|
Saved by Airship
(1913) United States of America
B&W : One reel
Directed by Eustace Hale Ball
Cast: Rodman Law [Charles Belmont], Rosanna Forbes [Bess Burton], [?] ? [John Burton], [?] ? [Henry Holloway], Harry Bingham Brown [an aviator], A. Leo Stevens [an aviator], [?] ? [Mrs. Burton]
Reliance Motion Picture Corporation production; distributed by Mutual Film Corporation. / Scenario by Eustace Hale Ball. Cinematography by Edward Wynard. / Released 29 January 1913. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? Charles Belmont, a quiet and industrious young man, works in the office of John Burton, a wealthy broker. A fellow clerk, Henry Holloway, like Charles, is enamored of his employer’s pretty daughter, Bess. Henry is flashy in his dress and manner, a clever talker and a fine bluffer, and while their employer likes both young men very well, it is apparent that his daughter favors the suit of Henry. Old Burton invites both boys out to his suburban home. The young men arrive at the handsome residence of their host. Henry is all smiles and tries to increase his popularity with the girl and her father. After dinner Henry, Bess, her father and Charles step out of the house to look at the vista of the harbor. They see an aviator, who is known to the old man, getting his aeroplane ready for a trial flight across the bay. He invites them to take a ride. The old man shakes his head, hut the young girl, fond of excitement, gleefully accepts and steps into the machine in spite of her parents’ remonstrances. The machine whizzes away and she is seen taking a roundabout ride, while Henry flatters the old man about his daughter’s bravery. When they return from the aerial flight, the girl jumps out and offers the others her seat. Charles stoutly refuses saying he is afraid of the trip. Henry roasts him sarcastically, while he himself steps into the machine and asks for a ride. While the others are looking away, he slips a bill to the aviator, urging him not to stay up long, but to come right down. The machine takes a little trip through the air and then returns. Henry stumbles out very much relieved to get to the ground again, but still keeping up the bluff as he teases Charles. The latter finally becomes furious and embarrassed, seeing that the girl is making fun of him as well. Henry asks Bess to elope with him. She laughs and shakes her head, saying there is no way by which they can do so. Finally she spies a launch and she suggests that they use this. She jumps into it. She says they can go straight across the harbor to the city. Henry prepares to start it and unloosens the rope. The girl touches off the engine wrong and the boat whizzes forth without the young man in it. She gives a scream, but loses her presence of mind and is unable to steer the boat. The launch lurches into the direction of the harbor while Henry stands wringing his hands at the wharf. Charles and the girl’s father and mother rush down to the shore near the aeroplane. They see the launch going out from shore with the unhappy girl in it. The old man wrings his hands and his wife sobs. They are all at a loss for a means to rescue her, when suddenly Charles conceives the idea of utilizing the aeroplane. He rushes to the aviator and asks him if he will help him. The aviator says it will be impossible to do anything with the flying machine, but Charles insists, preparing to dive. He kicks off his shoes, flings off his coat and jumps into the machine with the aviator. He throws on speed, and the machine whizzes off over the bay toward the boat. The watchers on shore scream with fright when the launch explodes and the girl is thrown into the water unconscious. The launch is seen at a close view with the girl struggling as best she can, and the smoke coming from the boat. The aeroplane is close at hand and Charles is preparing to drop from it into the water. At last they are seen lowering down toward the drowning girl and calculating his position to a nicety, he lowers himself from the framework of the aeroplane and drops into the water. Charles rescues the girl and keeps her afloat until she is taken ashore by some boatmen who have come forth to render assistance. On shore the gallant Henry is sobbing like a baby. The girl is brought in safe and sound and is clasped in her father’s and mother’s arms. The father kisses the girl and the young clerk is certain of the father’s favor as well as the girl’s.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Keywords: Transportation: Airplanes
Listing updated: 5 January 2023.
References: Tarbox-Lost p. 106 : Website-IMDb.
|
