- Leone, a Papal guard, is devastated when his wife drowns herself after mistakenly thinking that he had abandoned her. He turns over his son David to be brought up by nuns, then enters a monastery. David is brought to London and is raised to be a beggar and thief until he is rescued by Dr. Roselli, an Italian political refugee, who raises David with his daughter Donna Roma. Years later David gets heavily involved in Italian politics and incurs the enmity of the corrupt Italian Prime Minister, which leads him to discover the hidden secrets of his family's past--and present.—frankfob2@yahoo.com
- The story opens with the suggestion of sorrow involved in the sudden discovery by Leone, a young officer of the Papal Guards, of the tragic death of his wife, who, believing herself deserted by Leone, places her infant at the door of a convent and throws herself into the Tiber. This seeming desertion was made apparent by the young guardsman's abrupt and continued absence from Rome, who, unknown to his wife, was sent on a foreign mission by his father, in order that his daughter-in-law, whose marriage to his son he has never countenanced, may be convinced of his infidelity, with its fatal result. The despairing young guardsman, at last aware of his father's cruel ruse, abandoning all worldly honor and position, seeking only forgetfulness, enters the monastery to devote his life to a sacred peace, and years later becomes Pope Pius XI. The abandoned infant, David Leone, is tenderly reared by the kind Sisters who find him, and when about nine years old falls into the hands of a cruel and heartless Padrone, who takes the boy to a den in London, where a number of other boys of his own age are imprisoned by the Padrone, and compelled to beg and steal in London streets. In this sullied atmosphere the delicate and refined boy is confronted with his first misfortunes, inhumanly starved, beaten and tortured, and taught vice and evil, which, however, he never truly embraces. On a cold, stormy day, little David, weak and exhausted by exposure after begging for hours in the snow, falls in a faint on the stoop of the home of Doctor Roselli, an idealist and political exile from Italy, who maintains a school in London and devotes his life to the youths of his country. There the good doctor finds the boy, and takes him into the house, where he tells Roma, his little daughter, that he has brought a brother home for her. The two children become inseparable companions, and Doctor Roselli instills in David's heart the principles and republican ideals which he hopes some day will liberate his beloved country. These doctrines fill David's soul with a vast longing for the political regeneration of his native land. As the picture proceeds David and Roma approach maturity. The benevolent doctor has departed from the world, and Roma is now the ward of Baron Bonelli, Prime Minister of Italy, who, through political intrigue, has confiscated and retained the estates of the exiled doctor. David, inspired by the teachings of his benefactor, has become a socialist leader and the idol of the people. For years David and Roma have not seen each other. A number of distinguished guests have assembled in the loggia of Baron Bonelli's house to witness the gorgeous procession of the Pope's Jubilee. Roma is surrounded with state and luxury. The Baron has fallen madly in love with her, and it is commonly known that she is his mistress. A short distance from the loggia David Leona, now a member of the House of Deputies, and known as David Rossi, is exhorting the multitude. A revolution is imminent unless some heed be taken of the necessities of the people, and David is resolved to interrupt the processional cortege by throwing himself before the Pope in an effort to gain an audience. As the procession approaches he is heard from the loggia addressing the people, denouncing Baron Bonelli, and also Donna Roma, to whom he alludes as a woman who holds illicit relations with the Prime Minister, and who enriches herself at the expense of the suffering people. The guests take their leave, and Roma and Bonelli are left alone. She is bitterly resentful of Rossi's insinuations. A plan of revenge comes to her, and she requests Bonelli not to molest him and leave his punishment to her. The Prime Minister acquiesces to Roma's request. Donna Roma visits Rossi in his apartment, whither he has been borne by his enthusiastic followers, and in the course of the conversation he is baffled by a strange resemblance between Roma and a girl he knew in the past. As the story develops. Donna Roma's studio is disclosed, where she indulges her fondness for sculpture. Here Rossi comes daily to sit for a portrait bust of himself that Roma is at work on. A passionate love has sprung up between them, and Rossi has told Roma all the secrets of his past, through which is also disclosed her identity as the little Roma of his childhood. But Roma has no longer any intention of securing his downfall. All ideas of revenge have long faded from her mind, and she has learned to love Rossi. David Rossi publishes a proclamation announcing a great meeting of the people at the Coliseum. Baron Bonelli, in the meantime, has ordered the police to charge the meeting, open fire upon the agitators, and in the confusion to kill Rossi, and thus rid Italy of him forever. Roma learns of this plot, and just as Bonelli's order is about to be executed, she arrives at the Coliseum, and throws herself before Rossi to shield him from the expected attack. In the resulting panic Roma and David flee to safety. They are hastily and secretly married and connive at David's immediate escape from Italy. Baron Bonelli hears of the marriage and scornfully asks Roma whether she confessed her true relations with him to David. He urges her to annul the marriage, but she tells him that her life now belongs to David. One of the charming scenes that follows is that in which Roma visits His Holiness, Pius XI, in the Vatican Gardens. On the promise of immunity from punishment other than banishment from the country. Baron Bonelli has prevailed upon the Pope to induce Roma to cause the return and identification of Rossi. Assured of the ultimate security of her husband, Roma writes, urging his return and explaining his safety. When Rossi, acceding to Roma's wishes, touches Italian soil, he is arrested and brought before Bonelli. Roma also is present, and now realizes Bonelli's perfidy. In furious wrath, David denounces Roma for betraying him and. unable to bear the sneers of Bonelli. turns upon him and kills him. With a parting curse upon Roma, David escapes. To shield Rossi, Roma accepts the guilt of the crime, is arrested and imprisoned in the Castle of St. Angelo. David, a shattered soul, with all hope gone, wanders aimlessly about, until Destiny directs him to the bronze doors of the Vatican, where a monk finds him weak and unconscious and brings him into the Pope's palace. The chain of circumstances which drew together the Pope and Rossi gradually reveal them to be father and son. Rossi tells his long, sad story to his father, who in turn tells him of the sacrifice Roma had made for him in accepting his guilt, and that even now she is waiting in the shadow of death for her sentence. Eventually the Pope secures Roma's pardon, and in the final scenes we find Rossi seeking Roma in the Castle of St. Angelo, announcing to her her freedom and his, and preparing to begin life anew together.—Moving Picture World synopsis
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