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Love Story of Ann Thomas the Maid of Cefn Ydfa

Lovingly rendered version of a traditional Welsh folk tale of thwarted romance, set in 17th-century Cefn Ydfa.

Romance 1914 34 mins Silent

Overview

The traditional Welsh folk tale of the thwarted romance between a thatcher and an heiress in 17th-century Cefn Ydfa is lovingly brought to the screen, with a few twists to the familiar tale. When Ann meets Will she decides he's the man for her, but a local gentleman also has his eye on Ann, stooping to subterfuge and villainy in an effort to win her hand. Will true love win the day?

This film was long believed to have been lost when an incomplete nitrate print in poor condition was discovered in 1984. The print was found in the stairwell of a house near Swansea and was donated to the BFI National Archive by a descendant of the filmmaker's family. Since then it has undergone extensive repair work, and has been preserved on safety stock for future generations.