This silent masterpiece by director Cecil B. DeMille holds the record for the earliest known branding scene in film history. A woman (Fannie Ward) accepts a loan from a wealthy Burmese ivory king, played by legendary actor Sessue Hayakawa, in exchange for her virtue. When she tries to back out of the agreement the next day, he subdues her and brands her on the back of the shoulder with the seal with which he marks all of his property. Not an especially erotic scene, but beautifully shot and for historical purposes it is a real find.
About the Author
