The Unwelcome Throne (1913)
Kathlyn Hare, daughter of Col. Hare, a collector of wild animals, is modeling a pet leopard in her alfresco studio, when her younger sister, Winnie, comes in with a collie dog, which excites the leopard into such ferocity that the sister has to seek safety in a cage. The leopard is quieted by Kathlyn and her father, and Winnie is released. The father then tells his daughters how he captured the leopard, and in a dissolve we see him arriving in the nick of time to save the King Allaha, a mythical principality in India, whose councilors had deserted him, from destruction by the infuriated beast. For his act of bravery the king gives the colonel a decoration, which he proudly displays to the girls. Six months later, just before the colonel starts for Allaha, he gives Kathlyn a large packet, upon which is written, "To be opened by my daughter, Kathlyn, at midnight, December 31st." Some time afterward, as Kathlyn is showing the mysterious packet to her sister, a noise, coming from the outside, attracts their attention, and Kathlyn drops the packet as she and her sister run outside. During their absence, a Hindu, who has been lurking outside, watching the girls, steals inside, abstracts the colonel's message from the packet, but does not touch the sealed enclosure, writes a note of his own, carefully seals the envelope and vanishes. As the old padre is ringing the church bells at midnight, on December 31, Kathlyn and her sister open the packet and find what they suppose to be the note from their father, which tells them that if he has not returned before the New Year, he is held captive by the people of Allaha, and the only way he could be saved would be by getting possession of the sealed envelope herewith. Being a woman of quick action, she takes the only way out of town that night, which is by means of a fast freight. Climbing into the caboose, she perceives one of her father's lions, boxed for shipment. The animal escapes from the cage and in the mix-up the cover of the tool chest is accidentally opened, uncovering the Hindu (he is unknown to Kathlyn), who had forged the note found in the packet. He pays his fare and is accepted as a passenger. She gets to the steamer in time and in due course arrives in India, where she goes to her father's palace by way of an elephant's back. She has no sooner reached his residence when the Hindu, who has been secretly following, comes to her and tells her that her father is dead, when in reality he is held a prisoner by the people of Allaha. Kathlyn falls into a faint, and when she regains consciousness she is told by Umballah, the Hindu, that inasmuch as the king is dead, she must become queen. In proof of his words, he opens the packet, shows her the contents of same (translating a language she cannot read), shows her the note of her father which emphatically states to destroy the sealed packet, conferring the hereditary right to him and his successors to the throne of Allaha. A lone, defenseless woman in a strange laud, she is more alarmed than ever, as she realizes that she is thoroughly in the power of fanatical people, and has already done exactly what her father commanded her not to do. She is informed that she must take possession of the throne at once, and protesting, she is dragged to the palace, placed upon the throne and held as captive against the day of the coronation. Amid great pomp, she is unwillingly crowned by the high priest. The Council then lead Umballah forward and the populace is informed that he is chosen as the husband of the queen.
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GenresAdventure
Short
IMDbPro
See more details at IMDbPro
| Filmmakers | Role |
|---|---|
| Francis J. Grandon | Director |
| Cast | Role |
|---|---|
| Kathlyn Williams | |
| Charles Clary | |
| Lafe McKee | |
| Effie Sackville |
