Volume II: Filmography

Episode 17

THE TWENTY MILLION DOLLAR MYSTERY

THE ISLAND OF MYSTERY

March 15, 1915 (Monday)

Length: 2 reels (Reels 33 and 34)

Note: The title and a description of this episode were registered by the Copyright Office on March 19, 1915. Thirty-seven prints of selected scenes were deposited on March 12, 1915.

ARTICLE, The Moving Picture World, March 27, 1915:

"That the Thanhouser Syndicate never neglects the trade - aid so essential to the exhibitor - is clearly illustrated by the new and novel line of paper this company is getting out in conjunction with the new serial The $20,000,000 Mystery. From the inception of this picture is was decided to give the exhibitor a new line of paper far superior to any picture paper produced. Accordingly, arrangements were made with George Peters, who is probably the best known poster artist in the country, who drew the sketches for this 'thriller.' Peters, it will be remembered, established a new era in posters when he entered the moving picture field, as it was he who first deviated from the old way of taking a still picture and making it do the work as a subject for a poster. His striking use of colors and the sensational manner in which he plays up his action without deviating from the subject in hand has made his signature of 'GP' on posters stand for something, and the exhibitor has come to know this as a sign of quality.

"A striking example of novelty in the poster line is shown in the new six-sheet of the Thanhouser made up in conjunction with Episode 17 of The Twenty Million Dollar Mystery. The poster, contrary to the usual six-sheet, was not made up of one subject, but instead has a grouping of six heads representing the stars in the production, each head occupying the space of one sheet. The artistic and striking arrangement of these heads of James Cruze, Marguerite Snow, Harry Benham, Sidney Bracy, Frank Farrington, and Mary Elizabeth Forbes, form a layout which is distinctly original and unique. Another good feature of this striking poster is the fact that it can be used for all the succeeding episodes of the Mystery, as it applies to the whole series as well as to the current release."

SYNOPSIS, Reel Life, March 6, 1915:

"The half-burned trunk in which Captain Radcliffe has found such interesting material in Episode Sixteen held many secrets. While the worthy captain and Madame Duval lay their plans to gain control of this other fortune of Zudora's, which still lies buried in the South African plains, another search of the old trunk by its owner results in the discovery of another and equally interesting paper. In a corner which the wily conspirator had overlooked, Zudora finds a torn fragment, evidently originally a part of her father's diary. 'Rich diamond find,' it reads, 'near large flat-topped boulder 2,000 yards, S.E. by E. of second mile post from Zudora mine.'

"Her discovery makes Zudora very happy, yet had she known of the schemes, which just then were taking form in the mind of Madame Duval, in that lady's beautiful Grecian salon, she might not have felt entirely at ease. Had she been able to follow her, she would have seen the leader of the band, accompanied by Captain Radcliffe and Ike, one of her 'strong-arm' aides, going to the home of a wizened old hag, who arrives on Craig Island, a tiny patch of earth and rock in a little frequented part of the bay, which has been aptly called the 'Island of Mystery.' And here, after making certain arrangements which appear to be satisfactory to the conspirators' chieftainess, the party take leave of the grizzled guardian of the islet. Afterward, they go to see the old diamond-cutter, who is polishing the stones brought to him by Captain Radcliffe.

"Meanwhile Tom Hunt, the detective, with Jim Baird has decided to follow the clue contained in the torn paper and go to South Africa. For a similar reason, Captain Radcliffe and Bruce determine to make the trip themselves, the more so, as they learn of the detective's intentions. Carefully disguising themselves, they book passage on the same boat with Baird and Hunt, whom they plan to waylay at the first favorable opportunity.

"Zudora and John Storm, quite ignorant that anything is on foot, after saying goodbye to the detective and his companion, are returning from the pier, when they meet Madame Duval, as if by accident, although in accordance with her well-laid design. Having found nothing tangible against the clever adventuress, Zudora has entirely ceased to suspect her of complicity in the plot against her fortune and herself, and so when the beautiful schemer invites her for a spin in her big automobile, Zudora willingly accepts, although Storm is not altogether satisfied at the arrangement. But he laughs at his own fears, feeling that he is over-cautious and that nothing can happen to his sweetheart in broad daylight. Yet in this he is mistaken. The machine has not gone far, when in passing a lonely wharf it is suddenly surrounded by a group of masked men. The two women are dragged out of the car, their screams being choked off by the ruffians, who hurriedly carry them to a waiting motor boat. This soon speeds away and in a relatively short time the party arrive at Craig Island, where Zudora is placed in the hands of the old hag - a prisoner. Of course, the men are Madame Duval's confederates, and the whole scene has been carefully staged to deceive Zudora.

"In the meanwhile, in far off South Africa, many things have been happening. Hunt has located the rich find, indicated in the writing left by Zudora's father, but discovering that they are being spied upon, he takes measures to throw Captain Radcliffe and Bruce off their trail. In this he is not entirely successful, however, and Baird and the wily Captain engage in a terrific struggle on top of a moving freight train. The men are battling desperately as the train speeds along a high embankment, and strain perilously near the edge. Suddenly, the fast-moving train leaves the track and crashes down the hillside, carrying the two swaying men with it. Captain Radcliffe is picked up unconscious, while Baird escapes serious injury. A day or two later, a hurry call from New York, the one from Madame Duval, and the other from Storm, lead the four men to make haste to return to America."

REVIEW, The Moving Picture World, March 27, 1915:

"This shows Baird and Hunt on a trip to the Zudora mines in South Africa. Zudora herself is captured by the conspirators and conveyed to an island in a launch. She brings about her release by the familiar device of sending a letter adrift in a bottle. The number is an ordinary one and has no particularly strong features. There is one thrill where the work train falls over the high embankment, resulting in serious injury to Radcliffe."

Note: In The Moving Picture World, this review was designated "Episode 8" in error.

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