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The Mystery of Henri Villard
(1915) United States of America
B&W : Two reels
Directed by (unknown)
Cast: Frank Newberg (Frank Newburg) [Edgar Calhoun], Isabel Rea [Grace De Bevoise], Hector V. Sarno [Henri Villard], Helen Bray [Frances De Bevoise], William J. Butler [Uncle Darby]
Biograph Company production; distributed by The General Film Company, Incorporated. / Scenario by George Morgan. / Released 31 August 1915. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? Everybody in the old levee town knew that Henri Villard was a shrewd man. So, when the beautiful De Bevoise girls, Grace and Frances, were left orphans, it was not surprising that they should seek Lawyer Villard’s aid in managing their investments, especially after he had become engaged to the younger sister. What everybody did not know was Villard’s fondness for gambling and low company. In a cheap tavern he lost the girl’s money at cards and conducted an affair with the host’s daughter. Uncle Darby, faithful servant of the girls, discovered Villard’s crookedness and told Grace about it. She thought only to hide the truth from Frances, but Villard himself revealed it. Frances died of a broken heart, and Grace, embittered, insisted on Edgar Calhoun, her fiancé, avenging her sister. Next morning Henri Villard was found dead on a lonely trail. Tavern loungers recalled Uncle Darby’s threat to kill the scoundrel, and he was arrested. Grace, meanwhile, had received from Edgar a note reading: “Frances is avenged.” To save Darby she accused herself of the killing, in spite of the old man’s plea that he had shot Villard. While they were examining her at police headquarters, Edgar learned what had happened. When Grace saw him enter the room she guessed his purpose and insisted more vehemently than ever that she had killed Villard. But the empty shell found on the ground fitted Edgar’s pistol. Grace was in despair when suddenly a third witness forced his way in, a tavern lounger, who told this tale: Villard, challenged to a duel by Edgar, had bribed the lounger to attend the meeting and secretly to shoot Edgar in the back. But he had lost his nerve, and the duel proceeded, Villard firing first and missing.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 4 June 2024.
References: Spehr-American p. 3 : Website-IMDb.
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