In the hands of the Vitagraph Company this subject has been admirably worked out, and the result is a satisfactory film. Like the one previously criticised, much of the staging, which includes the costuming, must be taken on trust, but it would seem that the work has been well done. The priestly garb, the soldiers and the others seem to be costumed in accordance with the accepted interpretation of modern scholars. In the acting, Ada, Jephthah's daughter, the central figure of this tragedy, does her work as well as is possible. Jephthah is admirably acted, these two figures rising to true tragedy in their interpretation of their parts. The others are merely accessories, and their work calls for no extended review. The film is toned brown, excepting the sacrificial altar just before the fire is lighted, which is a rather heavy blue, and after the fire is lighted it is a brilliant red, like the glow of a fire. Both changes heighten the effect and improve the picture. As a whole this effort is to be warmly commended. It is a film well worth seeing, and indicates the earnestness with which the Vitagraph people approach their work. - The Moving Picture World, May 29, 1909

The drama genre is a broad category that features stories portraying human experiences, emotions, conflicts, and relationships in a realistic and emotionally impactful way. Dramas delve into the complexities of human life, often exploring themes of love, loss, morality, societal issues, personal growth, with the aim to evoke an emotional response from the audience by presenting relatable and thought-provoking stories.

Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)

The short form refers to creative works characterized by their brevity and concise storytelling. Unlike full-length feature films, short films have a running time of less than 45 minutes, while TV shorts have a running time of less than 22 minutes.

Benedict Cumberbatch in The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (2023)

"Jephtah's Daughter: A Biblical Tragedy" is a 1909 silent short film directed by J. Stuart Blackton, featuring Annette Kellerman, that dramatizes the tragic biblical story of Jephthah and his daughter.

Jephtah's Daughter: A Biblical Tragedy (1909)

The Biggest Movies and TV Coming in September

See which big screen releases you can watch from the comfort of your couch.

Theatrical Releases Coming to Streaming

See who dazzled on the red carpet and took home gold at the 78th Primetime Creative Emmy Awards.

Jephtah's Daughter: A Biblical Tragedy

Photos1

Cast1

User reviews1

Related interests

Storyline

Did you know

Top picks

Details

Tech specs

Contribute to this page

More to explore

Recently viewed