The Torrent (1915)
John Simpson, a well-to-do lumberman is constructing a large dam, situated in a canyon above a valley which is thickly populated with settlers. Simpson has in charge of his construction work a foreman named Hardy who urges Simpson to secure the services of an expert engineer. Acting on Hardy's advice the engineer is engaged. When he arrives on the scene and proves to be Carl Lindsay, the nephew of a very dear friend of Simpson's, he is doubly welcome. When Hardy meets Lindsay he recognizes in him the son of a lumberman for whom he used to work, who thrashed and discharged him for whipping a small boy. Ill feeling is rekindled on being introduced to Carl and he determines to avenge the wrong done him and endeavors to ruin Carl. His opportunity for this revenge arrives when he learns that Marie, Simpson's daughter, and Lindsay are growing to admire each other. Later, when Simpson is called away to Chicago, leaving Lindsay in complete charge. Hardy determines to act. Marie has promised Lindsay that she will marry him when the dam is finished. Hardy, learning this, determines that the dam shall be built with a weak mixture of concrete and lays his plans accordingly. Being in charge of the construction work and the hiring of the men. he employs three ex-foremen who will do his bidding, and while Lindsay is exercising all his energy to erect the dam in a satisfactory manner and each day growing more deeply in love with Marie, Hardy is working hard with his associates to see that the dam is built in such a way that it will not stand the pressure of water they anticipate turning into it. When the great dam is completed, Lindsay looks on his work with pride, little dreaming that at the same time at another part of the dam, Hardy is looking with great satisfaction at the water which is beginning to seep through the poorly constructed wall of concrete. A few hours later, Lindsay meets Marie. He tells her of the completed dam and reminds her of her promise. In her confusion, she calls to her dog who has run to the wall of the dam and is drinking the treacherous water seeping through. Lindsay's attention is attracted to the dog and he makes the discovery that the wall is crumbling. He orders Marie to get the men from the mill and tries to prop up the crumbling concrete. Marie gets the men, among whom is Hardy and his associates in crime, and they all rush to the wall in an apparent effort to stop up the weakened places, but the wall gives way carrying Lindsay, Hardy and the others in its wake. Marie succeeds in rescuing Lindsay from the wreckage, but Hardy and the others are carried off in the onrush. Lindsay and Marie secure horses and ride madly to the village in the valley below the dam, where they arrive in time to warn the settlers, who climb to higher ground and look back on their homes being carried off in the mad rush of the deluge. Marie and Lindsay ride on with the maelstrom and see Hardy and the other men clinging to wreckage in a struggle to save themselves. Hardy loses his grip and is about to succumb, when Lindsay makes a mad dash into the raging torrent and succeeds in rescuing his enemy. In the meantime Simpson has returned from his business trip to learn of the great disaster. Lindsay and Marie bring Hardy to her father's home, where Simpson begins to reprimand Lindsay for constructing such a dam, when Hardy, realizing that Lindsay saved his life, exonerates Lindsay by telling Simpson that he alone was responsible and why he purposely ordered a weak mixture of concrete in an effort to avenge on Lindsay a great wrong Lindsay's father had once done to him. Simpson forgives Lindsay, who looks to Marie for a fulfillment of her promise.
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Domestic
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Worldwide
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GenresDrama
Short
IMDbPro
See more details at IMDbPro
| Filmmakers | Role |
|---|---|
| Henry MacRae | Director |
| Henry MacRae | Writer |
| Carl Laemmle | Producer |
| Cast | Role |
|---|---|
| Marie Walcamp | |
| Wellington A. Playter | |
| Rex De Rosselli | |
| Sherman Bainbridge |
