''The Midnight Man'' is a 1919 American
film serial
A serial film, film serial (or just serial), movie serial, or chapter play, is a motion picture form popular during the first half of the 20th century, consisting of a series of short subjects exhibited in consecutive order at one theater, gene ...
directed by
James W. Horne. It is now considered to be a
lost film
A lost film is a feature
Feature may refer to:
Computing
* Feature (CAD), could be a hole, pocket, or notch
* Feature (computer vision), could be an edge, corner or blob
* Feature (software design) is an intentional distinguishing char ...
.
Plot
As described in a
film magazine
Film periodicals combine discussion of individual films, genres and directors with in-depth considerations of the medium and the conditions of its production and reception. Their articles contrast with film reviewing in newspapers and magazines whi ...
,
Bob Gilmore (Corbett), a young Washington clubman, pleads guilty to his foster father's forgery and becomes a fugitive from justice. As he is about to leave, he learns that his supposed parents adopted him from a foundling society. His only clue to his identity is some baby clothing and a ring. While escaping from the city, he is set upon by the White Circle gang of thieves who throw him in front of a train. He miraculously escapes from death and reaches New York City. While robbing a barroom, one of the thieves is killed and the police, finding Gilmore's jewelry on the body, believe that he is dead. Gilmore then takes the name Stevens and breaks into the homes of the wealthy at midnight in an attempt to learn his identity. At each place he takes nothing of value but leaves an impression of his ring in an effort to trace his parents. He has occasion to rescue a pretty young woman from thugs and finds she is the daughter of a wealthy man named Morgan. Morgan (Girard), it develops, is the leader of the White Circle gang. Gilmore is also being followed by a mysterious Hindu, and is being tracked by Detective Arnold (Singleton). Gilmore in the episodes is frequently called upon to display his boxing abilities in rough and tumble fights, and often takes daring athletic feats during his quest to discover his identity.
Cast
*
James J. Corbett
James John "Jim" Corbett (September 1, 1866 – February 18, 1933) was an American professional boxer and a World Heavyweight Champion, best known as the only man who ever defeated the great John L. Sullivan (hence the " man who beat the man ...
as Bob Gilmore
*
Kathleen O'Connor as Nell
*
Joseph W. Girard as Morgan
*
Frank Jonasson
Frank Jonasson (December 14, 1878 – October 17, 1942) was an American film actor of the silent era. He appeared in 75 films between 1914 and 1930. He was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, and died in Rancho Los Amigos, California.
Selecte ...
as John Gilmore
*
Joseph Singleton
Joseph Edward Victor Fairfield Daveran Singleton (1 March 1879 – 24 October 1946) was an actor of the silent era. An Australian, he appeared in 74 films between 1913 and 1925. He was born in Melbourne.
Selected filmography
* ''Shon the ...
as Detective Arnold
*
Orrall Humphrey as Ramah
* Georgia Woodthorpe as Martha
* William Sauter as Hargreaves
*
Noble Johnson
Noble Johnson (April 18, 1881 – January 9, 1978), later known as Mark Noble, was an American actor and film producer. He appeared in films such as '' The Mummy'' (1932), ''The Most Dangerous Game'' (1932), ''King Kong'' (1933) and ''Son of ...
as Spike
*
Sam Polo
Sam Polo (November 7, 1872 – October 3, 1966) was an American make up artist and actor of the silent movies era known for '' The Lion's Claws'' (1918), ''The Great Circus Mystery'' (1925) and ''A Man from Nowhere'' (1920). He was the broth ...
* Montgomery Carlyle
*
Ann Forrest
List of episodes
# Cast Adrift
# Deadly Enemies
# Ten Thousand Dollars Reward
# At Bay
# Unmasked
# The Elevator Mystery
# The Electric Foe
# Shadow of Fear
# The Society Hold-Up
# The Blazing Torch
# The Death Ride
# The Tunnel of Terror
# A Fight to the Finish
# The Jaws of Death
# The Wheel of Terror
# Hurled From the Heights
# The Cave of Destruction
# A Wild Finish
See also
*
List of film serials
A list of film serials by year of release.
1910s
1920s
1930s
Films still exist from this point on unless noted otherwise:
1940s
1950s
See also
* Serial (film)
* List of film serials by studio
References
{{reflist
External linksSerial ...
*
List of film serials by studio
This is a list of film serials by studio, separated into those released by each of the five major studios, and the remaining minor studios.
The five major studios produced the greater number of serials. Of these the main studios are consider ...
*
List of lost films
References
External links
*
1919 films
1919 lost films
American silent serial films
American black-and-white films
Universal Pictures film serials
Films directed by James W. Horne
Lost American films
1910s American films
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