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1915Thanhouser CompanyOne reelDrama

Shep the Sentinel

Also released as The Doctor’s Sentinel

No copy you can watch online. No print is known to survive. What follows is what does: the release, the cast, the story, and what the trade press said at the time.

The story

“When May receives a letter from another girl telling her that Jack, her lover, is untrue, she dismisses him. Shep, Jack’s beautiful collie, however, is suspicious of Jim Hallet, who, some way, he feels is responsible for his master’s unhappiness. He trails Jim and steals another letter, written by Nell Borden, Jim’s accomplice, which betrays the plot. This Shep brings to Jack, who is then able to convince May that trickery and Jim’s jealousy are behind their estrangement. Meanwhile, Jim has schemed to enter May’s house by night and commit a robbery, putting the suspicion upon Jack. But Shep, whom Jack has given to May, hears the thief. The noise of their struggle wakes May, who summons Jack and the police. Jim is arrested, and May has all the evidence she can desire of her lover’s faithfulness.”

Summary from Reel Life · 26 December 1914

What the papers said

2 reviews · 1 article

“Renee Farrington, Nolan Gane, and Shep himself are the central figures in this acceptable offering, which, of course, stars Shep. The story is somewhat shaky in spots, but the remarkable feats performed by Shep, the beautiful Thanhouser collie, save the day. The picture contains some very effective scenes.”

The Moving Picture World · 16 January 1915

“There is just enough story in this picture to furnish ‘Shep,’ Thanhouser’s intelligent collie, with a part that reveals his attainments. A misunderstanding between sweethearts assumes serious proportions, and then ‘Shep’ concludes that by stealing certain notes and carrying them to those for whom they are not intended, he can straighten matters out. Incidents are nicely contrived to make good use of an exceptionally well-trained dog. Reenie Farrington and Nolan Gane are severely taxed in the parts of the sweethearts.”

The New York Dramatic Mirror · 6 January 1915

Article

3 October 1914The New Rochelle Pioneer1 min

“Jack Harvey with The Doctor’s Sentinel, a Kellette drama, started work Thursday with Nolan Gane and Reenie Farrington in the leads, and Morgan Jones as the gentleman heavy with Claire Kroell as the female light heavy. Of course, the story is built around Mr. Harvey’s wonderful dog ‘Shep.’ At the studio it is said that ‘Shep’ will be directing photoplays within a month—he’s so intelligent.”

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Cast and crew

Director
Jack Harvey
Cast
Claire Kroell
Nolan Gane as Jack, her lover
Irene Farrington as May
Shep as as himself, the Thanhouser Collie
Writer
John William Kellette

Every name opens that person's page, with each film they appear in and which of them you can watch.

Watch instead

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A frame from The Center of the Web26:38
1914 · Same leadThe Center of the Web
A frame from A Dog’s Love11:12
1914 · Same castA Dog’s Love
A frame from Shep’s Race with Death12:15
1914 · Same castShep’s Race with Death

More about this film

From Volume II: Filmography of Q. David Bowers’ Thanhouser Films: An Encyclopedia and History, reproduced with permission and unchanged. Read the history of 1915 →

Cite as: Bowers, Q. David. Thanhouser Films: An Encyclopedia and History, “Shep the Sentinel”. thanhouser.org/films/shep-the-sentinel/

Where a print is held

Held by
No print known