''Powers That Prey'' is a 1918 silent comedy-drama film directed by Henry King and starring

Mary Miles Minter Mary Miles Minter (born Juliet Reilly; April 25, 1902Louisiana Birth Certificate, Caddo Parish, No. 119, Book A, Page 97, Birth Date: April 25, 1902, Name: Mary M. Reilly ic – Original Caddo birth record was recorded as "J.H. Riley's Child" ...

, with whom King stated that he enjoyed working. The film is based on a story called ''Extra! Extra!'' by Will M. Ritchey, which was also the working title of the film. As with many of Minter's features, it is thought 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 ...

.The Library of Congress/FIAF American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: ''Powers That Prey''
/ref>

Plot

As described in various

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 ...

reviews, Sylvia Grant (Minter) is the daughter of Burton Grant (Clark), the owner of the ''Daily News''. Her father makes an enemy of crooked local politician Jarvis McVey (Burton) after he threatens to expose his shady dealings with a railroad company. Forced to leave town for his own safety, Burton Grant travels to Sylvia's boarding school and tells her where to find the necessary paperwork to install editor Frank Summers (Forrest) as the paper's manager. Sylvia, however, who runs her school's newspaper and has journalistic ambitions of her own, fills in her name on the power-of-attorney rather than Summers', and takes over the running of the ''Daily News''. She runs the paper according to her own ideals, exposing various merchants who behave in a way that she does not think proper, and discharges many of the staff who oppose her methods, including Summers. On the verge of ruining the paper, Sylvia happens to overhear McVey plotting to betray the city for his own profit. She rushes to publish an extra, exposing him and calling for him to be tarred and feathered. Summers, despite Sylvia's attempts to fire him, stays around and helps her to condemn McVey. Just as the townsfolk are preparing to act on her suggestion, her father returns. McVey, having been discredited, leaves town, and with the ''Daily News'' taking much of the credit, Sylvia's other journalistic efforts are forgiven and the paper is saved. Summers is returned to his position as editor, and he and Sylvia become engaged.

Cast

as Sylvia Grant * Allan Forrest as Frank Summers * Harvey Clark as Burton Grant *

Clarence Burton Clarence Forrest Burton (May 10, 1882 – December 2, 1933) was an American silent film actor. Biography Burton was born in Fort Lyon, in Benton County, Missouri and started in show business at the age of 5, playing stock and musical comedy ...

as Jarvis McVey *

Lucille Ward Lucille Ward (February 25, 1880 – August 8, 1952) was an American film actress. She appeared in more than 140 films between 1915 and 1944. She was born and died in Dayton, Ohio. Ward's career began in 1907 when she acted in a production ...

as Mrs. Brackett * Emma Kluge as Mrs. Sharon *

Perry Banks Perry Banks (24 April 1877 in Victoria, British Columbia Canada – 10 October 1934 in Santa Barbara, California) was a Canadian silent film actor. He starred with William Garwood in films such as '' Sir Galahad of Twilight''. Selected fi ...

as George Lake * Robert Miller as Bobs

References

External links

* 1918 films 1918 comedy-drama films American silent feature films American black-and-white films Films directed by Henry King 1910s English-language films 1910s American films Silent American comedy-drama films {{silent-comedy-drama-film-stub