The Hand of Horror (1914)
Old Stephen Clark had two children, John and Margaret. Margaret, like the little princess of a fairy story, was as good as she was pretty. John was different. His over-indulgent father had always allowed him to do just about as he pleased. As a result, John had become a member of one of the worst gangs in the city. On one occasion, when John, to win the praises of his fellows, had planned a robbery of a valuable consignment of laces, Margaret learned of his intentions, and followed him to the building in which the goods were stored. Through John's carelessness with a cigarette, a fire was started. Margaret was hemmed in by flames. In a cowardly effort to save his own life at any cost, John left his sister to her fate and fled. On the street, he met Frank Henley, his father's assistant. Learning of Margaret's danger from the trembling John, Frank plunged into the burning building and rescued her. A week later, Margaret promised Frank that she would marry him. Some time afterward, Frank was engaged to make some repairs on the great clock which towered above the city, four hundred sheer feet from the pavement. He was paid an ample bonus before starting in to work, and John learning of the fact, determined to rob his sister's fiancé. Frank got out on the hour hand of the clock at a little before three. A few minutes later, John stole up to the room behind the clock fence. A search of Frank's coat convinced him that the victim must have left the money at home. To keep Frank safely out of the way, John softly shut and locked the little door leading out to the fact of the clock. At quarter of four, Frank had finished his work, and turned to leave. His horror when he discovered that the door was locked may be imagined. With the hour hand in its present position, he could just comfortably get enough of a grip on the door sill to clamber up. In half an hour at the most he would be unable to reach the door at all, and must inevitably fall to the street. Meanwhile, John had found Frank's money, and also a watch. As he noticed the position of the hands on the watch, he suddenly remembered where Frank was. John dropped the money and looked at the hour hand with fascinated eyes. After a time, he became suddenly and horribly mad. When Margaret went up to see her sweetheart, and found the door locked, she was alarmed. When she wrenched it open and looked down, she nearly fainted. John had grained a temporary respite at ten minutes past four by climbing on the minute hand. Ten minutes later, he was hanging to the doorsill by his fingertips. Another minute would launch him into space. Just as he was about to let go, Margaret seized his hand, and with a superhuman effort pulled him up to safety.
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GenresDrama
Short
IMDbPro
See more details at IMDbPro
| Filmmakers | Role |
|---|---|
| Preston Kendall | Director |
| Hanson Durham | Writer |
| Cast | Role |
|---|---|
| Edward Earle | |
| Bessie Learn | |
| William West | |
| Charles Brownell |
