The Devil's Needle 107 years old

THE DEVIL'S NEEDLE (1916, dir: Chester Withey) stars silent superstar Norma Talmadge as Renee, a French artist's model who uses morphine as an escape from the dull reality of her life. She recommends it to a neurotic artist played by Tully Marshall (Queen Kelly), because "it kindles the fires of genius." The artist quickly becomes addicted to the drug and the quality of his work begins to disintegrate. He takes on a new model, marries her, and starts her on the same path of moral degradation, until a guilt-ridden Renee decides to intervene in order to save them both. According to silent film historian Kevin Brownlow, THE DEVIL'S NEEDLE was banned by the state of Ohio, but the censor board reversed its decision after recognizing the positive message beneath the film's scandalous surface. This special edition was mastered from a 35mm preservation print of the 1923 re-release version. The only known surviving copy, the element suffers significant nitrate decomposition during some scenes.

Credits

The Devil's Needle Cast

Name Character
Howard Gaye He was 38, 76 years old when he died as Sir Gordon Galloway
Tully Marshall He was 52, 78 years old when he died as John Minturn
Marguerite Marsh She was 28, 37 years old when she died as Patricia Devon
Monte Blue He was 29, 76 years old when he died as Bartender (uncredited)
F.A. Turner He was 57, 64 years old when he died as Marshall Devon
Norma Talmadge She was 22, 63 years old when she died as Renee Duprez

The Devil's Needle Crew

Name Department
The Devil's Needle poster
The Devil's Needle (107 years)

  • Release day: Saturday, August 12, 1916
  • Runtime: 66 minutes