At Midnight

Release Date:   November 29, 1913
Distributor:   Mutual
Reels:   3
Brand:   Flying A
Genre:   Social Drama
Director:   Lorimer Johnston
Writer(s):   Gordon May,
Confirmed Cast:   Vivian Rich, Harry Von Meter, Louise Lester, Violet Neitz, William Bertram, Jack Richardson,
Story Summary:
Visiting her father's office in company with her mother, Mrs. Marshall, the little girl is permitted to stay while her mother does some shopping. She soon finds her way into the vault, where the many files and other papers gain her attention. When later Mr. Marshall receives an urgent call to attend to some important business, he hurriedly locks the vault, forgetting entirely the child's presence, and rushes away entirely absorbed by his struggle for the almighty dollar. When late in the evening he reaches home, happy and joyful, over the success of a well handled business transaction, he finds his entire household almost distracted over the absence of the child. Like a flash it comes over him that his child must be in the vault and that unless rescued at once she will suffocate if she has not already succumbed. Their auto is put into service and all speed limit laws disregarded, barriers are ruthlessly put aside at a great risk to themselves and any other unsuspecting chauffeur that might pass over the same route. When finally they arrive at the office building they find this in flames and the volume of smoke so dense that it is impossible to enter. Almost bereft of reason they return home, where they find the little one tucked away in her crib by her nurse. How the child was rescued and returned to the home, and what started the fire is given in a vision effect, that lends much interest to the film. - Moving Picture World, Nov 1913
Unique Occurences
Jack Kerrigan is sometimes miscredited with this film but Jack Richardson plays the part.
Additional Info
“The heroine of this exciting little play is not Miss Rich at all but a fascinating baby girl. She saves her father’s office from robbery and just how she happens to be in the safe deposit vaults at midnight, all alone and how the burglars treat her make a thrilling subject for rapid film depiction. Jack Kerrigan (actually Richardson) surprises us by appearing, not in the role of the head burglar, but as Marshall, the head of the firm and the slightly forgetful father of little Rosalie. One understands if one cannot quite forgive his rushing away and leaving his baby daughter a prisoner in the vault considering that he has a big deal on his hands this particular afternoon. And when he gets home, late in the evening, and finds the household in tragic commotion because Rosalie cannot be found, and gets out the automobile and piles everyone into it, and whizzes like mad to the office, only to find the building in flames, we are filled with consternation for his sake, even if he, and no other, is to blame. The suspense is preserved to the last moment. After the Marshalls have given up all hope, returning home heartbroken, they find their child. And, perhaps, Mr. Marshall learns that it is dangerous to become so engrossed in the almighty dollar that a man forgets everything else in life, even his own little girl.” – Reel Life, November, 15th,1915

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