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Captain Kidd
(1913) United States of America
B&W : Three reels
Directed by Otis Turner
Cast: David Hartman [Captain Kidd], Cleo Madison [Peggy, Kidd’s sweetheart], Howard C. Hickman (Howard Hickman) [Frank Curtis], Joseph Singleton [Mate Sims], Frank Lloyd [William Moore], Joseph Callahan [Charles Curtis]
The Universal Film Manufacturing Company, Incorporated, production; distributed by The Universal Film Manufacturing Company, Incorporated [101-Bison]. / Released 4 November 1913. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? The story, in brief, relates to that famous character of history, Captain Kidd, from the time he became a pirate until his fall. According to history he was sent out to subdue piracy by King William III of England, who had heard of this captain’s ability in combating these wolves of the marine commerce. Kidd starts out with good impulses. A misunderstanding with his sweetheart, whom he was about to marry, changed the tenure of his life, from a law-abiding citizen he suddenly was transformed into a fiend. He embarked with embittered thoughts that soon answered the summons of rancor. He fell for the temptation to reap an easy fortune through piracy. Ever actuated by the gnawings of a self-imposed broken heart, Kidd ruled with unpitying hand. A poor wretch, one of his own crew, whom he had ordered thrown overboard for no reason whatever nearly caused Kidd’s downfall. In the meantime Peggy, his sweetheart, had pined through sorrow. The American shores invited. It was thought a change would do her good and she embarked with her father. Through a strange act of fate this ship fell a prey to the ever watchful eye of Kidd’s crew. Battle and carnage reigned. Peggy recognized her old sweetheart directing the killing. When he finds her she has been mortally wounded. Gathering her in his strong arms he totters with unseeing eyes to the forward deck, where she dies. The man whose life had been seared through his own jealous nature becomes again as a child with a grief that was simple and sincere.
Reviews: [The Moving Picture World, 15 November 1913, page ?] This three-reel subject is produced by Otis Turner. Plainly much care has been given to the making of it, to the costuming and to the settings. Much in evidence is a great sailing ship, which in itself makes a most interesting background. The release is the second of the series. It is spectacular and sensational. Being the story of a pirate, naturally there is much fighting and much slaying. These features predominate to the exclusion of the human-interest element. The production undoubtedly will go strong in those houses where the sensational is popular.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 26 November 2022.
References: Braff-Short n. 3341; Tarbox-Lost pp. 148, 149 : Website-IMDb.
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