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A Rascal of Wolfish Ways
Also known as A Polished Villain in the USA : {A Rascal’s Foolish Way}
(1915) United States of America
B&W : Two reels
Directed by [?] Dell Henderson and/or Mack Sennett?
Cast: Mae Busch [Mae, the million dollar heiress], Charles Arling [Arling, the master crook], Fritz Schade [Fritz, Mae’s fiancé], Frank Hayes [Mae’s father], Joe Bordeaux [a henchman], William Hauber [a henchman], Al St. John [a henchman]
The Keystone Film Company production; distributed by Mutual Film Corporation. / Produced by Mack Sennett. / Released 9 August 1915. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format. / Working title: Railroad Escape. [?] Completed or shipped? on 2 July 1915. The film was reedited and rereleased in the USA as A Polished Villain by W.H. Productions Company in 1918.
Comedy.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? Arling, master crook, reads an announcement of a reception given by Mae, rich merchant’s daughter, and resolves that he and his gang will get her jewels which she is to wear. At the reception, Mae receives attentions from her lover, Fritz, but falls in love with Arling. Arling and his gang spirit Fritz away and send Mae to rescue him. Mae, coming to his assistance, is met by Fritz with a gun in his hand demanding her jewels, a thing which he is forced to do by the gang hidden in bushes. Mae delivers the jewels and returns to the house to give warning, while Arling orders the gang to take Fritz to their underground den. Mae’s father, in going to the police station, is thrown into a cave of the gang. The father, who suspected Fritz of being the thief, is now convinced, but Fritz explains matters. The father escapes and returns to the house with the police. As they arrive, Arling escapes, followed by the father and police and later by Mae. Arriving at the cave, Arling informs the gang to climb the ladder into the now deserted police station. The pursuers enter the cave and a spring door locks on them whereupon the gang in the police station proceed to flood the cave. Mae, arriving, enters the cave and sees the water coming through cracks in the door. She is frantically hammering at the door when it breaks from the water pressure, and the police and her father are washed down a long tunnel while Mae is left helpless. Arling and his gang are meanwhile initiating Fritz into their secrets. Fritz refuses to join them and they decide to tie him to the rails, while Arling will get a locomotive and by means of a rocket will give warning when to start. Mae, making her way out of the tunnel, meets Arling, who explains their intentions towards her lover. She pleads vainly, then rushes to her father and the police for aid. The gang have taken the police auto on their trip to tie Fritz and as Mae dashes to the station for help, the rocket is seen in the sky. Mae enters a racing car and starts for her lover, while her father and the police follow in an aeroplane. As the locomotive is about to cut Fritz to bits, a drawbridge is raised by Mae and the locomotive with Arling in it dashes off the end of the bridge into the water. Fritz is released while the girl who saved his life offers him her hand.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Keywords: Railroads: Railroad tracks - Transportation: Trains: Train tracks
Listing updated: 11 August 2023.
References: Lahue-Kops pp. 58g, 154; Lahue-Mack p. 300 : Website-IMDb.
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