Volume II: Filmography

IN TIME OF PERIL

William Russell and Marie Eline in a dramatic trestle scene from IN TIME OF PERIL. Courtesy Robert S. Birchard (R-9)

November 15, 1912 (Friday)

Length: 1 reel

Character: Drama

Cast: William Russell (the young farmer), Marie Eline (the little brother)

Location: Some scenes were filmed at an actual railroad wreck at Westport, Connecticut.

Note: The Thanhouser studio received word by telephone that a train had been wrecked at Westport, Connecticut, and a film crew was dispatched immediately and a scenario was hastily devised.

ARTICLE, Star Eagle (Newark, New Jersey), November 14, 1917. Excerpt from an interview with Marie Eline:

"'When I was working with Walter [sic; William was intended] Russell we had a scene where I had to cling to him while he hung by his arms from a railroad trestle. We didn't charter trains for the scenes in those days. We just took a chance on a flyer. Russell kind of lost his nerve and also his grip as the train passed over the bridge. The director shouted in his ear and he tightened up or I wouldn't be here talking to you today.'"

SYNOPSIS, The Moving Picture World, November 2, 1912:

"The railroad foreman had a young daughter, and one of their neighbors, a young farmer, fell in love with her. She accepted his attentions, and the course of love seemed smooth until a young civil engineer arrived from the city to take charge of the section of the work in which the girl's father was employed. The engineer was a handsome chap, and he took a fancy to the country girl. She was flattered by his suit, and was gradually weaned away from her country sweetheart. The girl had a little brother. With him she went one day to where the railroaders were at work and was shyly happy when the engineer proposed that they take a walk so that he could point out what was being accomplished. The boy accompanied them, but soon strolled away, and wandered out on the high trestle which spanned the valley. His departure was unnoticed, and he had nearly reached the middle of the structure before he noticed that a train was rapidly approaching. In an effort to escape he stumbled and fell, and was unable to get out of the way of the engine. The girl saw her brother's terror, and tried to go to his assistance, but was held back by the cowardly engineer, who told her the train was so near that it meant certain death to venture upon the trestle.

"In the meantime the young farmer was driving along the road on his way home and was just about to pass under the trestle when he heard the cries from above and realized the child's peril. He climbed up one of the poles of the structure, reaching the top of the trestle when the train was only a few feet away. He seized the helpless boy with one arm, grasped one of the ties with the other, and hung in space while the train crashed along above them. Later when the boy was returned to his sister the engineer attempted to explain, but the girl drove away with her country sweetheart."

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