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Shadows of the Past
(1914) United States of America
B&W : (length unknown)
Directed by Ralph Ince
Cast: E.K. Lincoln [Hadden], Anita Stewart [Antoinette], Harry T. Morey [Brandon], Rose Tapley [Mrs. Brandon], L. Rogers Lytton [Mark Stetson], Julia Swayne Gordon [Helene], Mildred Harris
The Vitagraph Company of America production; distributed by The General Film Company, Incorporated. / Scenario by Marguerite Bertsch, from a screen story by Marguerite Bertsch. Cinematography by William S. Adams and William T. Stuart. Film editors, George Randolph Chester and Lillian Christy Chester. / Released 15 June 1914. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? Mark Stetson, a scheming politician, entangles the Brandons, husband and wife, and their friend, Antoinette, in his smuggling schemes and engineers their arrest, to protect himself. The picture opens with the liberation from prison, of the trio and their determination to lead a respectable life. Stetson, who has kept track of the three, knowing of their release, visits them in their home and insinuates that he still has them in his power. Fearful that his influence might again drag them from the straight path, they flee the city. Five years later, Brandon, by perseverance and industry, has achieved a position of trust in an insurance company, and Antoinette, a situation as secretary to Haddon, the popular candidate for Governor, who has fallen in love with her and presses her to marry him. Antoinette promises to become his wife, but not until after the election. Stetson, a supposed friend of Haddon, visits the lawyer’s office, sees Antoinette and follows her home. He discovers she is living with the Brandon’s and determines to use them in his scheme of selling Haddon to the opposition candidate. Brandon resents the politician’s advances of friendship, but is compelled to accede to his wishes, though not until after a desperate struggle in which the wily schemer obtains the upper hand. During the nomination dinner the Brandons are to induce Haddon to visit a famous café, by telling him he will find Antionette and Stetson there together, cause a disturbance, creates scandal and endanger the candidate’s chances for election. In the meantime, Stetson makes love to Antionette in sight of Haddon, She resents his attentions, but because of his knowledge of her past is compelled to accept them. He proposes she help him in just one more innocent little scheme and then he will go out of her life forever. Still fearful of him, she consents and they leave together. Stetson takes her to his apartments. Antionette becomes suspicious when she finds the doors locked and demands to know what he intends doing. He tells her he is going to break Haddon. Thinking Antionette is safe in his power, Stetson ’phones Brandon to go ahead. She gets an inkling of what Stetson intends doing and by a clever ruse escapes, and, by taxi, makes all speed to reach the café and Haddon in time to prevent the fulfillment of the plot. Stetson and his female accomplice follow in another machine. Antoinette’s taxi dashes across a railroad track just in time to escape an oncoming train. Stetson, trying to follow, smashes into the engine and the occupants of the auto are hurled to their death. Antoinette reaches the café before the Brandons have had time to carry out the politician’s orders and they, surmising something has gone wrong, decide to make the best of the situation. Haddon purchases a newspaper extra giving details of the accident. Antoinette, no longer fearing her nemesis, tells Haddon of her past, and, he forgiving, all ends happily.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 26 March 2025.
References: Pohle-Holmes p. ? : Website-IMDb.
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