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Svetlana Velmar-Janković
| The Master Mystery | |
|---|---|
 Episode eight poster | |
| Directed by | Harry Grossman Burton L. King |
| Screenplay by | Arthur B. Reeve Charles Logue |
| Produced by | B. A. Rolfe |
| Starring | Harry Houdini Marguerite Marsh Ruth Stonehouse Edna Britton William Pike Charles Graham |
| Music by | Michael Mortilla |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Octagon Films |
Release date |
|
| Country | United States |
| Language | Silent (English intertitles) |
The Master Mystery is a 1918 American mystery silent serial film told in 15 installments. The film was directed by Harry Grossman and Burton L. King and written by Arthur B. Reeve and Charles Logue. The film stars Harry Houdini, Marguerite Marsh, Ruth Stonehouse, Edna Britton, William Pike, and Charles Graham. Episode 1 was released on November 18, 1918, by Octagon Films.[1][2] It is one of the first films to feature a powered exoskeleton.
Plot
Justice Department agent Quentin Locke is investigating a powerful cartel that is protected by The Automaton, a robot. However, it uses a gas weapon known as The Madagascan Madness.
Cast
- Harry Houdini as Quentin Locke
- Marguerite Marsh as Eva Brent
- Ruth Stonehouse as Zita Dane
- Edna Britton as De Luxe Dora
- William Pike as Paul Balcom
- Charles Graham as Herbert Balcom
- Floyd Buckley as Q the Automaton
- Jack Burns as Peter Brent
Episodes
- Living Death
- The Iron Terror
- The Water Peril
- The Test
- The Chemist’s Shop
- The Mad Genius
- Barbed Wire
- The Challenge
- The Madagascan Madness
- The Binding Ring
- The Net
- The Death Noose
- The Flash of Death
- The Tangled Web
- Bound at Last; or, Unmasking of the Automaton
Production and Reception
In October 1919, Houdini sued the Octagon Film Corporation, Grossman, and Rolfe for a share of the film's profits.[3] In 1922, Houdini was awarded $32,795.18.[4]
References
- ^ Hans J. Wollstein (2016). "The-Master-Mystery - Trailer - Cast - Showtimes - NYTimes.com". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved January 24, 2015.
- ^ "Silent Era : Home Video : The Master Mystery (1918-1919) Review". silentera.com. Retrieved January 24, 2015.
- ^ "Houdini Sues for $40,000". New York Evening World. October 9, 1919. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
- ^ "Houdini Wins Verdict Against Filmmakers". Washington Times. May 16, 1922. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
External links
- The Master Mystery at IMDb
The Master Mystery public domain audiobook at LibriVox