The Juggernaut (1915)

This silent film presents drama to prevent a train from falling from a damaged railroad bridge.

Director:

Ralph Ince (as Ralph W. Ince)

Writers:

Donald I. Buchanan (story), Ralph Ince (story) (as Ralph W. Ince)

Stars:

Anita Stewart, Earle Williams, Julia Swayne Gordon

Cast

Cast overview:
Anita Stewart	...	Viola Hardin / Louise (daughter)
Earle Williams	...	John Ballard
Julia Swayne Gordon	...	Mrs. Ruskin
William R. Dunn	...	Phillip Hardin
Frank Currier	...	James Hardin
Eulalie Jensen	...	Mrs. Ballard
Paul Scardon	...	Alexander Jones
Jack Brawn	...	Harry Reynolds

Storyline

Philip Hardin, a dissipated, good-natured son of a millionaire, and John Ballard, working his way through college, form a friendship. Young Hardin, because of his dissolute habits, gets behind in his studies and Ballard acts as a special tutor. In one of his many lapses from study, Hardin becomes embroiled in a fight which occurs in a gambling den and is rescued by Ballard, who happens to be passing. During the fight Ballard floors one of the gamblers, "Red" Curley, who tried to shoot Hardin. A newspaper report of Curley's death frightens the two students and they agree to keep their part in the fight secret. At the end of their college course, Hardin's father places him in the shops of the X.Y.&V.C.R.R., of which he is vice-president, but his bad habits still cling and he is discharged by the foreman. His father gives him another chance, promising a home and a comfortable allowance if he will marry and settle down, intimating that Viola Ruskin, the daughter of a personal friend, ...

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Plot Keywords:

train | blackmail | melodrama | 

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Taglines:

The Colossus of modern Railroad dramas in five acts. (Print Ad- Binghamton Press, ((Binghamton NY)) 7 September 1915)

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Genres:

Drama

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Did You Know?

Connections

Featured in Hollywood (1980)

User Reviews

Witness a Train Wreck

Subtitled "A Story of Modern Life in Five Thrilling Parts" this was a considered a spectacular production for the time, and Vitagraph released it as "A Blue Ribbon Feature". "The Juggernaut" starred the studio's immensely popular leading players Earle Williams and Anita Stewart. Both were mainstays in the "Top Ten" movie star rankings published by "Motion Picture Magazine" and "Quigley Publications", throughout the 'teens.

"The Juggernaut" synopsis is readily available (but, sometimes inaccurately), and the climactic fifth reel of the film survives in good condition. At the time of this writing, the exciting last reel can be searched, and run easily, online; so, you can see if Williams is able to rescue Stewart. This fifth was the part of the drama worth preserving. Other than the train wreck, it's rather typical; witness how well Stewart dries up for close-ups.

"The Juggernaut" was voted favorite film #12, Williams performance placed #23, and Stewart's lead was #42 in an "all-time" greatest poll tallied by "Motion Picture Magazine" through 1916. In the May 1915 issue, columnist Tarleton Winchester observed, "When the flying express train hurtled thru the air, crashing from the tottering bridge to the lake below, the audience at the Vitagraph Theater trembled with the excitement of the scene."

***** The Juggernaut (3/7/15) Ralph Ince ~ Anita Stewart, Earle Williams, Frank Currier, William R. Dunn

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

None English

Release Date:

19 April 1915 (USA)

Filming Locations:

South River, New Jersey, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Vitagraph Company of America

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min (2012 reconstruction) 62 min (2017 reconstruction)

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1