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The Doorway of Destruction
(1915) United States of America
B&W : Two reels
Directed by Francis Ford
Cast: Francis Ford [Colonel Patrick Feeney], [?] Minna Cunard or Mina Cunard? [Cecille McLain], Harry Schumm [General McLain], Howard Daniels [Frank], Jack Ford (John Ford) [Edward Feeney]
The Universal Film Manufacturing Company, Incorporated, production; distributed by The Universal Film Manufacturing Company, Incorporated [Universal-101 Bison]. / Scenario by Grace Cunard and Jack Ford (John Ford). Assistant director, Jack Ford (John Ford). / © 8 April 1915. Released 17 April 1915. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? Colonel Freeney, his three brothers and their Irish regiment are stationed in India. The Irish regiment is the butt of all of the jokes of the other regiments. The general in particular has it in for Patrick because his daughter is in love with the young Irishman. The boys of the Irish regiment get a flag from “Dear Old Ireland” made by the loving hands of their mother and blessed by the old priest. The general’s daughter insists upon flirting with the Colonel and is called down by her father. Angered, she goes to the Colonel’s quarters, finds the well-loved flag of the boys on the wall, where the boys have placed it in the most conspicuous place. She pulls the flag down, throws it on the floor and sneers at the Colonel for hanging it up. She starts to trample on the flag when the boys come in and interfere. The Colonel takes the flag from her and puts it in his coat. The general orders him to be taken to the guard house. Just at this time, a message arrives telling of the Sepoy Rebellion. The general tells the three to go and sends the Colonel to get his Irish regiment. All the other troops are massed except the Irish regiment. Finally all arrive and they set out to the relief of the stricken city. The English troops are sent on but cannot take the city gate. The general knows that the gate is almost impossible to take but sends the Irish regiment in, anyway. The gallant boys of “Old Erin” make three brave attempts but are forced to fall back. The general sends them a message not to return unless they take the gate. The Irish regiment makes another charge down the hill, falling right and left, and the line wavers. Patrick pulls out the flag, and waving it in the breeze, cheers his men on to redoubled efforts. The boys break the gate down, march in and give relief to the handful of people inside the walls. Patrick places the flag above the door of the town, turns around and says, “March in, you cowardly devils, the Irish have laid the carpet for you.” The story ends with the general, repentant, praising the Irish regiment. His daughter takes it upon herself to cheer the gallant Colonel and is ordered by her father to “capture” him.
Survival status: The film is presumed lost.
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 12 September 2023.
References: Braff-Short n. 5650; Braff-Universal n. 1979; Sinclair-Ford p. 229 : ClasIm-224 p. 43 : Website-IMDb.
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