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The Curse of the Desert
(1915) United States of America
B&W : Two reels
Directed by Francis Ford
Cast: Francis Ford [Jim], Grace Cunard [Nan Lawrence, the colonel’s daughter], Harry Schumm [Nan Sahib], F.J. Denecke (Ervin Denecke) [Tom], William Quinn (William J. Quinn) [Colonel Lawrence], Harry Mann [Patsy], Happy Roselli (Rex de Roselli) [the native spy]
The Universal Film Manufacturing Company, Incorporated, production; distributed by The Universal Film Manufacturing Company, Incorporated [Universal-101 Bison]. / Scenario by Grace Cunard. / Released 27 February 1915. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? The Colonel and the men at the English barracks receive news of the uprising in Lucknow, and immediately set out in force to aid their unfortunate comrades. Nan, the Colonel’s daughter, is left behind with her mother. A native spy in the garrison of the English leaves for Lucknow to inform Nana, the native leader, of the sending of reinforcements to the English. He arrives at Nan's palace, delivers his message and Nana plans to outwit the oncoming English by sending a number of his Sepoys to attack the defenseless barracks. The barracks are attacked; the Colonel’s wife is killed and his daughter, Nan, taken prisoner by Nana. He makes her a captive in his palace. The Colonel learns of the massacre and returns to the barracks with his men to find his wife and his daughter missing. He immediately plans to revenge himself on Nana, but he receives a message from the native chieftain informing him that if the English try to attack him he would kill the girl. Back at the barracks Tom and Jim, two patriotic young fellows, inform the captain that they will leave immediately for Nana’s palace in Lucknow and will rescue Nan. The Colonel endeavors to dissuade them, but they are only the more determined to accomplish their object. They tell the captain to have his men ready and when he sees a light upon the castle dome to charge in full force. They then leave. Stealthily approaching one of the small gates of the castle, they overpower the two guards on duty and enter. They secure some native clothes as disguises and proceed to the palace. Again they overpower the guards of one of the small entrances and make their way into the interior of the palace. Nana is about to overpower the defenseless Nan, when the boys entering the apartment attack Nana and the guard who is on duty and overpower the two by their superior strength. They barricade the door against the natives who are rushing to the assistance of their leader. Having dispatched the two natives and hiding Nana’s clothes and admitting the infuriated natives, one of the young men impersonates Nana and directs them toward the gates of the city, where he claims the English have escaped. The natives rush out and the two boys go up to the dome of the castle and make a signal fire. The English under the command of the Colonel hastily attack. A cannon is mounted on the roof of the castle and, aiming at the principal gate, the boys set it off and demolish the portal, thus giving the English troops entry into the city. The natives are finally subdued and happy reunion follows between father and daughter.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 5 April 2020.
References: ClasIm-224 p. 43 : Website-IMDb.
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