- Louis Rousseau believes that the technically perfect music of his violin student, Tom Richards, lacks a soul because Tom has not suffered. Therefore, he convinces Rosalie Anjou, whom Tom saved from apaches and now loves, that she must dance at the notorious Moulin Rouge to earn the money Tom needs for his lessons. While keeping Tom ignorant of her activities, Rosalie becomes a great success and is selected Queen of the Moulin Rouge. Rousseau takes Tom to the coronation and, as he hoped, Tom denounces Rosalie and pours his pain and rage into his music. Rousseau confesses his scheme and Tom rushes to the banks of the Seine just in time to save Rosalie from a watery grave.—AFI
- In a little New England town, a typical American mother has squeezed and stinted and economized so that her boy might go abroad to pursue his study of the violin and realize his ambition to become a great artist. Thus we find Tom Richards, the son, in Paris, living in the Latin Quarter with Jules Riboux, a kindred spirit, studying diligently under Louis Rousseau, a venerable music master. Under Rousseau's guidance, Tom achieves mastery of his bow, but the spark of genius is lacking, and the music master divines that the boy lacks a soul. One evening while Jules was sketching and Tom practicing, an angel dropped in upon them through their skylight. In a little village in Normandy a girl, left alone in the world, also dreamed of a career and sought the city of golden hopes. Her yearning was to be a great danceuse; and her inexperience led her dainty footsteps in to the Cafe des Innocents, a notorious dive in the Montmartre district, where she soon perceived her danger. Seeking escape from the unwelcome attentions of an Apache she reaches the roof tops, closely pursued by her aggressor. A struggle on the roof, a crash, and Rosalie Anjou is precipitated into the presence of the two youths in their atelier. And they become her fairy godfathers. Wise in the ways of the world, the old music master smiles when he notices his pupil grow surly when Rosalie poses for Jules. He is in love, and love gives fervor to his bow-but soul is lacking; for all had been joy in the life of this boy and sorrow had not crept in to reveal his soul. Jealous was Rosalie of her honor; nor less so Tom, who loves her devotedly and purely. Pretending poverty, the master pleads with her to dance, that Tom's studies might continue, for Tom's funds are exhausted. She colors with shame and confusion when Rousseau tells her that he can place her in the Moulin Rouge, and would refuse but that she lacks training to fit her for more select employment- and she wants to help Tom achieve success. The dancers of the Moulin Rouge are notorious; Rosalie pledges Rousseau to secrecy and takes the place, employing subterfuge to account for her early retiring each night. Rosalie's talent enables her to make progress and she becomes a star. She is selected to wear the crown annually bestowed upon the "queen" of the notorious resort; a doubtful honor which she accepts to insure Tom's career. Rousseau insists that Tom and Jules see a bit of life and accompany him to witness the coronation of the "Queen of the Moulin Rouge, " for Tom had frequently refused participation in wild excursions in justice to his great love for a wholesome young girl. Imagine then his consternation when he spies Rosalie wearing the sullied crown. He rebukes her for a vile creature and casts her from him, deaf to her entreaties that she be permitted to explain. Wandering aimlessly in his grief and his rage, he comes upon an aged street musician and is halted by the sweet plaint of his instrument. The well springs of his bitterness overflow; he grasps the violin and tears the bow from the old musician's fingers and pours the agony of his soul upon the night air. The music master, who has followed closely upon Tom's heels, stealthily approaches the fringe of a crowd which has collected to listen in rapture to the torment of a soul so wonderfully interpreted. At its conclusion, the master steps forward and embraces his pupil, declaring Rosalie's innocence and his own perfidy and telling of her sacrifice that Tom might find his soul. In an agony of remorse, Tom realizes that Rosalie will cast herself into the Seine, and rushes thither, arriving too late to prevent her leap. Diving into the dark waters, he reaches her not a second too soon to effect her rescue. And thus the "Queen of the Moulin Rouge" became the guiding star of genius.—Press Sheet from Library of Congress
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