The Miracle (1912) (Germany: Das Mirakel, France: Le Miracle), is a British silent full-colour film, using a hand-coloured process similar to Pathéchrome. Produced by Joseph Menchen and directed by Michel Carré, it is among the first full-colour feature films to be made. It stars Maria Carmi, Ernst Matray, Florence Winston and Douglas Payne, and was filmed on location in Austria.
The Miracle was not intended to be shown as an ordinary film in the usual way but was designed by Menchen to be shown as part of a 'Lyricscope play'. This was an unusual (if not unprecedented) spectacular theatrical presentation which – in its most elaborate and complete expression – included: the projected colour film; a full-sized symphony orchestra and chorus performing Engelbert Humperdinck's score; live sound effects such as church bells and crowd noises; stage sets around the projection screen which changed during the performance; and live (non-speaking) actors and dancers in medieval costume. The various component parts of this ideal production varied somewhat according to local conditions.
This 1912 multi-medium production was an adaptation of Max Reinhardt's wordless spectacular stage production of Karl Vollmoeller's play of the same name, which had played to huge audiences at the Olympia, London exhibition hall in 1911–1912. As some contemporary critics realised, The Miracle was not a "moving picture drama" in the normal sense of the word, but a "filmed pantomime," a celluloid record of the action of the stage production in a unique presentation.
The world première of the full-colour 'Lyricscope play' of The Miracle took place at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, on 21 December 1912 and it was shown all over the country until Easter 1913, breaking many records for attendance. The colour film with its attendant show subsequently made its way around the world, being shown in the U.S., Australia and Germany.
A rival, unauthorised version (Das Mirakel) directed by Mime Misu for Continental-Kunstfilm in Germany appeared in the same year with the same subject and English title ("The Miracle") and was the subject of various copyright legal actions in the UK and the United States, resulting in seven different titles shared between the two films.
Plot outline
The film tells the story of a wayward nun, Megildis, who deserts her convent with a knight, influenced by the music of an evil minstrel. A statue of the Virgin Mary comes to life and takes the place of Megildis, who makes her way through the world and its many vicissitudes. Later, Megildis returns to the convent with her dying infant, and is forgiven as the statue resumes its place.
Act 1 – Temptation
Scene 1: The Nun, Sister Megildis is placed in charge of the sacred image. Scene 2: The healing of the lame man. Scene 3: The Minstrel and the music. Scene 4: The arrival of the Knight. Scene 5: The Nun must spend the night kneeling. Scene 6: The flight of the Nun with the Knight. Scene 7: The Miraculous Image comes to life.
Intermezzo
Episode 1: The lake of the fairies. Episode 2: The capture of the Robber Count, and dancing for the Nun. Episode 3: The mock marriage ceremony. Episode 4: The Nun is arrested for witchcraft Episode 5: The Nun is shown the ghosts of all who have lost their lives because of her.
Act 2 – Forgiveness
Scene 1: Christmas Eve in the Convent. Scene 2: The image of the Virgin returns to its altar. Scene 3: Megildis returns to the convent with her babe and finds it dead. The Miracle occurs. Scene 4: Forgiveness.
Cast
Maria Carmi – The Madonna
Florence Winston – The Nun, Megildis
Ernst Matray – The Minstrel (or the Player) Douglas Payne – The Knight Ernst Benzinger – The Robber Count Joseph Klein – The King Theodore Rocholl – The King's Son Agathe Barcesque – The Abbess Marie von Radgy – The Old Sacristan Alfred König – The Lame Man
All the actors in the film (except Florence Winston) had just given sixteen stage performances of the play in Vienna during the two weeks immediately preceding shooting and were well rehearsed in their parts.