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Heard Over the Phone
(1908) United States of America
B&W : Split-reel / 575 feet
Directed by [?] Edwin S. Porter?
Cast: (unknown)
Edison Manufacturing Company production; distributed by Edison Manufacturing Company. / Cinematography by Edwin S. Porter. / © 4 September 1908 by Edison Manufacturing Company [H115350, H115351, H115352, H115353]. Released 2 September 1908; in a split-reel with A Comedy in Black and White (1908). / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Comedy.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? A Cloudless Sky: Mother and little daughter gathering flowers. Mother fondly watches from the Porch. A happy family group, amid beautiful home surroundings. Making an Enemy: Father visits the stable, finds favorite horse lame. Blames hostler. Hot words, blows follow. Hostler summarily discharged. Swears vengeance. The “Snake in the Grass:” Father about to depart for business. Wife and child wave “adieu.” Hostler watches from under cover, wife and child at his mercy, determines to steal child. Hostler Acts: Father gone, “coast clear.” Hostler reconnoiters. In an ugly mood, climbs porch. Before the Storm: Mother and child in sitting room; mother reading to child, has presentiment of danger, hears footsteps, rushes to ’phone. At Husband’s Office: Husband called up, is startled, thinks wife unduly alarmed. tries to allay her fears, advises calmness. A Terrible Ordeal: Sudden interruption (wife drops receiver). A masked face at the window. Husband hears crash of broken glass, the hostler’s entrance. Wife’s scream. The attack. Child’s pleadings. As in a Vision: Husband brought to pitch of madness. in dreadful agony, powerless to move, hears every word, witnesses as in a vision every scene enacted. Mother Love: Husband hears wife’s frantic appeals for mercy. His child’s prayers. The curses and denunciations of the enraged hostler. Suspense: Silence. Hear child’s cry as hostler secures her. The mother going to the rescue. The desperate struggle. The mother’s cry as she regains her child. Frenzy of enraged and baffled demon. A pistol shot. The mother’s dying words as she crawls to the ’phone. The child’s heartrending sobs. Then silence.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 15 April 2024.
References: Montgomery-Comedy p. ? : Website-AFI; Website-IMDb.
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