Volume II: Filmography

THE OVAL DIAMOND

Scene from Reel Life with Harris Gordon, Barbara Gilroy and Arthur Bauer. (F-990)

February 24, 1916 (Thursday)

Length: 5 reels

Character: Drama; Mutual Masterpicture, DeLuxe Edition No. 72

Director: W. Eugene Moore

Assistant director: Leo Wirth

Stage director: William McNulty

Scenario: From David S. Foster's novel of the same title

Cameraman: Alfred H. Moses, Jr.

Cast: Harris Gordon (Robert Ledyard), Barbara Gilroy (Sylvia Daunt), Arthur Bauer (her uncle, Major Dennison), William Burt, Sully Guard, Violet Hite, W. Ray Johnston, Inda Palmer, Boyd Marshall, Otto Grothe

Locations: Jacksonville, Florida; Atlanta, Georgia

Notes: 1. A review in The Moving Picture World, February 26, 1916, erroneously listed Howard Mitchell as the director of this picture. A note in The New York Dramatic Mirror, March 4, 1916, gave Arthur Mitchell as the director. 2. Perkins' Peace Party was originally scheduled as a Falstaff release for this date, then the release was moved forward to February 17, 1916. 3. A full page advertisement for this film appeared in Reel Life, May 13, 1916, nearly three months after the feature's release date. This was unusual for the time; most full-page advertisements were for current or future releases. 4. Work on this film began during the last week of December 1915. This was the first film to be worked on at Thanhouser's Jacksonville studio. Filming was completed on Wednesday, January 26, 1916. 5. Otto Grothe, who played a part in this film, was a well-known local Jacksonville actor who had worked for several other studios in the city.

BACKGROUND OF THE SCENARIO: The Oval Diamond, a novel, by David Skatts Foster (1852-1920), was published in 1915 as part of a series of books combining mystery with absorbing plot. As the Thanhouser film was produced beginning in late 1915, there must have been some special arrangement between Foster and the Thanhouser studio.

Foster, born in Utica, New York, received his basic education in public schools, later studying in Germany. A quick learner, he eventually became fluent in several languages. He married in 1874. For much of his life he was a coal and iron merchant, but eventually his interest turned to writing, resulting in about a dozen books, including novels, mystery, and some poetry. His last novel was published in 1920.

ARTICLE, The Sunday Times-Union, January 30, 1916:

"WILLIAM McNULTY, THANHOUSER STAGE DIRECTOR, DESIGNS ELABORATE SETTINGS FOR THE OVAL DIAMOND: The interior scenes created for the big coming feature directed by Eugene Moore and photographed by Alfred Moses, The Oval Diamond, are worthy of attention. To the public at large and their criticism everything has been provided for. The scenes depict the interior of one of the most exclusive mansions in Saint Augustine. Special stairways were built of original design, the paperings were from the most exclusive American manufacturer, with the furniture settings of perfect composition. The resources of the most prominent furniture dealers, art connoisseurs, and private collectors were drawn upon. No expense has been spared to obtain the finished result historically, truthfully and accurately. Rare porcelains from China, rich valuable art squares, portieres, with wonderful tapestry, hangings from Europe, combined with the finest man-made-in-America products. Other articles well worthy of mention are a Spanish casque reported to have been worn by Ponce de Leon, armor from Barcelona, Algiers, and Morocco; teakwood carvings and art objects from the Orient; a wonderful marble mantel and onyx mantel set from the Doges' Palace in Venice, dating back to the Italian Renaissance. Beautiful works of art, paintings, lamps, bronzes, marble, and copper treasures gathered together in one big setting. Old furniture and warming pans that date back to the first old world settler, who located it in St. Augustine.

"Mr. McNulty has studied the requirement of the progressive film manufacturer and the wants of the public. He realizes that every picture has its educational value, whether for the prospective builder or the plain 'movie fan' and the proper staging places the audience at one in the atmosphere of the play.... Mr. McNulty has built up a compact and most efficient force in his department. Charles Owens, head scenic artist, ably assisted by Billie Kraus, both former Kalemites. He considers Mr. Owens the most talented man in the business. His work is well known from the old Kalem settings. Harry Hembrow, property man, a former Kalemite, who by close association and friendship among the businessmen secures any props required. A.B. Flower, inside property man, experienced not only on foreign settings, but the most approved American settings, was formerly with B. Altman, of New York, was associate designer of the St. Regis Hotel furnishings. C.R. Meikle, the head electrician, was formerly of the Kalem Company and understands every end of the electrical work. William Alexander, formerly head carpenter with the New York Hippodrome and many of Belasco's famous stagings, is lending valuable assistance. With these forces at his command, Mr. McNulty is in a position to create some of the biggest stagings possible to produce on the screen. Mr. Grimmer, the local manager, is to be congratulated on having secured Mr. McNulty and his co-workers in the Thanhouser technical department."

