Volume II: Filmography

CHECK NO. 130

(Princess)

January 8, 1915 (Friday)

Length: 1 reel (1,018 feet)

Character: Drama

Director: Jack Harvey(?)

Cast: Muriel Ostriche (Doris Hall), Boyd Marshall (Boyd Morris), Morgan Jones (Lawyer Morris, Boyd's father), Ernest Warde (Harry Dana), Virginia Waite (his wife)

Notes: 1. The title of the film was given as Check No. 30 in certain publicity and some official news releases; this may have been a preliminary or working title. In some notices (an advertisement in Reel Life, January 2, 1915), the second word of the title is expanded: Check Number 130. 2. In Great Britain the film was released as Cheque No. 130.

SYNOPSIS, Reel Life, January 2, 1915:

"Harry Dana's married life is unhappy because his wife is suspicious and petulant. Discovering that his stenographer, Doris Hall, is ambitious to study art, he persuades her to accept a check for four hundred dollars to be spent for an evening course in modeling. Shortly afterward Mrs. Dana visits her husband's office and discovers in a bunch of vouchers, returned monthly by the bank, the check in favor of the stenographer. Convinced that Dana is faithless, she purloins the check as evidence and secretly prepares to begin divorce proceedings. Doris has witnessed the removal of the incriminating check, but she hesitates to inform Dana. Later she learns from the stenographer employed by Mrs. Dana's attorney that a divorce is impending. Determined to prevent the wrecking of Dana's family life at any cost, Doris goes to the attorney and makes a confession of crime, declaring that she forged the check.

"Dana receives a note from the attorney. Placing it in his wife's hands, utterly puzzled, he hurries away. She is now convinced of her error in suspecting him. Taking the check from its hiding place, she chokes back a sob, permitting the bit of paper to slip to the floor. Before she can recover it the check is drawn into the fire and destroyed. Dana, meanwhile, has learned the truth. He is trying to dissuade Doris from her sacrifice when his wife bursts into the office and tells of the destruction of the check. As the evidence is lost no one now can be found legally guilty. Mr. and Mrs. Dana leave together. Then Doris, who has momentarily disappeared, returns to receive the earnest compliments of Lawyer Morris and his son, Boyd, who is in love with her."

REVIEW, The Bioscope, March 25, 1915:

"An artificial but very fairly effective dramatic comedy. The plot has some originality, but might have been stronger. The acting is excellent."

REVIEW, The Morning Telegraph, January 3, 1915:

"Dana's stenographer is ambitious to study art, and her employer helps her financially. His wife finds the vouchers made out in favor of the girl, and to prevent the latter from instituting divorce proceedings the girl confesses that she forged them. The wife burns the checks and thus, with all evidence destroyed, the suit is dropped and the girl cannot be arrested. The son of the wife's lawyer is in love with the little stenographer and all ends well."

REVIEW, The Moving Picture World, January 23, 1915:

"A good screen story, worked out in a creditable manner. Muriel Ostriche and Boyd Marshall play the lovers. The businessman's wife sees the check for funds loaned to the stenographer and becomes jealous. The development is natural and convincing and leads up to a dramatic close."

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