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On the Broad Stairway
(1913) United States of America
B&W : One reel
Directed by J. Searle Dawley
Cast: Laura Sawyer [Kate Kirby, girl detective], Bigelow Cooper [Philip Morton, the prospective bridegroom], Bessie Learn [Alice Osborn, the prospective bride], May Abbey [Marguerite Osborn, the bride’s older sister], Robert Brower [the police inspector], Charles Ogle [Kate’s father]
Thomas A. Edison, Incorporated, production; distributed by The General Film Company, Incorporated. / From a screen story by J. Searle Dawley. / Released 19 July 1913. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format. / The second film in the “Kate Kirby’s Cases” series.
Drama.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? On the eve of his marriage to Alice Osborn, Philip Morton realizes that he cannot marry her; he loves her sister, Marguerite, more than he does his bride-elect. Marguerite breaks down momentarily, but upon hearing her sister’s voice, commands Philip to go where his honor calls him. She then goes to a lounge at the head of a stairway and writes a letter to Philip, telling him that while she loves him her little sister’s happiness must have first consideration. Hearing the approach of someone, she hides the letters in the lounge. Into the drawing room, where the guests have been assembled ready for the commencement of the ceremony, a maid rushes with the terrible news that Alice has been found dead upon the stairs with a stab wound in her back. The chief of police is given the case, and with a number of officers and Kate Kirby, the famous woman detective, he arrives at the Osborn mansion, where a rigid search is instituted. Kate finds the hidden letter, and this, together with the knife that is found to be the property of Philip, cause his arrest. Morton is put through a vigorous third degree and the chief, being unable to get a confession from him, leaves him alone with Marguerite, in the hope that he will confess to her. But he only protests his innocence. The whole matter is cleared, however, by Kate, who discovers finger marks upon the lounge.
Reviews: [The Moving Picture World, 2 August 1913, page ?] This very good detective story, by J. Searle Dawley, is the second in the “Kate Kirby Cases” and makes what probably is the best regular release of the last two weeks. The situation at the opening is finely dramatic and it gets a tremendous impetus from the early development of the plot. At the start, we find Bigelow Cooper and Bessie Learn about to be married. Bigelow has discovered that Bessie’s older sister, May Abbie, is the one whom he really loves. She returns his love; but won’t hear of his breaking Bessie’s heart and insists on his going on with the ceremony. She has been interrupted while writing a note to him to this effect, and has slipped it down beside a settle. A few moments later the bride-to-be is found dead on the broad stairway. When the detectives come, it is found that Bigelow’s knife killed her, and when May’s unfinished note is also found, it looks as though he had murdered her. May does not know that he is innocent, nor does the spectator. One of the detectives is a woman, Laura Sawyer, and when the inspector, Robert Brower, tries to wring the truth out of May, her sympathies are so worked up that she goes out to make further investigations, believing they will clear May and Bigelow. This we think the picture’s most brilliant scene; but the whole of it is very clever. The acting, photography and direction are all worthy of the best commendation.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 17 April 2024.
References: Spehr-American p. 4 : Website-IMDb.
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