Movie spotlight
A Modern Sphinx
Asa, in love with Senneth but rejected for Essene, asks her sorcerer father, Kam, to magically force Senneth to reciprocate her love. Kam refuses. When Asa tries to poison Senneth, another sorcerer, Ram, intervenes with a 3,000-year spell of loveless rebirth.
Insights
Plot Summary
A wealthy young woman, burdened by a difficult family past and a mysterious illness, finds solace and love with an artist. However, secrets from her family's history threaten to unravel their newfound happiness and expose a hidden truth about her own identity.
Critical Reception
As a silent film from 1916, contemporary reviews are scarce and often focus on the melodrama and the performance of its lead. The film was generally seen as a sentimental drama of its time, appreciated for its emotional appeal and leading lady's portrayal.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for its touching narrative and melodramatic elements.
Viola Dana's performance was a highlight, conveying emotional depth.
Explores themes of hidden pasts and romantic entanglement.
Google audience: Information on Google user reviews for this silent film is not available.
Fun Fact
A Modern Sphinx was one of the early films for its lead actress, Viola Dana, who would go on to have a significant career in Hollywood during the silent era.
AI-generated overview · Verify ratings on official sources