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Die geheimnisvolle Villa
Also known as The Black Triangle in the USA
(1914) Germany
B&W : Feature film
Directed by Joe May
Cast: Ernst Reicher [Stuart Webbs], Sabine Impekoven, Julius Falkenstein, Carl Auen, Werner Krauß (Werner Krauss), Lupu Pick, Max Landa, Mia May, Eva May, Fritz Richard
Continental Kunstfilm Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung production. / Scenario by Ernst Reicher. Set design by Paul Leni. Cinematography by Max Faßbender (Max Fassbender). / Preview 26 January 1914. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format. / The film was released in the USA (at five reels) as The Black Triangle by [?] Films Lloyds, Incorporated, through Film Releases of America? in 1914.
Drama: Crime.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? Lydia Vengar goes to bed much depressed by her father’s refusal to countenance the suit of Raoul Bardy for her hand. Silently three masked men enter through a window. They carry out Lydia, knocking over her new camera in their flight. Webb, a celebrated detective is engaged and, in answer to a letter demanding a ransom for Lydia’s return, instructs her father to put a bundle of counterfeit money in a box at the place designated. A dog comes sniffing about, takes the box in his mouth, scampers away and is lost to the pursuers. It is learned that three men took part in the abduction as the camera in falling to the ground took an accidental snapshot. Webb advertises for a butler, feeling sure that one of the three will be sent to keep watch on him and to do worse. In a series of moves Webb learns that the supposed servant actually is a member of the band. The detective foils efforts to poison him and later to asphyxiate him. Supposing Webb to be dead, the crook servant goes to the rendezvous of the gang closely trailed by Webb. Webb enters by means of a rope and going down the chimney is attracted by the sound of voices. Three men are in conference. The late servant is telling his confederates that he has killed off their dangerous foe. Webb emerges the chimney cautiously after two of the men have left the room and creeps up behind the remaining conspirator. In a champagne cooler, the conspirator sees Webb’s reflection and turning quickly gets the “drop” on the detective, with the revolver at his hip pointing upward. There is no sound but the conspirator topples over. It was an either revolver which projected from pressure of the trigger. Webb hides the insensible man in the fireplace and searches for the imprisoned girl. Meanwhile the other two conspirators have gone back into the room where their confederate is lying insensible in the fireplace. One throws his cigar into the fireplace. It flames up and the smoke restores the stupefied man to consciousness. The three, thoroughly alarmed, go after Webb, and trap him in the room with the girl. When he pursues an apparent means of escape, they release a trap door and he falls into a well. The water rises higher and higher and it is only by cleverness consummate that he extricated himself. Hiding under the sofa, Webb overhears the conspirators’ plans to take the captive to another hiding place. Webb slips out to intercept the chauffeur of the automobile which is to convey them. He overpowers him and after a quick change of make-up, stations himself at the wheel. Feigning accident to the car by a trick, he drives off with the girl, who he restores to her parents. Here he also kills two birds with one stone by unmasking Vengar’s supposed servant, who is in reality one of the three kidnappers. With policemen he then rounds up the remaining two.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Friedrich-Wilhelm-Murnau-Stiftung [Germany]; Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 12 September 2023.
References: Website-Filmportal; Website-IMDb.
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