The Master Mystery (1919)

Justice Department agent Quentin Locke must investigate a powerful cartel protected by a robot (here referred to as "The Automaton") and using a gas weapon "The Madagascar Madness".

Directors:

Harry Grossman, Burton L. King

Writers:

Charles Logue, Arthur B. Reeve

Stars:

Harry Houdini, Marguerite Marsh, Ruth Stonehouse

Cast

Cast overview:
Harry Houdini	...	Quentin Locke (as Houdini)
Marguerite Marsh	...	Eva Brent
Ruth Stonehouse	...	Zita Dane
Edna Britton	...	De Luxe Dora
William Pike	...	Paul Balcom
Charles Graham	...	Herbert Balcom
Floyd Buckley	...	Q the Automaton
Jack Burns	...	Peter Brent

Storyline

Justice Department agent Quentin Locke must investigate a powerful cartel protected by a robot (here referred to as "The Automaton") and using a gas weapon "The Madagascar Madness".

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Plot Keywords:

robot | serial | independent film

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Genres:

Mystery

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 March 1919 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Houdini Serial

Company Credits

Production Co:

Rolfe Photoplays

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

A novelization of the serial was written by John W. Grey and then-popular mystery writer Arthur B. Reeve, who also co-wrote the script. Published in 1919, it contained many stills from the film.

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Goofs

During the fight on the staircase at the end of chapter one, a large vase can be seen both in long shots and close-ups, sitting on the banister. Then, as the fight continues, the vase disappears in close ups, but remains in long shots.

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Connections

Edited into Days of Thrills and Laughter (1961)

User Reviews

Not much story, but a priceless curio

It's been around a century since Houdini's superstardom, and the fact that EVERYONE still knows his name is nothing short of phenomenal, especially when you consider how much of his legacy is word-of-mouth ONLY. Therefore, Kino Video's restoration of this 15-chapter serial (along with four other features and performance footage on this FABULOUS 3-disc set) is of ENORMOUS importance. Too bad the serial is more than a little bit tedious, and even with a few chapters gone forever due to nitrate rot (Kino's done their level best to compensate with some summarizing title cards), the four remaining hours are a challenge to endure. BUT...nearly EVERY surviving chapter cliffhangs with Harry bound and/or dangled in some heinous manner, and each ensuing chapter opens with a no-camera-tricks escape, and that's why any further complaints about this title become meaningless. And that robot...the 'trivia' on this page states that it may be the first in the annals of cinema, but BOY OH BOY is it goofy! But I do believe that with the re-emergence of this title and its companions, the Houdini legacy is guaranteed PERMANENCE.