The Devils Needle (1916)

Renee is a French artists 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 guiltridden Renee decides to intervene in order to save them both According to silent film historian Kevin Brownlow THE DEVILS NEEDLE was banned by the state of Ohio but the censor board reversed its decision after recognizing the positive message beneath the films scandalous surface This special edition was mastered from a 35mm preservation print of the 1923 rerelease version The only known surviving copy the element suffers significant nitrate decomposition during some scenes