Renee is 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 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.
Chester Withey
Director, Writer
Roy Somerville
Writer
Norma Talmadge
Renee Duprez
Tully Marshall
John Minturn
Marguerite Marsh
Patricia Devon
F.A. Turner
Marshall Devon
Howard Gaye
Sir Gordon Galloway
John E. Brennan
Fritz
Paul Le Blanc
Buck
Monte Blue
Bartender (uncredited)
William Courtright
Old Farmer (uncredited)
The Truth About Emanuel60%
Eleanor the Great68%
Seeds of Yesterday64%
A Question of Faith74%
Mansfield Park60%
Won't Back Down61%
Hungry Hearts65%
Plunder Road70%
The Locket63%
Knock on Any Door62%
Ballistic60%
All Together Now67%
Flowers in the Attic67%
Repeat Performance61%
Wonderstruck60%
While the City Sleeps68%
Radium Girls65%
Inside I'm Dancing74%
Extraordinary Measures63%
I Believe in Unicorns64%
