Dublin Dan (1912)
The play opens with the escape of John Forsythe from prison, where he has been sentenced to a term of ten years for counterfeiting. He is seen running through the woods in striped clothing until he emerges on an open road. He there holds up a passing chauffeur and secures a linen coat and cap. These cover the stripes to the knees, and he blacks the remainder from the mud of a swamp until those who sit in front can't tell the difference. In this guise he makes his devious way to the house of his brother Robert, a highly respectable member of good society, who has just been made guardian of person and property for a young lady he has never seen, charming Rosalie Clarke, just fresh from boarding school. John enters the house of Robert and demands protection. Robert offers a small sum of money and tells him to get out. John tears up the money and insists upon a larger amount. The good brother goes to another room, while the wicked one responds to a new criminal impulse. He shoots through the door and kills the man who sought to befriend him. He swaps clothes with the dead man, makes up to resemble him, and rings for the police; the latter is an act of insane cunning. Meanwhile, Dublin Dan hears of the escape of a convict he was instrumental in sending to jail for a long term. He goes to the country home of Robert Forsythe and watches at the railroad station. Who should come down by the next train but charming Rosalie. In gathering together her effects she drops the card of Robert Forsythe, and it falls into the hands of the detective. He promptly makes her acquaintance and assists her to find what is to be her future home. His pleasing appearance and manners, he is a winner, inspire confidence, and Rosalie consents. Thus it happens that they arrive simultaneously and opportunely just as the police John has summoned come on the scene. John claims that he is Robert and asserts that he shot a burglar whom he caught in the act of breaking into his house with the intent of committing a felony. This part of, the plot is replete with dramatic possibilities. Detective and criminal both fall in love with Rosalie, and it is man to man from this moment through exciting situations to the end. Dublin Dan's suspicions are excited by some trivial clue he finds, and he manages to examine this silent testimony while the others are variously engaged. He also objects John to sharp scrutiny when the latter receiver Rosalie. The criminal betrays that he did not know she was coming, and the fact that he has not had time to adjust himself to his new environment is shown in his conduct. Forsythe is savage and brutal, or merely sensuous and lazy as the mood strikes him, but in all cases an instinctive malefactor. Forsythe naturally gravitates to his old haunt, a den of counterfeiters, and there renews relations with confederates who have been operating in a small way. Their laboratory is shown behind a long screen, and John takes up his former occupation with the fanatical enthusiasm of an artist. It is revealed that the adventuress, Jumo, is still infatuated with him, though she has ostensibly given her affections into the keeping of his pal, Bill Steele. Mag Steele is an old hag whose services are those of guard over the safety of the retreat. Forsythe has the temerity to take these people to the house of his slain brother and there make merry to the discomfiture of innocent Rosalie. Rosalie escapes and goes to faithful Dan for advice and help. Dan places her with his mother. Dan goes to the Forsythe house in disguise and informs the merry party he meets there that his motor car is stalled not far away from lack of gasoline. Forsythe offers to send a servant for a new supply. Dan extends a hundred dollar bill, the smallest he has with him, in payment, but this does not attract suspicion. Forsythe takes it and gives counterfeit money in exchange. He is certainly suffering from induration of the occipital. The detective detects, but no matter, just wait. He must locate the den. Forsythe locates him and attempts to abduct Rosalie. She barely escapes the first time by the timely intervention of Dublin Dan in the disguise of a cabman. The second attempt is more successful, and Rosalie is carried away to the den. She is there incarcerated in a prison cell; the den is almost as well equipped as a motion picture studio, to languish while Forsythe resumes his nefarious work in the hidden laboratory. Now comes a closing in of all the elements. Juno is so cruelly jealous that she releases Rosalie from the cell after the others have retired for the night and proceeds to torture her, at least she makes ready, when Rosalie's screams bring the others and the former status is restored. Dublin Dan is not idle. He chances upon Matt, the thug of the counterfeiting gang, in a nearby tavern. In preparation for this encounter the detective has brought along a makeup bag which contains among other wonderful things a live carrier pigeon. Matt the thug has become interested in a drunken sailor who rashly flashes a roll. Dublin Dan interferes and conducts the drunken sailor to a bed-chamber. There the detective has an inspiration. He disguises himself as the drunken sailor, secretes the carrier pigeon in his bosom and contrives to encounter Matt the thug near the counterfeiter's den. Matt takes the drunken sailor into the den to rob him. Dublin Dan not only sees imprisoned Rosalie looking out from behind the prison bars, but is given a full view of the secret laboratory. Feigning sleep while the others play cards, he manages to write a note and attach it to the carrier pigeon's legs. As he sends the dove up the chimney, Matt the thug turns suddenly to help himself to whiskey and catches Dublin Dan in the act. The entire gang assaults the detective in a terrific struggle, with a result that he is overpowered, bound and thrown into a dungeon through a trap door. Is he done for? Ask of the white rats that crawl over his prostrate body and gnaw the ropes that bind him. Dublin Dan rises and rids himself of his bonds. He creeps up an iron ladder, opens the trap and seizes a brace of pistols. Now he has the whole gang at bay. After effecting Rosalie's release, he marches the counterfeiters, one by one, into the prison cell and there he holds them until the police arrive. Best of all, he is so cool about it. When the officers come on the scene he is calmly smoking a cigar.
All Releases
Domestic
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International
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Worldwide
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| Filmmakers | Role |
|---|---|
| Edward Warren | Director |
| Herbert Blaché | Director |
| Alice Guy | Producer |
| Cast | Role |
|---|---|
| Barney Gilmore | |
| Darwin Karr | |
| John Roberts | |
| James Sterling |
