Volume II: Filmography

OUTWITTED

Advertisement for OUTWITTED, released February 16, 1916. (F-970)

February 16, 1916 (Wednesday)

Length: 3 reels

Character: Drama; Than-O-Play

Director: Howard M. Mitchell

Scenario: Lloyd F. Lonergan

Cast: Wayne Arey (contractor's clerk), Hazel Kirk (telephone operator), Morgan Jones (cashier), Justus D. Barnes (contractor), Lady (the Thanhouser collie)

SYNOPSIS, Reel Life, February 12, 1916:

"'Lady,' one of the most thoroughly trained and intelligent canines in the world, appears as one of the chief characters of Outwitted, a stirring three-part drama, screened by the Thanhouser Film Company for release by the Mutual. In Outwitted this extraordinary collie performs some of the most remarkable stunts imaginable. 'Lady' is the only featured canine in motion picture work, and her screen appearances have attracted wide attention. In this stirring drama, however, it remained for 'Lady' to accomplish a number of remarkable stunts, the like of which has never been seen on the stage or on the screen. Outwitted is one of those tensely interesting stories that hold the spectators from the first to last flash on the screen. It has been enacted by a clever company of Thanhouser players, headed by Wayne Arey, and including Hazel Kirk, Morgan Jones, Justus D. Barnes and others.

"The story of Outwitted follows: A young clerk and the pretty girl at the central switchboard loved each other. The young man's immediate superior, the cashier, in secret is a gambler and spendthrift. Seriously involved he determined to raise money. It was one of the young man's duties to take the weekly payroll to a factory. While away, the cashier deftly substituted another satchel for the one containing the money. His crime was unnoticed, except by 'Lady,' who shifted the bags again. The next day, the head of the firm drew a personal check for $20. The cashier 'raised' the amount to $20,000. The cashier had a self-addressed envelope prepared, slipped the large bills inside and mailed them to himself at his home. The cashier declared he had given a $20 check to the clerk. The clerk was placed under arrest. When he went home that evening the cashier took the dog with him. In the letter-box he found the envelope. He hid it behind a picture. The dog, locked in the room near the 'phone, removed the receiver with his teeth. The call was received at the central telephone exchange by the clerk's sweetheart. There was no response to her rings, so she boldly gained admission by a window. The dog led her to the framed picture on the wall, jumped, grabbed the wire and brought it crashing to the floor. In the back of it she found the envelope. The cashier was placed under arrest but managed to extinguish the light and leap out of the window. The dog followed, tracked him to his hiding place in an alley, and led the officers there. Then the cashier was overpowered and led a prisoner to the station, where the young clerk was set free."

REVIEW, The Moving Picture World, February 19, 1916:

"A three-reel production, written by Lloyd Lonergan. The Thanhouser dog, which has appeared so often in pictures, is featured in this. He twice saves his master from disgrace in handling the company's money, and exhibits a well-trained canine intelligence of great appeal. The story is well constructed, of simple elements, and is one that will be enjoyed by old and young."

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