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March 20, 1915.
MOTOGRAPHY
445
Girl Crook Leads Band of Thieves
BY CHARLES R. CONDON
THE story of a district attorney who disregards sentiment and confidences in his scramble for prominence, and later realizes that the person whom he has betrayed is dearer to him than either wealth or position is strikingly pictured in the Edison three-reel drama, "Killed Against Orders," to be released on March 29. It might almost be said that the story is told by reflection, as the greater part of the action deals with a girl's attempt to save her father from prison, and her fight against the law after failing. In both cases the crises resolve themselves down to the points mentioned above.
What little adverse criticism the production deserves falls upon the construction of the first part of the theme. It would seem that inasmuch as the developments in a large part of the first one and one-half reels are merely a prelude to what follows, the real story beginning with Durand's last "job" and his arrest, the first part is emphasized too strongly. The action sustains interest throughout, warding off dullness ; but in
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retrospect the picture appears to be divided, rather than as one story with a big climax. Were a state mentioned in the sub-titles the striped convict garb might come under the ban, as it is gradually being discarded in prisons throughout the country.
Directed by Langdon West, Miriam Nesbitt is. seen as Odanah Durand, later known as Ellen King ; Bigelow Cooper, as the district attorney, Wallace Maynard ; Robert Brower, as Odanah's father, Findlay Durand ; Warren Cook, as the department store owner, Henry Wayne ; Charles Stone ; Ethel Lawrence, as Mrs. Stone ; Robert Kergerris, as Ellen's lawyer, Jerome Marsh ; and Frank Tenor, as Slim Harris. The photography is good which, unfortunately, cannot be said of the thieves' den setting. It is conventional in its arrangement, and is in direct contrast to the rest of the interior settings which evidence much care and no little taste.
Findlay Durand leads a double life. At home he is a devoted father to his daughter, Odanah, is prominent in society, and is supposed to be living upon
the income of his investments. In reality, he is the leader of a band of thieves. Odanah discovers his true position one day, and begs him to give up the life and live honestlv. Durand consents, and tells his con
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Scene from Edison's "Killed Against Orders."
federates that he is through but they induce him to help them in turning one more "trick."
The police are tipped off, and prepare to capture the whole band. Odanah learns of it, and hastens to warn her father. Before leaving the den the master criminal warns his men not to bring guns with them. Coone is awakened by a noise downstairs, and investigates. One of the thieves who has disobeyed orders draws a gun and shoots him. Odanah and the others make their escape, but Durand is captured.
The district attorney, who has been courting
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'Killed Against Orders.
Odanah, advises her to testify at the trial, telling her that it is her father's only chance for acquittal. She believes him, and is innocently the means of sending her father to prison. Then she realizes that Maynard