| |
 |
| |
Dorothy Phillips and Ben Wilson.
Photograph: Silent Era image collection.
|
The Last Act
(1915) United States of America
B&W : One reel
Directed by Ben F. Wilson (Ben Wilson)
Cast: Ben Wilson [Herbert Harwood], Dorothy Phillips [Janet Harwood], Joseph W. Girard [Hilary Herndon]
Rex Film Company production; distributed by The Universal Film Manufacturing Company, Incorporated. / Scenario by Dwight Cleveland. / Released 15 June 1915. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format. / Universal release number 0580. The film was marketed in the USA with one-sheet and three-sheet posters. The film was released in Canada on 22 June 1915.
Drama.
Synopsis: [The Universal Weekly, Volume VI, Number 24, 12 June 1915, page 23] Herbert Harwood, a young playwright, living in a small town, has had a play accepted by the manager of Hilary Herndon, a well known actor. / Harwood is a quiet, studious, earnest, ambitious man, living well but modestly with his wife, Janet, a beautiful, vivacious and pleasure loving girl. / Herndon comes to see Harwood about the play and so enters their lives. The fresh beauty of Janet attracts him and his polished manner, sophisticated air and veiled cynicism, charm her and implant the seeds of discontent. / Herndon leaves and Janet grows more and more restless and discontented. Her husband notes her frame of mind and unselfishly plans for her to visit the city, hoping that it will soothe he restlessness. / Janet goes to the city and there renews her acquaintance with Herndon, who introduces her to the gay life and excitement of the Great White Way. Fascinated by the glamour of the city and the attractions of Herndon, she loses all love for her husband and eventually writes him that she will not return. / Harwood, though well nigh crushed, stuggles to forget his loss in his work. / He goes to the city and is horrified at the life Janet is leading, but the greatness of his lover impels him to try and save her. He appeals to her to return to their home but is met with scorn. Appealing to Herndon, he is sneered at. The idea of revenge or punishment takes possession of him. / The day of the first performance of the play arrives and that afternoon Harwood makes a final effort to persuade Janet. Convinced of the futility of his efforts, he adopts a plan. / In one scene of the play, Herndon, seated alone in his apartments, is served a drink, by his man servant. / Harwood, who, is author of the play, has free access to the stage, goes to the dressing room of the man who is to play the part of the butler, just as the overture is called. Overpowering and binding the actor, Harwood assumes the servant’s costume and answers the call. / Herndon seated in an arm chair, before an open fireplace, the light from which throws him in strong relief, calls for a drink and Harwood, entering from the rear, pours wine from a decanter into a glass. He also puts poison in the drink. Approaching Herndon from the rear, he hands him the glass and Herndon, without looking at him, takes it and drinks part of the contents and hands back the glass. / Janet, in a box, has been looking at the servant with fascinated surprise and, recognizing him and observing the look of malignant hate, when he prepares the drink, suspects what has been done and screams a warning. / Too late. Herndon springs up and with horror realizes his fate as Harwood, facing him, impressively drains the glass and sinks into a chair as the curtain falls.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 20 May 2012.
References: UnivWeekly-19150612 pp. 23, 24, 34.
|