SYNOPSIS, Reel Life, February 12, 1916:

"There is bound to be excitement when a young man, single-handed, beats off a dozen men who follow the trail of the oval diamond and wins it at last, by a clever ruse, for the girl to whom it rightfully belongs, all because he loves the girl. There is bound to be beautiful photography and excellent reproduction when a picture bears the mark of the Thanhouser studios upon it. The acting is always sure to be above reproach when Harris Gordon, Barbara Gilroy and Arthur Bauer are in the cast. And so, since the forthcoming five-reel Thanhouser Mutual Masterpicture, DeLuxe Edition, The Oval Diamond, contains all of the above mentioned qualities and assets, the public may look for an unusual detective photodrama in this offering from New Rochelle.

"The story is centered about an oval diamond, a priceless gem, found by a South African miner on his claim. His possession of it had aroused the envy of his stepbrother, Major Dennison, his former partner, and the latter's son, Arthur Dennison and of four miners who owned adjacent claims. To escape their plotting to gain possession of the stone, the owner and his daughter, Sylvia, left for America. Shortly after their arrival in the United States, however, Major Dennison and his son had effected an automobile accident with the taxicab in which Mr. Daunt and his daughter were riding, had killed his stepbrother, and had escaped with the diamond. Later, on her search for the gem, Sylvia had gone to her uncle's house, where she had been imprisoned and restrained from going beyond the high walls which enclosed the place. All this had happened before the beginning of the play. Things of importance for Sylvia do not begin to happen until the entrance of one Robert Ledyard, impressionable youth, over the garden wall. On a trip south, Robert discovers that there is something mysterious and unfathomable about the house next to the one in which his uncle, whom he is visiting, lives. To further his suspicions, he discovers a very hampered and unhappy looking girl in the enclosed yard. Feeling certain that she is in trouble, he throws a note to her in which he offers his services, and asks her to nod her head if he can be of assistance. Hardly waiting for a reply, he follows his note over the garden wall, and learns the story of her distress.

"Complications follow with the return of Major Dennison and his son and, later, the four miners who had come to America determined to possess the diamond. He finds the diamond a thousand times and loses it again. It travels through hundreds of hands, during the brief 5,000 feet of its existence, but in the end, it comes back to stay in the hands which own it. Sylvia marries Robert. They start north on their wedding trip. In his pocket the young bridegroom carries a small package which he carefully guards, feeling nervously, now and again, to see that he has not lost it. Following them is a mysterious character who watches and shakes his head shrewdly as he sees the evident feeling of insecurity which possesses Robert. As the young man and his bride sit on the rear platform of the train, the stranger appears before them, removes his mustache, and demands, at the point of the pistol, that Robert hand over the small package in his pocket. It is Colby, one of the miners. Knowing that resistance is futile, the young man hands over his guarded package, and the thief drops from the speeding train. After he has gone, the young husband laughs, and pulls from an inside pocket the real diamond. The one he had given to Colby was paste. There is enough of the thrilling melodrama in his daredevil escapes to hold the most blasé audience enthralled from start to finish.

"Barbara Gilroy, the Thanhouser favorite, has established a large following for her excellent work in comedy. She has been with the Falstaff players for some time, and her versatility and ability has been proven a thousand times in the different roles which she has been cast. No money has been spared on settings for this photoplay. Luxury and poverty are pictured with lavish accurateness. No courtyard, such as was needed for the opening scenes, could be found in the vicinity of New Rochelle so the entire company was exported to Atlanta, Georgia."

