The Conquering Power

6/6/2022

Rather foppish "Charles" (Rudolph Valentino) is sent, with his pet poodle, to live with his Scrooge-like uncle "Pere" (Ralph Lewis) when his wealthy banker father manages to lose his fortune and commits suicide. On arrival in their comparatively squalid home, he falls for the daughter - his cousin "Eugénie" (Alice Terry) but the uncle is not having her married to a pauper, so he is despatched off to Martinique to grow tobacco... The story takes quite a familiar turn as he writes but the father intercepts his letters, both feel abandoned and get on with their lives - until she stumbles upon his un-opened letters in her father's study and a tragic contretemps ensues. It's all just a little too formulaic, but the performances especially from the beautiful and determined Terry, the much less m