The Scarlet Car (1917)

After discovering that Cyrus Peabody, the president of the bank, and his son Ernest have embezzled 35,000 dollars, their cashier, Paul Revere Forbes, threatens to expose them. In a rage, ... See full summary »

Director:

Joseph De Grasse

Writers:

Richard Harding Davis (novel), William Parker

Stars:

Franklyn Farnum, Edith Johnson, Lon Chaney

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Franklyn Farnum	...	Billy Winthrop
Edith Johnson	...	Beatrice Forbes
Lon Chaney	...	Paul Revere Forbes
Sam De Grasse	...	Ernest Peabody
Al W. Filson	...	Samuel Winthrop
Howard Crampton	...	Cyrus Peabody
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
William Lloyd	...	Jim Pettit

Storyline

After discovering that Cyrus Peabody, the president of the bank, and his son Ernest have embezzled 35,000 dollars, their cashier, Paul Revere Forbes, threatens to expose them. In a rage, the two men strike him on the head and, persuaded that the busybody is dead, ask their broker to dump the body off in a deserted place. But the broker has an accident ans is killed in the crash. The cashier, who was actually still alive, comes to and, while suffering a loss of memory, wanders off. Still believing their employee dead, the two Peabodys accuse their cashier of having stolen the money. But Beatrice Forbes, Paul Revere's daughter and her boyfriend, idle-turned-responsible Billy Winthrop, are on the alert.

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Plot Keywords:

based on novel | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 December 1917 (USA)

Also Known As:

La voiture rouge

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Film Manufacturing Company

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Original literary source: "The Scarlet Car", novel by Richard Harding Davis, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York City, 1907, Illustrations by Frederic Dor Steele, 166 p.

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Connections

Remade as The Scarlet Car (1923)

User Reviews

Early Chaney Makeup Role

A decent speeded of a sloppy story. Lon Chaney gives a performance of an ancestor of Paul Revere and his old man makeup is not as convincing. The aged beard &* whiskers gives hint at the character Jan in the lost film "Tower of Lies"(1925). Franklyn Farnum(no relation to William or Dustin) is the star of this Universal movie. The picture moves so fast you may have to watch more than once to follow the denouement. Edith Johnson is the leading actress here playing Chaney's daughter. The film also boasts a zippity car chase that verges on Sennett knockabout. The picture is directed by Joseph DeGrasse. His brother Sam Degrasse, one of silent films slickest villains, is a handsome costar. This film, which is based on a story by Richard Harding Davis, was lost for decades until a copy was located in the 1990s.