''The Dormant Power'' is a 1917 American silent

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...

, directed by

Travers Vale Travers Edmund Vale, born Solomon Flohm, was an English-born silent film film director, director. Raised primarily in Victoria (state), Victoria, Australia, he worked as a photographer, playwright and theatre manager there and in New Zealand pri ...

and starring

Ethel Clayton Ethel Clayton (November 8, 1882 – June 6, 1966) was an American actress of the silent film era. Early years Born in Champaign, Illinois, Clayton attended St. Elizabeth's school in Chicago. Career Clayton debuted on stage as a professional a ...

Montagu Love Montagu Love (15 March 1877 – 17 May 1943) was an English screen, stage and vaudeville actor. Early years Born in Portsmouth, Hampshire, Love was the son of Harry Love and Fanny Louisa Love, née Poad; his father was listed as accountant ...

and

Muriel Ostriche Muriel Ostriche (born Muriel Henrietta Oestrich, May 24, 1896 – May 3, 1989) was an American silent film actress. Following tryouts with the Biograph and Pathe studios, Ostriche signed with Eclair for $5 per day. After a year and a hal ...

Plot

Christine Brent, seeks refuge with her father in a western village because of an unjust law. Maurice Maxwell, a wealthy ammunition manufacturer, comes to the village and becomes infatuated with Christine, wanting to take her east. Carl Randolph, drifts into the town saloon during a fourth of July celebration, and he shoots a Mexican man who disrespects an American flag. He flees and confesses to Catherine that he is a failure, and she gives him money to start his life anew. After escaping, Randolph becomes a powerful attorney who is offered a position as General Counsel for the Maxwell Ammunition Company. He calls at Maxwell's house one night for business and sees Christine, who has become Maxwell's wife since Randolph fled, and has regretted her choice ever since. The inventor, Brinkerhoff, delivers plans to Maxwell of a valuable invention. Maxwell is caught trying to plagiarize the documents and kills Brinkerhoff in the struggle, and tosses his body out of the window into the river. Brinkerhoff's wife turns to Randolph for assistance. He sends her undercover as a maid in Maxwell's home, where she finds evidence of Brinkerhoff's murder. Mrs. Brinkerhoff, Maxwell's confession, shoots her husband's killer. At trial, the jury deliver a verdict of not guilty, and Christine and Randolph are happily reunited.

Cast

as Christine Brent * Joseph Herbert as James Brent *

Edward Langford Edward Langford was an actor in American films and theater productions. He was paired in films with Alice Brady. In the 1910s, Langford acted with a company headed by Eleanor Gordon. Filmography *''The Leopardess'' (1923) *'' The Crimson Cross' ...

as Carl Randolph *

as Maurice Maxwell *

as Metta * George Morgan as Brinkerhoff

Reception

Motography ''Motography'' was an American film journal that was first published in 1909 and ran until mid-1918. The magazine was published in 1909 and was originally named ''The Nickelodeon'',"Motography." The Bioscope. 9 Feb. 2009. Web. 4 Nov. 2015 http: ...

reviewer Helen Rockwell's review was positive, praising the story for being "handled with such finesse and care." Additional praise was given to Max Schneider's photography of the interiors, which were described as "showing all the gorgeous splendor of a wealthy eastern home."

Photoplay ''Photoplay'' was one of the first American film fan magazines, its title another word for screenplay. It was founded in Chicago in 1911. Under early editors Julian Johnson and James R. Quirk, in style and reach it became a pacesetter for fan m ...

's short review was mostly negative, describing of the production "World has a wardrobe full of nice picture garments, but it insists upon draping them over the veriest old skeletons of past and gone melodramas that one can imagine."

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

's review was mostly positive, finding the story unoriginal but capably handled by the director and cast. The reviewer described the cinematography as "well selected" and Ethel Clayton and Montagu Love's acting as standing "head and shoulders above the rest." Wid's Films gave the film a negative review, calling the film's story "old stuff" and the photography "hazy." The only praise was saved for the acting of Ethel Clayton and Montagu Love, as the rest of the cast "failed to impress." The reviewer concluded their review by telling theater owners "I certainly would not book this if there was any chance of getting away from it."

Preservation

A complete print of ''The Dormant Power'' is held by the

EYE Filmmuseum Eye Filmmuseum is a film archive, museum, and cinema in Amsterdam that preserves and presents both Dutch and foreign films screened in the Netherlands. Location and history Eye Filmmuseum is located in the Overhoeks neighborhood of Amsterdam in ...

References

Bibliography

* Langman, Larry. ''American Film Cycles: The Silent Era''. Greenwood Publishing, 1998.

External links

* 1917 films 1917 drama films 1910s English-language films American silent feature films Silent American drama films Films directed by Travers Vale American black-and-white films World Film Company films Films shot in Fort Lee, New Jersey 1910s American films English-language drama films {{1910s-drama-film-stub