Volume II: Filmography Volume II: Filmography
a.k.a. THE HYPNOTIC POWER OF MR. CHANG
January 11, 1915 (Monday)
Length: 2 reels (Reels 15 and 16)
Scenario: Lloyd F. Lonergan
ADVERTISEMENT, The Moving Picture World, January 9, 1915:
"Another sensational scene will be shown in Episode No. 8 of Zudora. James Cruze will portray three different characters and will later be transformed into the dashing, inspiring hero that made famous The Million Dollar Mystery."
ADVERTISEMENT, Reel Life, January 16, 1915:
"In Episode No. 8 James Cruze is transformed into the dashing and inspiring hero that made him famous in The Million Dollar Mystery. His portrayal of this new character is emotional. It will fascinate audiences just as they were fascinated by The Million Dollar Mystery."
SYNOPSIS, Reel Life, January 2, 1915:
"In this chapter of Zudora, the affairs of that sorely beset heiress take a sudden startling turn. Grown suspicious of her uncle, Hassam Ali, and impatient of the delays that he has thrown in the way of her marriage to John Storm, all of a sudden Zudora determines to cut the Gordian knot by eloping with the man of her choice. Their plans are complete and the girl is in her room waiting for the time when Storm will call for her to take her away from the mysterious guardianship of Hassam Ali, when an event occurs which changes everything.
"Hassam Ali has made the acquaintance of a certain Mr. Chang, a Chinese hypnotist and mystic of unusual powers. Seeing him place a boy in a condition in which the lad is alternately abnormally bright or stupid, at the will of the celestial, Zudora's uncle determines to use him as a tool in putting his niece out of the way and in gaining possession of the fabulously rich Zudora mine. Associated with Chang is Madame Duval, a strikingly handsome woman of shady reputation, and at Hassam Ali's invitation the precious pair come to his house, arriving just at the time when the elopement plans are complete.
"Hassam Ali, and Chang go to a room adjoining Zudora's and there the strange hypnotic power of the latter is exerted. Soon Zudora sinks under it, yielding obedient to the will of the hypnotist, just as Storm arrives at the house in an automobile, ready to speed away with the girl he loves. Storm sees her at the window, where she has agreed to wait for him, but to his consternation she gives him no sign of recognition. Instead, she holds up a Japanese doll, as if in derision. As he waits in puzzled astonishment, Zudora disappears from her place at the window and the next moment Chang comes down the steps with Madame Duval, soon afterward being followed by Hassam Ali and Zudora. Before Storm can interfere the party are whisked away in their automobile.
"Storm follows them and sees them enter a great house, the home of Chang and Madame Duval. Realizing that his fiancée is in serious danger, he goes to seek the aid of the police, while within the house Zudora is being placed in a curiously designed alcove which has a false wall, that can be slid in front of it at will. While she remains there, Hassam Ali dons garments similar to those worn by Chang, disguising himself to resemble the celestial in other respects also. He has just rejoined Chang and Madame Duval, when Storm and a squad of detectives force their way into the house. Chang leaps into the alcove and pulls the lever that closes the wall.
"When the police enter they find only the disguised Hassam Ali and Madame Duval chatting and laughing together. They make a thorough search of the house, but without finding anything suspicious, and are just about to depart, when suddenly a girl's voice rings out, which Storm recognizes as that of his sweetheart. Mystified, but assured now that they have made no mistake, Storm rushes at the disguised Hassam Ali, who calls for assistance.
"In the meantime the real Chang hidden behind the false wall of the alcove, is overpowering Zudora. After a desperate struggle he succeeds in pinioning her arms behind her, but a fresh search of the house discloses nothing to the puzzled detectives and, with Storm, they are compelled to leave without locating Zudora's prison. A hurried consultation between Hassam Ali and Chang, after the departure of Storm and the police leads to a decision to send Zudora away in the custody of Madame Duval. Meanwhile Storm, assured that his sweetheart is somewhere in the house, returns with the detectives, and a hand to hand struggle follows. Zudora, her hands bound behind her, thrusts them under a magnifying glass, which stands on a table in the alcove, and the sun's rays being concentrated upon her bonds soon burn them off. Hearing the struggle in the room outside, she pounds madly upon the wall and Storm, hearing the sounds, with the aid of the detectives batters down the wall and rescues her. Hassam Ali, however, arch criminal of all, escapes leaving Chang and Madame Duval to the tender mercies of the police. As for Storm, he is too well content to have saved Zudora, to give heed to aught else."
REVIEW, The Moving Picture World, January 16, 1915:
"Introducing Mr. Chang, a Chinese hypnotist, with whom Hassam conspires. John and Zudora plan an elopement and Chang is instrumental in frustrating the same. The scenes rather overdue the mystic atmosphere, and the sliding of so many panel doors gives an artificial touch. This is not as strongly developed as some of the opening numbers of the series."
REVIEW, The Moving Picture World, January 16, 1915:
"The eighth and ninth episodes of Zudora, the Thanhouser serial, are notable for the possession of those elements which go to make for a success in this division of moving picture production. The eighth episode is called The Foiled Elopement and shows Zudora attempting to get away from the restraint of her Uncle Hassam Ali, and marry John Storm, her fiancé. Chang, the Americanized Chinaman, employs hypnotism in his efforts to aid the guardian of the heiress of the Zudora mine and in keeping watch on the girl. Madame Duval is also brought in as an assistant.
"As Zudora is under the spell of the hypnotist she does not recognize Storm when he calls for her in his machine. When Zudora is taken to another house by her uncle, Storm follows but is unable to gain admittance. Storm enlists the aid of the police, who break in and precipitate a lively fight. Hassam Ali, in disguise as Chang, escapes. Zudora, bound, frees herself through burning the material about her wrists by a means of the rays of the sun through a magnifying glass. Zudora is rescued, but her elopement is frustrated."
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Copyright © 1995 Q. David Bowers. All Rights Reserved.