Volume II: Filmography

A NIGHT CLERK'S NIGHTMARE

Advertisement from The Moving Picture World, June 9, 1912.(F-460)

June 14, 1912 (Friday)

Length: 1 reel (645 feet this section) (split with Why Tom Signed the Pledge at the end)

Character: Comedy

Cast: William Russell (the night clerk)

Locations: New Rochelle and Niagara Falls

ADVERTISEMENT, The Moving Picture World, June 8, 1912:

"The first picture on this comedy split-reel has some fine trick effects. The wind-up one, of the rival walking calmly through the rapids, is a real 'scream.' The closing subject, Why Tom Signed the Pledge, will corner whatever laughs remain in the house."

ARTICLE, The Moving Picture News, June 1, 1912:

"TRICK FILM BY THANHOUSER. A hotel clerk's love for a girl gives the Thanhouser producers opportunity for creation of some fine trick film. It is called The Night Clerk's Nightmare. The nightmare is caused by the love aforesaid - the clerk is so jealous that he dreams a rival tries to steal the girl's heart. There is a great comedy 'assassination' scene in which the night clerk finds the rival dining with the girl and takes his life. After his life has been taken the rival arises from his deathbed - in this case the dining room table - removes all traces of the deadly deed, lights a cigarette and puffs his way back into the girl's affections. Again the night clerk pursues him. Rival jumps plump out of a window - night clerk follows - neither hurt! It is a film of miracles, which end only when the clerk casts the rival into the rapids - when the rival lights another cigarette and saunters blithely through the seething waters. The release day is Friday, June 14."

SYNOPSIS, The Moving Picture World, June 8, 1912:

"He was the night clerk in a country hotel, and his one dream was of the time when he could wed the head waitress (she was also the only one), and they would own a little hotel of their very own. Under these circumstances the clerk was indignant when a drummer [traveling salesman], one of the guests, had paid marked attention to the girl. She was flattered by the compliments of this man of the world, and temporarily forgot all about the poor clerk, who, like a certain patent medicine, 'works while others sleep.' The drummer, having the evening to spare, decides to go to the Opera House, and being a social creature, asks the waitress to accompany him. She gladly accepted the invitation, and they strolled out toward the theatre, leaving the clerk to his tasks, which were few, and his thoughts of vengeance, which were many. Night clerks in country hotels usually receive small pay, partially because they generally sleep while on duty. This particular clerk was a faithful follower of the precepts of his order, and despite his sorrowful thoughts, he dropped off to sleep before the stove.

"In his dreams he followed the couple to the 'Opery House,' just as a terrible fire broke out. The drummer was a coward, would have left the girl to perish, had it not been for the brave clerk, who did a heroic bit of rescue work. The girl was led off in safety, and the drummer perished in the flames, BUT - When the clerk had taken the girl back to the hotel, the dainty drummer trailed along, as spic and span as ever, and firmly led his partner away again. The night clerk's nightmare led him into astonishing adventures, and he disposed of his rival in many novel ways, once by throwing him into the Whirlpool Rapids at Niagara Falls, a stream which no swimmer can navigate. Still, nothing phased the drummer, he was a persistent chap, in the dream. The poor night clerk tossed and snorted and gurgled. Finally, as the police arrested him for a series of crimes, he woke up. The girl and the drummer returned from the theatre, the drummer paid his bill, took his grips and departed to catch a midnight train, and the girl went up to her room, first stopping to blow a kiss to her fellow employee and admirer. Then the clerk realized that he had all been a dream, and the drummer was really a fine chap, did not love the girl, but simply was killing time between trains. He also realized that the girl loved him, and he was happy, but his terrible experience spoiled his sleep for the rest of the time that he was on duty, which showed that his experiences made a profound impression on him."

REVIEW, The Morning Telegraph, June 16, 1912: This review is reprinted in the narrative section of the present work.

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