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The Midnight Call
(1914) United States of America
B&W : Split-reel
Directed by Fred Huntley
Cast: Harold Lockwood [Doctor Bronte], Mabel Van Buren [Doris], Lillian Hayward (Lillie Hayward) [Mrs. Lawler], Henry Otto [Lawler Jr.], George Hernandez [Lawler Sr.], Gordon Sackville [the detective]
The Selig Polyscope Company, Incorporated, production; distributed by The General Film Company, Incorporated. / Produced by William N. Selig. From a short story by James Oliver Curwood. / Released 31 March 1914; in a split-reel with Fancy Skating (1914). / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? Dr. Bronte, a young physician, seated in his library late one night, hears the tingle of the ’phone, and receives a mysterious call in a feminine voice: “They are killing me. Come quick. Old stone house. Forest Lake.” The message chokes to a whisper, then there are sounds of struggle, then silence. As a man of action, he decides to investigate the mystery at once. He calls two patrolmen and a detective, and in an auto they rush to an apparently empty mansion, but the sounds of their knocking bring to the door a shrewish looking woman, and a bearded man with matted hair. They deny making any ’phone call, but a search is made of the premises, the only incriminating thing being that the receiver of the ’phone has been recently broken. The officer leaves the house, but the doctor conceals himself. They, observing his disappearance, conclude to remain on the ground and watch the house. An hour later, Lawlor, the third member of mystery, emerges through a trap door in the floor, and the doctor observing his entry from his place of concealment, soon after opens the door and explores the passage, discovering Doris Wain, a beautiful girl prisoner, who declares that she voiced the message. The people of the house have discovered the presence of the intruder, and a desperate encounter ensues. Happily, the detective who remained outside is able to take a hand, and captures the gang. Doris afterwards explains to the doctor that she had been imprisoned for two years by scheming relatives, who had given out that she was dead and tried to gain possession of the fortune left by her father. She also explains to him that she called the police department on the ’phone when she escaped for a moment from her cell, but Central gave her Dr. Bronte’s number, and Fate thereby threw her into his hands.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Keywords: Communication: Telephones
Listing updated: 7 December 2024.
References: Lahue-Selig p. 172 : Website-IMDb.
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