A Thief in the Night (1915)
Caesar Lebrun, a celebrated lawyer, brings his brother Louis, a famous surgeon, home to spend the night. They alight from a taxi at midnight and enter Caesar's home. Beside the library table, they find Klyda, the wife of Caesar, reading. Her right hand holds an open book, which, singularly enough, is held upside down, and her breathing, Caesar silently observes, is not regular. Caesar explains that Louis is to perform an important operation next morning, and he suggests that Klyda show Louis to his room. Immediately they leave, Caesar's movements become quick and decisive. He takes a pistol from the table drawer, levels it at the closet door and says sternly, "Come out." From the cupboard steps a man, pale and calm, clad in evening clothes. Caesar exults over the capture of the stranger and tricks him into admitting that he gained access to the house through an area-way. Caesar's intention is to turn the fellow over to the police, since he has the stranger's admission to rob. Then Klyda enters. Caesar notes her ghastly face, the face of guilt. Caesar adds to the torture of Klyda and the stranger by revealing the signs by which he knew of the stranger's presence, the odor of cigarette smoke, the book held upside down. Klyda implores him not to call the police, to spare the stranger for her sake. At this point Caesar plays his trump card. He outlines his plan to have his brother, the surgeon, immediately operate upon the stranger, and relieve the pressure on his brain which makes him a criminal. Caesar forces him back into the closet, then leaves to summon Louis. Klyda makes her voice heard through the closet door and reproaches herself for allowing the stranger to accompany her home from the opera, and repeats over and over again the words she uttered when he tried to induce her to elope, words of loathing. Caesar and Louis enter, the closet door is unlocked and the stranger brought forth. Caesar lays his pistol on the table. Darting forward, the stranger snatches it and points it at the brothers. Caesar explains that he overheard the conversation between Klyda and the stranger from behind the portieres and is convinced of his wife's purity. Caesar demands the revolver. The stranger makes a menacing gesture and threatens to shoot. Caesar, with a laugh of relief, declares it is not loaded. "That's right, drop it," Caesar says. "Good night."
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Domestic
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International
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Worldwide
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GenresDrama
Short
IMDbPro
See more details at IMDbPro
| Filmmakers | Role |
|---|---|
| Siegmund Lubin | Producer |
| Cast | Role |
|---|---|
| Herbert Fortier | |
| William H. Turner | |
| Ormi Hawley | |
| Earl Metcalfe |
