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The Mystery of the Silver Snare
(1914) United States of America
B&W : One reel
Directed by George Lessey
Cast: Ben Wilson [Detective Hamilton Cleek], Gertrude McCoy [Ailea Lorne], Robert Brower [Police Superintendent Narkhom], Harry Beaumont, Charles Sutton, May Abbey, Edward Boulden, Gertrude Braun, Nellie Grant, Harry Linson
Thomas A. Edison, Incorporated, production; distributed by The General Film Company, Incorporated. / Scenario by Edward T. Lowe Jr., from a screen story by Thomas W. Hanshew. / Released 28 April 1914. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format. / The sixth film in the “The Chronicles of Cleek” series.
Drama.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? When Superintendent Narkom called Cleek on the telephone and told him that he had an interesting case for him, Cleek was somewhat loath to accept it. The afternoon editions of the newspapers had some weighty news about Mauravania, and Cleek was much interested in Mauravanian affairs. However, a case was always a case, so Cleek set out for the address given him. Before starting, he put on the disguise of an old man. M. de Louvisan, the man who desired to engage Cleek’s services, had a strange story to tell. A mysterious terror hung over his house. A strange shadow-like form would periodically appear at his bedside, and call the name of one of his children. Shortly afterwards, the child would be found dead in bed with a silver cord tightly wound about his neck. Four of his six children had already perished, and now a fifth was threatened. A curious expression flitted across Cleek’s face as de Louvisan was telling his story. At the end, he questioned the bereaved father rather sharply. At last, however, Cleek consented to go with de Louvisan to his home. On the street a bulletin on the Mauravanian situation caused Cleek to change his mind suddenly. He was just on the point of declining to go with de Louvisan, when a cab drove up to the curb containing Cleek’s old friend, Miss Lorne. She begged Cleek to undertake the case for the sake of Mme. de Louvisan, who had called on her and had begged her to intercede with him. Cleek turned white, and sent Miss Lorne home in another carriage. Then, under pretense of buying some cigars, he called up Narkom in a tobacconist’s shop, and set out with de Louvisan. Cleek’s first action after reaching de Louvisan’s home was to throw his coat over the butler's head, and to handcuff that worthy and de Louvisan to the banisters. Then he sped upstairs to the picture gallery, where Madame de Louvisan waited. She turned, saw Cleek, and gave the Apache cry. At once, the portraits on the wall swung out, and in the cavity behind each of them appeared a man with a revolver leveled at the detective. The police arrived in time to save Cleek from a dangerous situation. The whole affair was a Mauravanian plot to put Cleek out of the way. De Louvisan’s story had been made up out of the whole cloth. Fortunately, Cleek had recognized de Louvisan as a leading Parisian Apache at the very outset of the adventure.
Reviews: [The Moving Picture World, 16 May 1914, page ?] The sixth of the series in the Chronicles of Cleek and one of the best as yet produced. The cast is made up of Ben Wilson, May Abbey, Robert Bower, Gertrude McCoy, etc., the leading Edison players. The plot is interesting and the picture has been carefully directed. All in all, it is a fine production.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 4 June 2024.
References: Spehr-American p. 4 : Website-IMDb.
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