A Mission of State

1916
10m

YOUR RATING

George Larkin performs two daring stunts in this episode of the "Grant, Police Reporter" series. He leaps from the roof of a porch into a tree, and later jumps from a bridge into an automobi... Read allGeorge Larkin performs two daring stunts in this episode of the "Grant, Police Reporter" series. He leaps from the roof of a porch into a tree, and later jumps from a bridge into an automobile that is passing under it. The story of this reel tells how the reporter recovers valuab... Read allGeorge Larkin performs two daring stunts in this episode of the "Grant, Police Reporter" series. He leaps from the roof of a porch into a tree, and later jumps from a bridge into an automobile that is passing under it. The story of this reel tells how the reporter recovers valuable papers that have been stolen from a Government representative. Some good melodramatic s... Read all

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6boblipton

The Stolen Portfolio

It's a little hard to judge this short subject because it's not one. It's the eleventh chapter of a 29-chapter movie serial. It seems to concern itself with the search for a stolen portfolio which is held by Ollie Kirkby, playing the Countess Froisart and the efforts of George Larkin, playing a crime reporter, to recover it. There are various sinister people working for the Countess, included a Hindu dressed in a turban and breech clout. She also has a skull in her home, which argues that her character is not of the best.

There's a daring escape from a car and a leap from a high wooden structure into a moving car, which results in Larkin's hand being shaken. Good enough, I suppose.

I am not a fan of the serial form, but at the time this came out it was a lively genre, offering an alternative to the feature film. Although it later degenerated into cheap stuff intended for kiddie matinées, some excellent serials were produced in this period, including Feuillade's LES VAMPIRES and the famous PERILS OF PAULINE. This looks like a good chapter in a good serial. It's a pity that the amount of information about what is going on is so limited.