Volume II: Filmography

THE STRATEGY OF CONDUCTOR 786

April 26, 1914 (Sunday)

Length: 1 reel (836 feet)

Character: Romantic comedy-drama

Scenario: Lloyd F. Lonergan

Cast: Riley Chamberlin (Conductor 786), James Murray (Gray, a cross-tempered old businessman), Adele Rey (May, his beautiful daughter), Boyd Marshall (Jack, May's sweetheart), Mrs. Minnie McCoy (Jane, a passenger), Billy Noel (Percival, her son), Eugene Redding (Hank, who thinks he ought to ride free), Leland Benham (Leland, a newsboy), Frank Farrington (superintendent of the car line)

SYNOPSIS, Reel Life, April 25, 1914:

"Conductors have their likes and dislikes. No. 786, on the suburban-metropolitan line, had nearly all his regular patrons 'sized up.' For instance, there was Gray, a crabbed old business man with never a kind word, whom he cordially disliked. Now, toward May Gray, his daughter, and Jack, her sweetheart, Conductor No. 786 entertained entirely different sentiments. Jack had volunteered to act as witness for No. 786 when an obstreperous passenger had threatened to make trouble, while May, by her winsome manners, had also won No. 786's good will. The old conductor watched the progress of the courtship with favor. Coming home one night, who should get on the car but crabbed, old Gray. The old man watched the young couple for a while and then, angry at seeing them so happy, resolved to send his daughter to a boarding school. Next morning, Gray and his weeping daughter took No. 786's car. While her father fumed in his seat, May stole an opportunity to tell the sympathetic conductor her troubles. No. 786 acted quickly. Pushing a plugged dime under old Gray's nose and charging him with attempting to pass counterfeit money, he ordered his passenger to leave the car. A dozen blocks further on May left the car and telephoned Jack. And while Gray plodded along the muddy tracks a quick visit was made to the minister. Old Gray arrived on time to denounce No. 786, but the plugged dime was incontrovertible evidence against the crabbed old Gray, and with the young folks married - well, what could papa do?"

REVIEW, The Moving Picture World, May 2, 1914:

"The novelty feature of this picture pertains in the fact that the scenes all transpire either in or out of a suburban street car. The conductor of the car takes upon himself to assist a young lady, one of the regular passengers, in her love affair. He succeeds in his mission and 'gets even' with father. Riley Chamberlin and Miss Rey are the principals. This is amusing and interesting."

REVIEW, The New York Dramatic Mirror, May 13, 1914:

"There is a welcome touch of originality in this comedy-romance of a street car. Conductor 786 is a genial soul who knows how to treat the whims of his passengers, but his active interest is centered in a pretty girl and her sweetheart, who ride with him every day. The time comes when he can do this girl a good service by putting her father off the car, which he does, pretending that he received a bad dime in payment of the fare. Then he sends for the young woman's lover and is the instigator of a hasty wedding. It is acceptable entertainment out of the beaten path. The conductor is made a very natural figure."

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