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The Devil Within
(1914) United States of America
B&W : Three reels
Directed by Will S. Davis
Cast: T. Arthur Holmes (Stuart Holmes) [James Gleason], Jane Fisher [Jane Walker Gleason], John Travis [John Walker, the father], Jack Hopkins [Jack Walker, the son], Olga Troska (Olga Treskoff) [Maude Barnes], Lois Howard [Edith], Miss Dewey [Olive, the little niece]
Ramo Films, Incorporated, production; distributed by Exclusive Supply Corporation. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format. / [?] The film was rereleased in the USA by Box Office Attractions Company on 28 February 1914?
Drama.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? John Walker has not attempted to conceal the fact that his will leaves almost his entire fortune to his son, Jack, merely providing a small trust for his daughter, Jane, who has recently been married to James Gleason. Gleason, learning of the terms of the will, plots to disgrace Jack in the eyes of his father, and with the aid of a woman, Maude Barnes, causes Jack to be charged with theft. This takes place at Jack’s college, but the actual arrest is delayed by Jack’s roommate until after the big football game, of which Jack is the star player. The disgrace is sufficient to force Jack to leave college. On his arrival home, a stormy scenes ensues and Jack is ordered from the house by his father, whose mind has been poisoned against him by Gleason. Jack’s father is also influenced to make a new will, but Gleason does not know its contents. With contemptible perseverance Gleason also hounds Jack and causes him to be discharged from different positions. The father dies and Jack returns only to be refused admittance to the house by Gleason. Determined to have a last look at his father, Jack gains entrance and meets little Olive, his niece, of whom he is very fond. Her childish love for Jack prompts her to force him to take her little diamond picture locket as a remembrance. Gleason has opened the safe in the library and has just read the last will which gives Jack the fortune when he reaches the age of twenty-five, provided he does nothing dishonest, in which latter event Gleason’s wife is to have it. Gleason foresees that Jack will eventually get the fortune under the terms of the will and thoroughly enraged, he turns away from the safe and catches a glimpse of Jack as he is leaving the house. His clever mind immediately evolves a plot to accuse him of robbing the safe. Jack’s possession of the locket aids Gleason as he dramatically accuses Jack. Appearances against him, Jack makes his escape. Tracked by detectives, hungry and desperate. Jack tries to enter a farm house and is only saved from his crime by overhearing a prayer of the farmer’s daughter, Edith. In withdrawing, he falls and is seriously injured. The farmer’s wife, asking no questions, nurses him to health and he later works and lives with them. Incidentally Jack and Edith grow to love each other. Gleason continues his association with Maude Barnes, visiting her frequently. A thief, surprised by her alone in her apartment, accidentally shoots her but escapes. The testimony of the elevator boy and Gleason’s glove on her table, point conclusively to Gleason as the murderer. Panic-stricken at the circumstantial evidence against him, Gleason flees and hard-pressed by the detectives, evades them by jumping from a fast moving freight train. Fate leads him for refuge to a barn where Jack, with a party, arrives for a barn dance. Confronting Jack, Gleason threatens to disclose his past unless he aids him. Jack, in despair, conceals him in the loft and side-tracks the detectives, but to no avail. The barn catches fire in the midst of the dance and Gleason, still concealed in the hay loft, is fatally injured. Jack risks his life and brings Gleason out alive and receives his reward in an ante-mortem statement from Gleason, clearing his name and entitling him to the fortune and to marry Edith.
Reviews: [The Moving Picture World, 20 December 1914, page ?] Three reels of drama that will interest. The story is one of greed and crime. In order to take advantage of a clause in the will of his father-in-law that his son shall not inherit the property in case he is dishonest. Gleason “frames up” his wife’s brother so that she may obtain the fortune. In the opening the college atmosphere was well established through the football game. The hotel interiors are deserving of mention. The scenes of the barn dance and the fire that started during the festivities add to the holding power of the picture. Jack Hopkins plays the lead and does good work. Stuart Holmes carries the heavy.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 30 October 2022.
References: Tarbox-Lost p. 208: Website-IMDb.
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