Volume II: Filmography

 

THE CONSCIENCE OF JUROR NO. 10

 

October 26, 1915 (Tuesday)

Length: 2 reels

Character: Drama

Cast: Wayne Arey (Juror No. 10), Ernest Howard (banker), Tula Belle

 

ARTICLE, Reel Life, October 30, 1915:

"A stirring moral theme is dramatically treated by the Thanhouser Company in The Conscience of Juror No. 10, for release on the regular Mutual Program, October 26, 1915. Wayne Arey is featured as the Juror, torn between temptation and his own conscience, the situation deeply complicated by his devotion to his invalid wife for whose sake he would sell his honor. Ernest Howard is an heroic figure in the role of the banker."

 

SYNOPSIS, Reel Life, October 30, 1915:

"His love for his wife means more to Milton Calhoun than his honor. He racks his brain to find some way of sending her to the mountains where she shall regain her health and be able to care for their baby girl. Then Jacob Morris, director of the Scoville bank, offers Calhoun bribe money if he will help convict Jonathan Moore, the bank president, indicted for false financial statements on the eve of failure. Calhoun does not stop to go into the merits of the case. He sees within reach only the long desired opportunity for Mary, his wife - and accepts the bribe. Then comes the trial. As the case progresses, it becomes more and more clear to Juror No. 10 that the president is innocent. Still Calhoun holds out doggedly. Telling his counsel that he must get some air, Moore hurries out of the courtroom and down to the river. In the jury room things are at a standstill. Calhoun, gazing from the window, trying to think only of sick wife, notices a boat drifting down the river. In it lies a sleeping child. Presently the youngster wakes. Her doll falls over the side of the boat, and in an effort to get it, she tumbles headlong into the water. With a wild cry, Calhoun flings himself out of the window. But the bank president is before him. Calhoun receives from Moore's arms his half-drowned baby girl. A little later, in the courtroom, Calhoun makes a clean breast of everything. Moore takes pains that Calhoun and his wife shall lose nothing by the confession of the tenth juror."

 

REVIEW, The Moving Picture World, October 30, 1915:

"This would have been a more than ordinarily attractive two-part production had not some of the scenes in connection with the trial been highly improbable. For instance the escape of the dissenting juror from the room in order to rescue his child, which, thanks to an improvised situation, had fallen into the water. There are some points in the picture that are highly commendable."

# # #

 

Copyright © 1995 Q. David Bowers. All Rights Reserved.