Don Quixote

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Don Quixote, the Knight of the Sorrowful Figure, is seen in his well-stocked library, deeply engrossed in reading Tales of Chivalry. So enthralled is he that his meals are forgotten and visitors unnoticed. He decides to renew the exploits of feudal days and persuades a fat, thick set countryman. Sancho Panza by name, to follow him as a squire. They prepare armor for the knight, using a brass shaving basin for a helmet. They secure their steeds, namely; for Don Quixote an old rawboned animal, to which the knight gives the name of "Rozinante," and for Sancho, a little long-eared donkey, which staggers under his ponderous burden. The departure of the immortal knight and his squire is most grotesque, showing two types of human nature contrasted strongly even on the silent stage. The film depicts their travels among the most picturesque of scenes. While imagining that every object he sees is worthy of knightly service, the old man performs many ludicrous exploits. The main action is presumably allegorical, but introduces numerous episodes of bucolic or pastoral kind, as well as many pictures of Spanish life and much promiscuous adventure. Attempting to free slaves, the Don is beaten by them. Aspiring to be knighted, he is made sport of by an old inn-keeper, whom he mistakes for a king. Attempting to overcome a windmill, which he supposes to be a giant, he gets entangled in the sails and is badly hurt in the encounter. His faithful squire carefully brings Don Quixote back to his old home, where, broken in spirit, and grieved at his experiences and surrounded by his relatives the poor old fellow dies.