Paramount and Artcraft Press Books (1918)

For Exhibitor's Information or House Organ — Cast and Story of the Cecil B. DeMille Production for Artcraft of “The Whispering Chorus". “THE WHISPERING CHORUS” CAST Jane Trimble Kathlyn Williams John Trimble, her husband .... Raymond Hatton George Coggeswell Elliott Dexter Mrs. Trimble, mother to John . . Edythe Chapman Charles Barden John Burton Tom Bums Parkes Jones H. P. Clumley Tully Marshall Chief McFarland Guy Oliver Stauberry W. H. Brown Channing James Neill Longshoreman Noah Beery Mocking Face Gustav Seyff ertitz Evil Face Walter Lynch Good Face Edna Mae Cooper STORY Harassed by creditors and unable to meet the current expenses of his family establishment, John Trimble, a trusted employe of a contracting corporation, resorts to theft. Little by little the menace of arrest and punishment confronts him and one day he deserts his wife and mother to become a hermit in a hut on an island in the Ohio river. His wife causes a diligent search to be made for her husband, but every effort to find him proves fruitless. While fishing in the river one day, Trimble drags to the surface the body of a man of about his own height and build. To give credence to the belief that he is dead, Trimble places his clothing on the corpse with sufficient data to insure identification of the body as that of Trimble, and sets it afloat. The body is recovered and after an investigation by the police, it is declared to be that of Trimble and that he was the victim of foul play. Meanwhile, Mrs. Trimble, convinced that her husband is dead, accepts the attentions of George Coggeswell, a lawyer, and in due course becomes his bride. Coggeswell later becomes governor of his state and Mrs. Trimble-Coggeswell a leader of high society. The aged mother of Trimble is heart broken at the loss of her son, but she is loath to believe that he was murdered or that she never will hear from him again. Assuring himself that he is dead to the world, Trimble assumes the name of Martin and, having | worked as a stevedore, he decides to ship for Australia. Through clues gathered by Chief of Police McFarland, that official’s attention is attracted to Trimble, alias Martin, and he resolves to arrest him on fche charge of murdering Trimble. The Chief confronts the so-called Martin in a water-front saloon and when he attempts to ari rest him, a fierce battle ensues. The Chief is knocked out in the encounter and Martin makes his escape. Trimble remains in hiding in San Francisco for a time and earns his livelihood by working as a ’longshoreman. Filled with remorse at his ne) gleet of his aged mother, he reveals his secret to another ’longshoreman who is induced to write to Mrs. Trimble. Learning that her son is alive, she implores him to return to her and he readily consents to do so. The rough life he has lead for several years has changed him completely, but his mother accepts his proofs of relationship and falls ill suddenly. Trimble hastens away in search of a physician, but in his absence his mother dies. Recognized by Chief of Police McFarland, Trimble is arrested under the name of Martin on a charge of murdering Trimble — himself. Trimble denies that he is Martin, and asserts himself to be in fact, Trimble. Not aware of his mother’s death, he urges McFarland to call upon Mrs. Trimble for proofs of his assertion. The death of Mrs. Trimble is discovered and Trimble’s assertions regarded as falsehoods. He is placed on trial, convicted of being his own murderer, and sentenced to death. Channing, a friend of Mrs. Coggeswell, believes Trimble’s statements and he prevails upon Mrs. Coggeswell to visit Trimble in prison for the purpose of identifying him. When she enters his cell, Trimble recognizes his former wife and aware that she is happy in her new environment, he resolves to die rather than reveal the secret of their former relationship. He again becomes the sturdy reckless ’longshoreman and asserting he is Martin and none other, finally convinces Mrs. Coggeswell that her half-formed suspicion as to his identity is erroneous. Resolutely persisting that he is Martin and the assassin of John Trimble, he goes to death in the electric chair, a victim of self-sacrifice. 5