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The Hammer
(1915) United States of America
B&W : Two reels
Directed by Richard Stanton
Cast: Frank Borzage [Donald Barstow], Margie Gibson (Patricia Palmer) [Molly], Arthur Maude [Dunbar], J.P. Lockney [Simon Massett], J.J. Dowling (Joseph J. Dowling) [Gustave Schmitz], Leona Hutton [Millie Blakely]
New York Motion Picture Corporation production; distributed by Mutual Film Corporation [Kay-Bee]. / Scenario by J.G. Hawks and Thomas H. Ince. / Released 9 July 1915. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? Illustrator Donald Barstow lives in a rickety studio building and is interested in Mrs. Blakely, a married woman. She calls him up, inviting him to go to Philadelphia for the weekend; he agrees. Old Simon Bassett is proprietor of the house and has a niece, Molly, whom he makes scrub the floors. Molly has come to love Donald. Simon comes in to collect his rents. Donald cannot pay him and a heated argument ensues. This is overheard by Gustave Schmitz, a chemist on the next floor who is preparing to examine a vial of blood. His room is directly over that of Donald. Donald leaves the studio building and borrows one hundred dollars from a friend. He goes to his room to pack. Meanwhile, a sign has been tacked up by a stenographer on the third floor, who casually lays a hammer on the banister. An explosion occurs in the chemist shop, which dislodges the vial of blood. Same breaks and leaks through on Donald’s office coat which he has thrown down upon leaving. The explosion dislodges the hammer and it falls on the head of old Simon, who is leaning over the balcony on the next floor. His pocketbook, which he is carrying, and also the hammer fall beside a garbage can on the well at the bottom of the studio building. During the time Donald was in the studio he killed a rat with a gas pipe, which leaves the stained gas pipe on the floor. He has gone and thrown the rat in the garbage can after chatting with Molly, who is outside scrubbing and who has seen this action. A web of evidence is thus built up around Donald. The hundred dollars is discovered on him at the station. The gas pipe, office coat, etc., are brought in as evidence. Molly engages Dunbar and through a series of clever maneuvers, he solves the mystery, freeing Donald and the gratitude which he has had for Molly turns into love.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 24 October 2022.
References: ClasIm-220 p. 40 : Website-IMDb.
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