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The Danger Signal (1915 film)
1915 silent film by Walter Ewin From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Danger Signal, Canavan, the Man Who Had His Way or Caravan is a lost[1] 1915 American silent drama film directed by Walter Edwin and produced by George Kleine.[2] It is based on the story by Rupert Hughes, which was originally published in the Saturday Evening Post.[3][4]
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Plot
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According to a film magazine,[5] "Danny Canavan, a blacksmith's son, possessing great strength, is a cringing, wavering, abject coward, scorned by all, particularly his father. Danny's wife does not neglect any opportunity to browbeat and scold him, neither do the helpers in his father's shop miss a chance to kick and beat him. President Cadbury, of an insurance company, is one day riding with his fiancee in a carriage that knocks down and severely injures Canavan. He is carried home and put to bed where he remains for many weeks, unable to escape even for a moment the gibes and taunts of his sharp-tongued wife, who, when he recovers, goes to the ward boss and obtains, through him a position as laborer for Canavan. Here, scorned by fellow workingmen, and nagged by a pitiless foreman, he spends a most unhappy time.
One day he is called upon to warn vehicular traffic and pedestrians not to approach too near an excavation where dynamite is to he exploded. He is given a red flag to wave, and that marks the turning point in his life. He is astounded when everybody obeys his command, hacked by the red flag. A great awakening fills his soul, and he feels the tingle of real manhood in his blood. The red flag, the danger signal, has wrought this marvelous change. Within an hour he asserts his independence to his father and his wife, and whips an employee of his father's.
At a ward caucus later, he wins the favor of a political boss by whipping a dozen political mar plots, and Is then taken into the boss' office. He quickly becomes a power in politics through the force of his dominant character, and is later made chief of a powerful political party organization. He now has social ambitions and when he has an indictment against Cadbury quashed, he demands as his price that Cadbury and his wife sponsor his social aspirations, which they do, with the result that he is soon dominant in that sphere. Canavan takes a party to England, buys an entrant in the English Derby and wins that classic of the turf. His personality is simply overpowering, and none can successfully oppose him. Cadbury is killed while the party is in England and Canavan, who had become a widower, crowns his triumphal march by marrying Mrs. Cadbury. The latter quickly discovers Canavan to be without manners or polish, and she tells him of the embarrassment this causes her. Then comes the climax in which Canavan rises to the occasion, and again has his way."
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Cast
- Arthur Hoops as Danny Canavan / Dennis Canavan
- Ruby Hoffman as Beatrice Newnes
- John Davidson as Rodman Cadbury
- Frank Belcher as Boss Havens
- Tom Walsh as Roscoe Newnes
- Billy Sherwood as Henry Cadbury
- Della Connor as Amy Carroll
- Florence Coventry as Mrs. Canavan
Reception
Motion Picture News reviewer William Ressman Andrews gave the The Danger Signal a glowing review, saying "There was nothing superfluous in the production" and that "nothing could have been left out without sacrificing some vital part of the story."[6]
Moving Picture World reviewer W. Stephen Bush gave the film a positive review, stating that the beginning and ending of the film were strongest, but "a little cutting will improve the film."[7]
Variety's review was also positive, calling it a "rattling good feature from every angle." The reviewer praised the scenes of a polo match and a horse race, which were clips of a real polo match and the English Derby.[8]
Preservation
With no holdings located in archives, The Danger Signal is considered a lost film.[1]
References
External links
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