The Invisible Government (1913)
The scene opens in the Croesus Club. John Drexel is discovered reading a paper, which intimates the existence of "The Invisible Government" and its pernicious activities, and stamps his foot hard, declaring, "It must he discovered and suppressed." He immediately consults with the great detective, John Street. The next scene goes to Pendelton's headquarters, Pendelton being the unscrupulous political "boss." and they are about to levy "the usual defense fund." Another scene flashes and shows Pendelton sending out his henchman to kill the "corruption inquiry bill" that dies abornin', mysteriously. This merely tempers the mettle of "The Man in the Street" to meet and overcome the unseen adversaries of law and order of the essential principles upon which the Republic is based, in the rule for and by the people. Percy Pendelton is a visitor in good standing at the Drexel mansion and is impulsively urging the romantic niece, Margaret, of that wealthy house to marry him. In order to make this more alluring, he urges a "secret marriage." nominating the time for the next day at noon. The Pendelton house is next to the Drexel residence, and these two factors of romance and mystery go back and forth through a scuttle in the roof. News of the elopement having come to Drexel, he makes a new clause in his will, giving his niece $100,000 providing she does not marry Percy Pendelton. She overhears this and confesses her intention, when Street intervenes, observing there is a hidden motive in the marriage that they must investigate. At his suggestion, she shows the Pendeltons the will, pretending that she has stolen it. Pendelton declares that they must have the $100,000 anyway and plans that they will get the daughter into their house and secrete her for ransom. This Margaret at first refuses to do, and then pretends to fall in with the plot, on the advice of Street, who wishes to catch Pendleton with "the goods on him." Margaret takes Mary by way of the connected roofs and she is locked in the secret room. Pendelton then scribbles on the deuce of hearts to Drexel: "If you want your daughter call off detective and bring $100,000. We'll do the rest." She takes this card to her uncle. The first reel ends as Mary is observed eating a dainty luncheon, a prisoner in the Pendelton home. Acting under Street's advice. Drexel has gone to the bank, drawn out $100,000 in cash, and that evening Margaret leads the creatures of Pendelton into the Drexel home by way of the roof, and Pendelton gives each member of this "cabinet" a certain amount of marked money. They all go back and Drexel follows them. Pendelton thereupon defies him, and tells him that his niece is one of them. At this point the police appear, summoned by a pre-arranged signal, and Pendelton and his son dart into a secret room, the door of which is concealed by hanging rugs. In fact, the walls of the room are completely covered by rugs. They then slide down a pole to the basement. The son goes first and a boat falls on him, pinning him to the floor. Anxious as the father is to get away, he lingers, trying to aid his beloved son, who suffers agony from a broken leg. In the interim, Margaret has discovered the sunken handle that opens the secret door, and they all rush into the room. They find a second secret door behind the rugs and Street plunges through into the shaft, followed by Margaret and the officers. Pendelton surrenders himself and gives op the money. The final scene shows Street comfortably environed at the Croesus Club, reviewing the scenes that, through a series of dissolving views, show the downfall of "The Invisible Government."
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GenresDrama
Short
IMDbPro
See more details at IMDbPro
| Filmmakers | Role |
|---|---|
| Oscar Eagle | Director |
| Gilson Willets | Writer |
| William Nicholas Selig | Producer |
| Cast | Role |
|---|---|
| Thomas Carrigan | |
| Frank Weed | |
| Jack Nelson | |
| Palmer Bowman |
