Volume II: Filmography

Episode 9 .

THE MILLION DOLLAR MYSTERY

THE LEAP FROM AN OCEAN LINER

Florence LaBadie in a still from "The Leap from an Ocean Liner," Episode 9 in THE MILLION DOLLAR MYSTERY. Courtesy of Donald Collins (X-330)

a.k.a. THE LEAP IN THE DARK

August 17, 1914 (Monday)

Length: 2 reels (reels 17 and 18)

ARTICLE, The Moving Picture World, July 25, 1914:

"Florence LaBadie...has added a new deed of daring to her already long list. Miss LaBadie leaped into the water last week from the deck of the George Washington, as that big ship steamed past Sandy Hook. Passengers on the deck of the liner were appraised of the girl's intention, and cheers followed her as she threw herself into the waters below.

"A camera on a tugboat caught Miss LaBadie's leap and her struggles in the water. Strong swimmer as the young woman is, the waves caused by the movement of the big liner tossed her about. Director Howell Hansel, megaphone in hand, stood on the tugboat shouting encouragement to Miss LaBadie. Towering above her the great hulk seemed to spell destruction to anyone caught within its suction. Miss LaBadie responded to the instructions of Director Hansel and plowed through the waves until the ship had left her far astern, giving full play to the camera. Then a rope was thrown to the actress and she was pulled aboard the tug."

SYNOPSIS, Reel Life, August 15, 1914:

"With Norton discredited and unable to see Florence after the cleverly staged scene in the Countess Olga's home, the conspirators find that the chief obstacle in the way of a successful consummation of their schemes has been removed. Only Jones, the aged butler, stands between them and the capture of the girl, whom they believe possesses the secret of the missing million. In the Hargreave mansion she is safe, thanks to the many precautions which have been taken to render it a veritable citadel, but out of it she is certain to be in constant danger.

"Acting now under the direction of the Countess Olga, whose sharp feminine wit evolved the plan which had eliminated Norton - temporarily at least - from their reckoning, with the co-operation of Braine, the conspirators weave a cunning web about their victim. An official document, committing Florence to an insane asylum, is forged by one of the gang. Armed with this, it is planned to seize Florence at the first favorable opportunity.

"Day after day the conspirators keep a close watch upon her movements, but no favorable opportunity offers, until a day that Florence decides to go shopping. Once away from the house with no protector but her companion, Susan Farlow, they feel that success will at last be theirs. After visiting several of the Fifth Avenue stores, Florence and her friend dismiss their automobile in front of a florist's in the upper thirties, telling the chauffeur to pick them up later after luncheon. The conspirators, who have been trailing them all the morning in a taxi, see that their chance has come at last and do not hesitate to grasp it. At the very door of the shop Braine and the other conspirators seize Florence and drag her into their waiting vehicle. The forged commitment papers are flashed on a policeman, who wants to know what the scuffle is all about, a hurried explanation is made, and Florence, fighting desperately to free herself in the taxi, is carried off, before Miss Farlow, who has entered the florist's shop ahead of her, realizes what has happened.

"When the car reaches their headquarters, the conspirators, after a hurried consultation, decide that it will be too dangerous to keep Florence in America. Passages are arranged for on the steamship 'George Washington,' sailing the same day, and Florence, closely guarded, is taken on board. The false commitment papers again prove useful to the plotters and, despite her pleadings, the girl is made a prisoner in her cabin with a coarse female as her guard and attendant. Once out of New York harbor Florence is allowed more freedom, although constantly under the espionage of her keeper. Hearing the captain say that on the following night the ship will be off the Newfoundland Banks, she forms a desperate resolve. It is nearly midnight, when Florence, making certain from the woman's heavy breathing that her keeper is sleeping soundly, noiselessly glides out of her cabin. An instant she pauses at the ship's rail, gathering herself together for the supreme effort. Then, as the vessel plunges forward on the swell of a wave, she hurls herself over the side.

"Numbed by the first shock of contact with the chilling water, Florence mechanically keeps herself afloat, watching with dull eyes the great ship disappear into the darkness. Suddenly the realization of her terrible situation comes over, and with a cry that is lost in the surge of the rolling waters, she strikes out convulsively in its wake. Her frantic efforts soon exhaust her, her brain whirls, a drowsiness that is sweeter than sleep creeps over her and then - nothingness.

"How long afterward it is that a sharp-eyed lookout on a homeward bound fishing schooner glimpses her drifting form in the darkness, rescuing her from a watery death in the nick of time, no one will ever know. Least of all does Florence. Her memory is gone and with it even her powers of speech. Even among the kind women at the fishing village where they take her, she fails to find her tongue. Only the roar of the sea seems to attract, while it terrifies her. Meanwhile Norton and Jones, distracted, have all but given up hope of finding a trace of the missing girl, when they read in the papers the wireless reports of a mysterious disappearance at sea. It may be a clue, but if a clue, whither does it lead? And despair seizes them."

SYNOPSIS, Herald No. 9 (a four-page publicity sheet issued in connection with the serial), circa August 1914:

"Having succeeded in making Florence believe that her lover, Jim Norton, is false, the conspirators strive again, desperately, to get Florence into their game. They secure a certificate, signed under threat of death, by two leading physicians to the effect that Florence is insane. Armed with this it is a simple matter to abduct her and to carry her aboard an outgoing ocean liner.

"Florence, of course, is frantic, but again she displays that splendid fearlessness which is so characteristic of her. She is a splendid swimmer, so when the pressure which the conspirators bring to bear on her becomes too intolerable, without a moment's hesitation she leaps through a porthole, expecting to be drowned, of course, but with a faint half hope that by some miracle she may be rescued. And the miracle occurs. She is picked up by a little fishing schooner, unconscious. The kindly, rough men care for her until they get ashore, and then the captain takes her to his home to be nursed tenderly by his wife. And slowly Florence fights her way back to health - but her mind is a blank!"

REVIEW, The Moving Picture World, August 22, 1914: This review is reprinted in the narrative section of the present work.

# # #