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The Unexpected
(1916) United States of America
B&W : One reel
Directed by Francis Ford
Cast: Francis Ford [the Mexican foreman], Grace Cunard [Betty], Jack Holt [Betty’s sweetheart]
The Universal Film Manufacturing Company, Incorporated, production; distributed by The Universal Film Manufacturing Company, Incorporated [Rex]. / Produced by Francis Ford. Scenario by Grace Cunard and Francis Ford. / © 17 April 1916 by The Universal Film Manufacturing Company, Incorporated. Released [?] 25 or 26? April 1916. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? Betty starts out for a walk and is warned by her sweetheart and his friends to be careful as there are likely to be bandits about. She laughingly tells them she is not afraid, as she has her dog with her, who will be ample protection. During her stroll Betty finds a shack and decides to investigate. She notes there is a sign on the door, but it is covered with a coat. A Mexican enters and speaks in Spanish to her. She is unable to understand and he cannot understand English. The Mexican is joined by some of his countrymen and their gestures and strange actions give Betty quite a fright. Betty discovers the house contains a lot of dynamite and explosives and decides that she is in the hands of bandits. Their peculiar actions strengthen this belief and she decides to make a rush for the door. They have quite a rough and tumble scrap, and the Mexicans are getting the worst of it, when one of them finally pushes Betty in a side room and locks her in. She finds the window barred. Betty peeps through the keyhole and sees the men getting dynamite and decides they are going to blow her up. She is frantic, but when her dog shows his face at the window she hits upon a scheme to escape. Hastily writing a note she ties it to the dog’s collar and sends him to find her sweetheart. Meanwhile Betty sees the men light the fuse and hurry away. The dog runs back to the boys and they find the note. Hastily piling into a machine, they dash to her rescue. On the way they meet some soldiers and tell of the captive girl. The soldiers join the rescuers. The boys get Betty out and just as they leave the house the explosion takes place nearby. As the boys start towards the Mexicans a white man comes on and asks the trouble. The boys tell of the captive girl and the man breaks into laughter. He explains the Mexicans are section laborers and locked Betty in the house, fearing she would not understand them and wander near where they were blowing up some rocks. Betty gladly joins her sweetheart and allows the boys to take her home, claiming she has had all the exercise she wants.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 15 November 2022.
References: Braff-Universal n. 8547 : ClasIm-224 p. 43 : Website-IMDb.
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