The Master Mystery

The Master Mystery
Episode eight poster
Directed byHarry Grossman
Burton L. King
Screenplay byArthur B. Reeve
Charles Logue
Produced byB. A. Rolfe
StarringHarry Houdini
Marguerite Marsh
Ruth Stonehouse
Edna Britton
William Pike
Charles Graham
Music byMichael Mortilla
Production
company
Distributed byOctagon Films
Release date
  • November 18, 1918 (1918-11-18)
CountryUnited States
LanguageSilent (English intertitles)

The Master Mystery is a 1918 American mystery silent serial film told in 15 installments. The film was directed by Harry Grossman and Burton L. King and written by Arthur B. Reeve and Charles Logue. The film stars Harry Houdini, Marguerite Marsh, Ruth Stonehouse, Edna Britton, William Pike, and Charles Graham. Episode 1 was released on November 18, 1918, by Octagon Films.[1][2] It is one of the first films to feature a powered exoskeleton.

Plot

Justice Department agent Quentin Locke is investigating a powerful cartel that is protected by The Automaton, a robot. However, it uses a gas weapon known as The Madagascan Madness.

Cast

Episodes

  1. Living Death
  2. The Iron Terror
  3. The Water Peril
  4. The Test
  5. The Chemist’s Shop
  6. The Mad Genius
  7. Barbed Wire
  8. The Challenge
  9. The Madagascan Madness
  10. The Binding Ring
  11. The Net
  12. The Death Noose
  13. The Flash of Death
  14. The Tangled Web
  15. Bound at Last; or, Unmasking of the Automaton

Production and Reception

In October of 1919, Houdini sued the Octagon Film Corporation, Grossman, and Rolfe for a share of the film's profits.[3] In 1922, Houdini was awarded $32,795.18.[4]

References

  1. ^ Hans J. Wollstein (2016). "The-Master-Mystery - Trailer - Cast - Showtimes - NYTimes.com". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  2. ^ "Silent Era : Home Video : The Master Mystery (1918-1919) Review". silentera.com. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  3. ^ "Houdini Sues for $40,000". New York Evening World. 1919-10-09. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  4. ^ "Houdini Wins Verdict Against Filmmakers". Washington Times. 1922-05-16. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to The Master Mystery.


Stub icon

This article about a mystery film is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Stub icon

This article related to an American film of the 1910s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.