Highlights and Shadows - Production & Contact Info

Highlights and Shadows (1916)
Short | Short, Drama

Primary photo for Highlights and Shadows

Highlights and Shadows (1916)

Short | Short, Drama

A Breton fishing settlement on the French West African coast was the place selected by John Hilliard to find inspiration for his brush. He and his wife had just arrived when his artistic eye fell upon the beauty of Nannette, a pert little ...See moreA Breton fishing settlement on the French West African coast was the place selected by John Hilliard to find inspiration for his brush. He and his wife had just arrived when his artistic eye fell upon the beauty of Nannette, a pert little miss of the colony. Nannette was the village coquette, aware of her maidenly charms and led Jacques, who was madly in love with her, a miserable existence by her many flirtations. She really and sincerely returned Jacques' affection, but delighted in teasing him and seeing his outbursts of jealousy. The artist offered to pay her handsomely if she would consent to become his model, but fearing the effect it would have upon her lover, she refused and told her mother the circumstances. This thrifty dame saw a source of income escaping her hands and promptly ordered her daughter to accept the work. Hilliard spent more time than necessary in the company of his model which caused gossip among the villagers. As the weeks lengthened into months, Hilliard not only gave little time to his wife, but became almost brutal when she remonstrated with him, while Nannette, forced to continue her employment by the greed of her mother, went about with a heavy heart, shunned by her friends and neglected by her young lover. Hilliard surprised Nannette in such a mood one day and thinking to cheer her up, suggested that they seek the forest for a background for his canvas. On their way to the forest they were intercepted by old Gaspard who warned Hilliard not to go into the jungle unarmed, relating how his brother had forfeited his life thru the self-same foolhardiness. Unfamiliar with the danger from the proximity of wild beasts, Hilliard disregarded Gaston's warning and with Nannette proceeded on his way and in selecting a suitable spot for his picture they entered the forest further than was safe. That morning, Hilliard had been cruel to his wife and when she witnessed his departure to the forest and his loverlike attitude to his model, the broken-hearted woman decided to end matters by seeking peace in the sea. When at sunset, the fishing fleet returned, the village gossip lost no time in reporting Nannette's absence to Jacques and further inflamed his jealousy by suggesting that the trip to the forest was to screen Hilliard's lovemaking from prying eyes. Wild with rage, Jacques lost no time in securing his rifle determined to have the life of the man who had stolen his promised wife. Nannette had not spent a pleasant day; her thoughts were of Jacques away at sea and her mother's anger if she disobeyed. To make her discomfort the greater Hilliard attempted to force his attentions upon her, which resulted in his receiving a piece of her mind. As dusk came on, the jungle inhabitants approached nearer the settlement to prey upon the flocks of the villagers, which was the cause of Hilliard and Nannette encountering several lions on a foraging expedition. Hilliard made a noble fight with only his easel as a weapon, while the frightened girl fled, pursued by a savage beast not to be denied his prey, and only foiled by the accurate aim of Jacques, who was seeking a different victim for his weapon. The artist, now in mortal hand-to-hand combat with his lion, was rapidly giving way in the unequal battle and Nannette was unable to induce her vengeful lover to go to Hilliard's assistance, seized the rifle from Jacques' hand and dispatched the lion who now had the artist on the ground. They bore the badly lacerated man to his cottage and there left him while they went to seek a doctor. Hilliard's punishment was to be more complete. Calling for the wife he had driven insane with grief, he received no answer and eventually found the brief note she had left stating her purpose. The village gossip had seen the unhappy woman enter a small boat and drift out to sea. All night long the fisherfolk searched, while the husband stood upon the beach, a dazed and broken man. When day broke, he was led to meet the returning searchers, fully expecting to receive the lifeless body of his wife, but fate was kind; they had found her in time and John Hilliard had been taught his lesson. Written by Moving Picture World synopsis See less

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5 cast members

Name	Known for
William Clifford John Hilliard John Hilliard See fewer	The Hidden Law (1916)
Marie Gavette Anne Hilliard Anne Hilliard See fewer	The Hidden Law (1916)
Patricia Palmer Nanette (as Margaret Gibson) Nanette (as Margaret Gibson) See fewer	The Hidden Law (1916)
Jack Nelson Jacques Jacques See fewer	A Fighting Heart (1924)
Jack Bonavita Actor (as The Celebrated Bostock Animals) Actor (as The Celebrated Bostock Animals) See fewer	The Woman, the Lion and the Man (1915)