Volume II: Filmography

THE DEAD LINE

British release title: WHEN WE ARE MARRIED

(Princess)

October 30, 1914 (Friday)

Length: 1 reel (1,012 feet)

Character: Comedy

Director: Arthur Ellery

Scenario: John William Kellette

Cast: Boyd Marshall (Jack), Mayre Hall (Polly), Joseph Phillips (Polly's father), John Reinhard (Lieut. Hamamelis), J.S. Murray (policeman), Gordon Hollingshead (policeman), Bruce Weyman (policeman), John Lehnberg

Location: Tuckahoe, New York, and Old Eastchester Road

Notes: 1. This film was advertised as "a clever comedy wherein two lovers profit by the Mexican situation," the "Mexican situation" being the war in Mexico, which was being covered by Mutual and other film companies. 2. The title appeared as "Dead Line" in most articles, but in some it was give as one word: "Deadline." 3. Initial publicity gave a British release date of March 1, 1915, but this was subsequently changed to March 4, 1915. In the synopsis printed in the British trade journal, The Cinema, all mention of Mexico was deleted.

ARTICLE, The New Rochelle Pioneer, October 10, 1914:

"Arthur Ellery, director of Princess Films, a Thanhouser product, was busy all this week producing The Deadline, one of the funniest film comedies of the year. Boyd Marshall, Mayre Hall, John Reinhard, James S. Murray, Bruce Weyman, and Joseph Phillips played the leads, and the Old Eastchester Road and Tuckahoe were the stage grounds. Every conceivable sort of uniform was worn by the 'soldiers,' and the 'cops' were a riot. In the next to last scene Mr. Reinhard drove a big bay horse, spotted up with white watercolor, through the door of a cafe in Tuckahoe, followed by his 'vast' army. Hundreds of autoists touring the county stopped to watch the action. It was a Kellette script."

ARTICLE, The New Rochelle Pioneer, October 31, 1914:

"James S. Murray, who was injured in The Deadline, is rapidly recovering from a strained shoulder. Jim had to take a five-foot drop onto Gordon Hollingshead's back, but 'Nance' didn't have his back there when James made the flop."

SYNOPSIS, Reel Life, October 24, 1914:

"Jack wished to marry Polly, but when he asked her father for her hand, he was landed out in the street. Viewing the home militia at drill gives Jack an idea. When they stack guns to go and have a drink, the desperate lover takes them and plants them along the roadside, loaded with blanks. Then he ties strings to the triggers so that when they are pulled a broadside will be fired. After the first volley the news is given out that the Mexicans have captured the town. The militia, finding their guns have been confiscated, call on the police department for assistance, and under cover of the excitement, Jack and Polly elope. After the ceremony, Jack sends a messenger to declare a truce. But Polly's father already has discovered the ruse, when the army of defense tries to drown out the ambushed army of invasion. His son-in-law's cleverness, however, appeals to the obdurate old gentleman, and the elopers are forgiven."

REVIEW, The Bioscope, February 4, 1915:

"A somewhat ungainly comic absurdity. The humour is rather ponderous, and the film is a little too long. Otherwise it is fairly amusing."

SYNOPSIS of When We Are Married (British release title), The Cinema, February 11, 1915:

"This picture is a good comedy. The young man is forcibly ejected from his girl's home by her angry father. The town is about to be invaded, rumour has it, by an enemy, so the valiant home guard, assisted by the police and fire brigade, turn out to repel the invaders. The young man and the girl see in the occasion an opportunity for distracting the attention of the parent, and to play a practical joke on the home guard, with the result that the defenders do much damage amongst themselves without even catching sight of the enemy. In the meantime, the young couple get married, and there is quite a consternation amongst the forces when they discover they have been hoaxed. Everything is amicably settled in the end, however."

REVIEW, The Moving Picture World, November 14, 1914:

"A burlesque comedy number. A company of soldiers, the police force, and fire department all appear to suppress the invaders, which turns out to be a joke played by the two lovers. They fire a volley of guns over the stone wall. This makes a comedy of average interest."

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