|
In the Nick of Time
(1910) United States of America
B&W : One reel / 975 feet
Directed by (unknown)
Cast: (unknown)
Edison Manufacturing Company production. / © 18 January 1910 by Edison Manufacturing Company [J137507, J137508, J137509, J137510]. Released 18 January 1910. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama.
Synopsis: [The Moving Picture World, 22 January 1910, page ?] Fast living and gambling have caused the cashier of Riverdale Bank to embezzle large sums of money from the safe, at which stage of affairs the story of the picture begins. He has succeeded in evading detection by manipulating the bank's books, but upon news being received of the coming of the official bank examiner he realizes that he stands face to face with ruin and arrest. Through the aid of a friendly newspaper reporter, he gives forth false impressions regarding the bank's financial standing. This is done with the intent to cause a run on the bank, by means of which he hopes to be able to evade detection for a time at least. In the meantime one of the bookkeepers of the bank, who is loved by the president's daughter, has been ordered to report for duty upon the practice maneuvers of the Engineers' Corps of the National Guard of which he is a member. After obtaining permission from the president and bidding his sweetheart farewell, he leaves to fulfill his duty. On the following morning the sensational newspaper article appears, and the president and his daughter arriving at the bank in their auto, are surprised to see a pushing, struggling crowd in front of the door clamoring for their money. The president's appeal to the depositors is fruitless. At last he decides to negotiate for a loan of $50,000 in ready cash from a neighboring bank at Junction City, twenty miles away. Consulting a time table, he finds that the trip cannot be made by train in time for the money to be of avail, and is at his wit's end, when his daughter suggests that she be permitted to make it by auto. He willingly consents. The plan becomes known to the guilty cashier, who, realizing his immediate danger should the run be stopped, decides to take a desperate chance and delay the auto's return with the money by blowing up the bridge between the two towns. This he accomplishes in a very thrilling and dramatic manner. After securing the money the bank president's daughter arrives at the bridge, only to find it destroyed. She realizes that all is lost unless she can reach the bank with the money in time. Suddenly remembering that her sweetheart is camped in the neighborhood with his Engineers' Corps, she appeals to him for aid. The matter is placed before the Captain, and in a few moments orders are flying from Captain to Lieutenants. Not a second is lost, and in one minute after the arrival at the destroyed bridge the Engineers' Corps have built their first pontoon or floating boat. This is launched into the stream preparatory to building a pontoon bridge to carry the president's daughter in her auto containing the $50,000 in money across the stream. Pontoon after pontoon is rowed into place, stags, styles and flooring are quickly lashed upon these floating boats, and in less time than it takes to tell it the auto carrying its precious weight, the girl, her sweetheart and a detachment of guards, is seen dashing across the bridge and on its way to their destination, Riverdale Bank, ten miles away. The guilty cashier returns to the bank, sees the auto coming, and in his desperation draws his revolver and fires upon its occupants. The soldiers immediately respond with a volley. One of the bullets finds the heart of the guilty man, who with folded arms is left to keep his lonely watch at the cross roads while the auto dashes on without further hindrance and arrives at the bank just in the nick of time to save it from ruin.
Reviews: [The Moving Picture World, 29 January 1910, page ?] A robbed bank, followed by a run of depositors, the run of an automobile for sufficient funds to tide over the difficulty, the blowing up of a bridge and the construction of a pontoon bridge by a detachment of the engineers’ corps, a revolver shot at the flying automobile, with a return volley that kills the guilty man, and the arrival in time to save the bank from ruin, are enough thrills for one film. Yet, as here presented by the Edison players, it makes an entertaining picture. The work of the pontoon corps is a novelty well worth seeing. The whole picture is one that will appeal to any audience because of the lively action in it.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 23 January 2025.
References: MovPicWorld-19100108 p. 20 : Website-AFI; Website-IMDb.
|
[The Moving Picture World, 8 January 1910, page 20] On January 18 the Edison Company will release a novel and thrilling melodrama, entitled “In the Nick of Time,” in the production of which they were ably assisted by Company “K,” 22d Regiment, Corps of Engineers, N.G.S.N.Y. The story of the film deals with the defalcation of a bank cashier, and the action includes a run on the bank, an exciting auto ride, the blowing up of a bridge with dynamite, the building of a pontoon bridge by the engineering corps, over which structure an auto dashes to safety and the relief of the banks, a cross-road fight between the occupants of the auto and the guilty cashier, with the inevitable happy ending of all melodramas. For dash and go and genuine dramatic situations, this picture is bound to appeal to all lovers of romance and spirited action. There is not a moment in the film when action lags, and the introduction of a martial atmosphere makes the film more interesting. The novelty of witnessing the erection of a pontoon bridge will appeal to any audience and will insure great popularity for this film. The Edison Company feels greatly indebted to the 22d Regiment, Company “K,” Engineer Corps for their able assistance in carrying out the plot and workings of this melodrama.
|
|
