|
The Capture of Fort Ticonderoga
(1911) United States of America
B&W : Short film
Directed by Oscar Apfel and J. Searle Dawley
Cast: James Gordon [Ethan Allen], Guy Coombs [Tom Driscoll, a green mountain boy], Rolinda Bainbridge [Betty Hampton, the boy’s sweetheart], Herbert Prior [Captain Delaplane], Robert Brower [a British surgeon]
Thomas A. Edison, Incorporated, production; distributed by The General Film Company, Incorporated. / Released 21 July 1911. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format. / The second film in the “United States History” series.
Drama: Historical.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? The action opens in the humble home of Betty Hampton, whose mother is very ill. Tom Driscoll, a typical “Green Mountain Boy,” to whom Betty is engaged, brings her the coat of his new Continental uniform, to have the buttons changed, when they are interrupted by a hail outside. Hastily hiding the coat, lest it be seen by some enemy of the cause, they are much relieved to find that their caller is none other than Ethan Allen, the leader of the Green Mountain Boys. Allen has just received word of the battles of Concord and Lexington and decides to take steps to aid the revolt against Great Britain on his own responsibility. He imparts to them his plan to capture the British strongholds on Lake Champlain, the first one to be Fort Ticonderoga. He and Tom go to a well-known glen in the woods, having sent Neshobee, an Indian scout, to call in all the leaders for a council. This meeting results in their eagerly following Allen’s lead and they depart to collect their followers. Allen, Tom and Neshobee are on their way to the village when they come across Betty, who is being annoyed by several of the soldiers of the fort. Quickly putting them to rout, they send Neshobee home with Betty and continue their way to the meeting place. Arriving home, Betty finds her mother in a very serious condition. She sends Neshobee for a neighbor, who, upon arriving, says a doctor is needed at once. The only doctor in the neighborhood is at the fort, so Betty goes to him, taking Neshobee as escort. She is ushered into the Commander’s presence while the officers are banqueting and all more or less the worse for liquor. She states her errand, and while the doctor has gone for his kit, they attempt to make her drink the King’s health, which she indignantly refuses to do. Arriving home she finds her mother has passed the crisis safely and at once resolves to tell Allen of the conditions at the fort and urge him to attack at once. Allen upon hearing her news, decides to attack at once without waiting for reinforcements and, gathering his men about him, eighty-three in all, they silently make their way across the lake. Creeping silently up the steep slope to the fort they overpower the sleepy sentinel and enter the fort unmolested. Beating upon Captain De La Place’s door, Allen rouses him out of bed and when the sleepy commander opens the door, he finds himself confronted by Allen, sword in hand, demanding “Surrender, in the name of the Great Jehovah and the Continental Congress!” and his stronghold in possession of the Green Mountain Boys. He surrenders the fort and without firing a shot, the American heroes gain possession of the strongest fortification on Lake Champlain, together with all the stores of munition and cannon, a great number of which were afterward used to drive the British out of Boston. Allen leads Betty out before his men and publicly thanks her for her share of the night’s work which is echoed by cheers from the men, while she blushingly hides her head on Tom’s shoulder.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 20 November 2022.
References: Tarbox-Lost p. 66 : Website-IMDb.
|