REVIEW, The Morning Telegraph, February 13, 1916:

"That portion of the public which demands swift action for its motion picture entertainment will be pleased with The Oval Diamond. Either the prolonged chase after the papers, some elusive person or something very valuable, embracing one thrill after another in quick succession, always meets with success with some types of audiences. The Oval Diamond will satisfy those who are fond of films that embody this form of presentation. In this picture it is a priceless diamond that is responsible for the 5,000 feet of chase. It passes into all kinds of hands, countless of them, the real owners have it in their possession numbers of times, only to lose it again immediately, but not without some incident that will thrill the spectator. The gem leads a hard life. For this type of story the direction of this film is very adequate. Of course, it is expected that there would be inconsistencies galore. From the time Robert Ledyard throws the note out of the window to the charming young lady in distress in the next garden the long arm of coincidence plays an important part. But who is there that minds that in pictures which principally comprise the adventures of scores of people and a valuable diamond? With the scenario of The Oval Diamond in hand the director cannot be blamed for inserting things that do not generally happen in real life, as hectic as it sometimes is. It is the only way to straighten out the complications that arise from having troops of people militantly after the stone. However, the scenes follow one another in such a manner that the interest is sustained and that one wonders what will happen to the diamond next.

"The climax of the story is not anything that is startling new, but it always pleases the spectator. When the rightful owner finally obtains possession of the trophy of the chase and the hero and heroine (unless one calls the diamond the hero) are happily married and are on a train bound for some place or other, a masked marvel in a pair of 'prop' whiskers holds them up on the observation platform of the car and demands the stone again, at the point of a revolver. The young man takes it out of his pocket and smilingly hands it to the bandit, who was one of the miners that was present when it was originally picked out of the ground and has been one of the most ardent chasers of it ever since. As he drops off the train, when it is passing out of the yard, the young man takes the real gem out of another pocket. He had given the robber a paste imitation. The three principals play their parts very well, and they go through their rather adventurous incidents with a vim and dash that is suitable. In the role of Robert Ledyard, Harris Gordon is good, as is the playing of Sylvia Daunt by Barbara Gilroy. Arthur Bauer is the uncle."

REVIEW, The Moving Picture World, February 26, 1916:

"A Thanhouser production in five parts, that is well worthwhile. The story is constructed in an ingenious manner, and we are constantly being treated to little surprises as it's developed. The oval diamond is in the possession of the uncle and cousin of an orphan girl who is kept isolated by them. Next door by chance comes a young man to visit his uncle. The young man and the girl succeed eventually in gaining possession of the diamond, after a series of thrilling adventures. Director Mitchell has done a good piece of work with Barbara Gilroy and Harris Gordon in the leading roles."

REVIEW, The New York Dramatic Mirror, March 4, 1916:

"Seldom have we seen a better developed or more unique detective drama, and it is a shame that a more powerful basis for the plot was not used. The stolen diamond is used so often that it lacks novelty and it is only by the unusual and technical development of the plot that this picture is made so effective. It is by its very originality that it gains and holds our interest, but the crime is not vital enough in itself. The dramatic developments and the ramifications of the plot are among the best that we have seen. Although the story is practically impossible in itself, nevertheless it is intensive and highly entertaining.

"A miner in South Africa finds a gem and to escape the jealous plottings of his stepbrother and fellow-comrades, he and his daughter come to America. Soon after their arrival, the father is killed in an automobile accident which was planned by his stepbrother. In search of the diamond, Sylvia goes to her uncle's home and is made captive, being restrained from going over the high walls. One day Robert Ledyard, looking over the wall, sees the distressed maiden and offers his assistance. He learns what the trouble is. The miners return to America and a fight is started to gain possession of the diamond. The diamond is lost and found many times, and passes through many hands, but in the end it comes back to the rightful owner. Sylvia marries Robert. On their wedding trip, Robert is held up and is forced to give the duplicate diamond, but the real one is safe in his inside pocket.

"A splendid but small cast was used and it is in this picture that Barbara Gilroy makes her debut as a star. She has the personality and ability that make big reputations and her appearance on the screen is most pleasing. Harris Gordon's interpretation of the role of the hero, is good at all times, and Arthur Bauer as the master crook is quite effective. Throughout the settings are excellent and are especially adapted to their purposes. The accident scene in which the automobile and cab collide could be shortened, since it is this scene that creates an atmosphere of artificiality, and this collision is one of the vital points in the development of the plot. Otherwise it has been handled in quite a realistic manner and the direction is good. The photography is somewhat better than the average. - S."

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