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The Adventures of Kitty Cobb
(1914) United States of America
B&W : Four reels
Directed by T. Hayes Hunter
Cast: Marian Swayne [Kitty Cobb], Jack Hopkins [Bob Caldecott], Howard Missimer [Count Pulaski], Maggie Weston, Ida Darling, James Montgomery Flagg [himself]
[?] Bryant Feature Film Company? production; distributed by Warner’s Features, Incorporated. / From the comic strip “Kitty Cobb” by James Montgomery Flagg and the book The Adventures of Kitty Cobb by James Montgomery Flagg. / Released 6 October 1914. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format. / [?] An item in Motion Picture News, 31 January 1914, page ? notes that director T. Hayes Hunter was set to produce the film through his Kismet Feature Film Company: Website-IMDb credits the production company as Colonial Motion Picture, but a contemporary advertisement credits Bryant.
Drama: Adventure.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? Kitty Cobb had longings for the big city which she had never seen. One day Kitty met a young civil engineer, Bob Caldecott, on his way to the fort near her home with secret plans. He took her riding in his auto and entertained her with stories of the great metropolis. Bob finally left her at her gate and drove away. But Kitty was restless afterwards, and started to wander over the fields towards the fort. Suddenly she stopped. Before her were three suspicious-looking characters with cameras. They seemed to be taking photographs of the fortifications. Creeping closer, she overheard their conversation. They were spies. Kitty started to run home, but the spies discovered her and gave chase. She outdistanced them, however, and had just time to telephone the fort when the men entered her home, jerked her away from the ’phone and bound her father, mother and herself to chairs. Then they fled. Bob and the Colonel came to the rescue. Young Caldecott devoted himself to comforting Kitty. The yearning to live in the city grew upon her as a result of Bob’s visit, and she importuned her parents to permit her to go and find work. After long urging they at last reluctantly consented. Her early experiences were not encouraging. She could not get anything to do, and in a short time was down to her last cent. After barely escaping being turned out on the streets of New York for not paying her board, through the efforts of a fellow boarder, a kind-hearted woman, she secured a position as usher in the Globe theater. One night at the theater a young top presumed to force his attentions upon her. A lovely old lady, richly gowned, overheard his remarks and interfered. As she was talking to Kitty, who should come up and address her as mother but Bob. Kitty and Bob recognized each other at once, and the result was that Mrs. Caldecott made Kitty her secretary. One day Count Pulaski, Bob’s sister’s fiancé, was introduced to Kitty. He was none other than the infamous villain whom she had discovered taking pictures of the fortifications. Quick as a flash Kitty saw through the count’s stratagem. He was there not because he loved Bob’s sister, but to steal the secret plans. Kitty hastened to the room which Bob had converted into a workshop. She barely concealed the precious drawings when the count also entered the room. Seizing her he wrapped a heavy curtain about her head and lowered her out of a window to his waiting accomplices outside. It was at this time that Ed Randall, Kitty’s country swain, came to New York. As he was passing through a side street on his way to see Kitty he saw an auto stop in front of a squalid tenement. Two men sprang from it, and carried a struggling figure tied in a curtain into the house. When Ed reached the Caldecott mansion he found the entire household in dismay over the mysterious fate of Kitty. He related what he had seen. Without a moment’s wait he and Bob started for the suspected house. They gained admittance, but were informed that the girl was not there. As they were about to leave in despair, Bob found Kitty’s handkerchief. Hearing a muffled cry, Bob and his companion dashed upstairs and entered a room. Here Kitty was being held by the count and his confederates. There was a terrific exchange of blows. The count and his forces went down. So did Ed Randall. Bob seized Kitty and started down the stairs. He was attacked by another of the gang. In the struggle both fell over the balustrade and were rendered unconscious. A woman confederate recaptured Kitty, just as the count and one of his thugs reappeared on the scene. The girl was bound again. Bob was dragged to a small room, where his captors tossed him. still unconscious, on a bed, turned on the gas, and left him to perish. Ed, overcome in the battle upstairs, soon regained his senses and started down the fire escape. He heard Kitty trying to beat down a boarded window on the floor below. He battered it in and rescued her. But Kitty would not go without her Bob. The two returned to the house. After a short search Ed found Bob and carried him into the air. But before they could make their escape the count and his followers returned to the attack. Kitty battled her way to the street and obtained the aid of the police. That was the end of Count Pulaski. There was a great reunion at the Caldecott mansion that evening to celebrate the return of Kitty. And as for Bob, well, Miss Cobb became Mrs. Bob.
Reviews: [Motion Picture News, 10 October 1914, page ?] This picture is founded on the series of drawings made for a newspaper syndicate by James Montgomery Flagg. The opening scene shows Mr. Flagg at his drawing table executing a sketch of the heroine at his usual mile a minute clip. This concluded, the real story commences, and things move at a lively pace for the remainder of the four reels. There is not a great variety of scenes in the film, but this is no fault and is in keeping with the requirements of the story. The action takes place in and about New York. Marian Swayne, the plays the title role, makes such a charming Kitty that one can forgive her for her tendency to overact in some of the more dramatic parts. Harvey Thomas [sic], who plays opposite her, is troubled slightly by the same fault, but on the whole, handles his part in a satisfactory manner. At least one remarkable coincidence occurs in the course of the story, but this is no very great departure from real life, because without such extraneous aid, kidnapped girls are not often found until it is too late.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 14 July 2023.
References: Website-AFI; Website-IMDb.
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