Universal Weekly (1920, 1923-27)

Vol. 26, No. 18 Universal Weekly 39 Synopses “THE CAT AND THE CANARY” Universal-Jewel Production Starring LAURA LA PLANTE AT the hour of midnight, exactly twenty years after the death of Cyrus West, an eccentric and wealthy recluse, his relatives meet in the spooky West mansion to hear the will read. A guard from an asylum, who is looking for an escaped maniac, forbids them to leave the house lest they be murdered. The nearest kin are crestfallen when lawyer Crosby reads that they have all been disinherited because they all considered him crazy. He therefore leaves his entire estate to his most distant living relative, the beautiful Annabelle West, but on condition that she be adjudged sane by a doctor who is named in the will and who will call shortly after midnight. In the event of Annabelle’s failure to pass the sanity test the estate shall revert to one who is named in sealed envelope number two. The lawyer discovers that envelope number two has been opened, presumably by the person who is named therein. Fearing for her safety, he is about to tell Annabelle for her own protection, the name of the secondary heir when he is seized by a hairy hand with long nails that emerges from a secret panel. The lawyer disappears into the wall before the very eyes of the girl, who screams for help and explains the mysterious disappearance, only to be accused of conspiracy by some of the relatives, and of insanity by the others. It is noticed that Charles Wilder has also disappeared. A third sealed envelope tells Annabelle the location of the long lost West diamonds. She gets the gems and puts them on before she goes to bed. The hairy hand comes through a panel over her bed and snatches the jewels from her neck. She screams again and tells the relatives of the strange occurrence. This time they all believe her insane, until, beating against the wall, she accidentally strikes a secret spring which causes a hidden door to swing slowly open. The dead body of the lawyer drops out of the recess. Annabelle’s cousin, Paul Jones, goes into the secret chamber to investigate. The door closes on him and he is imprisoned between the walls. A sinister-looking, shifty-eyed old man who represents himself as the doctor named in the will, calls to examine Annabelle. She -is unnerved by his queer actions and refuses to drink a potion he .offers her. Cousin Paul Jones, imprisoned between walls, makes his way to the cellar, where he is attacked and floored by the maniac, who escapes up the stairs. The monster attacks Annabelle, but Paul recovers himself and dashes up the stairs to her rescue. Paul calls to the asylum guard for help, but the guard tries to escape. Police enter and capture the “maniac,” who proves to be cousin Charles Wilder, the nearest of kin, who was named in the second envelope. Annabelle discovers that she is in love with cousin Paul, and agrees to exchange her fortune for his name. “THE BORDER CAVALIER” Five Reel Blue Streak Western Starring FRED HUMES VIC HARDing a crooked Eastern land speculator, has inside dope on a new railroad spur which will increase the value of the Lawton ranch and he conspires with Hank Martin, a roadhouse proprietor, to buy the ranch before Lawton learns about it. He falls in love with Madge, the daughter of the owner, who has a beautiful singing voice, and he urges her and her father to sell the ranch and go to New York where Madge could receive vocal training. Larry Day, foreman of the Lawton ranch and in love with Madge, arrives. Suspecting treachery, he gives Harding a good thrashing. This only serves to discredit Larry in the eyes of Madge and her father, and Larry and his four riders are discharged. Larry and his boys determine to save Lawton and while they are waiting for an answer to Larry’s telegram regarding the proposed spur track, Lawton leaves for town in a buggy to sign Harding’s contract. Larry and his boys make Lawton a prisoner and when the answering telegram arrives at the ranch house Madge opens it and discovers that Larry was really trying to help them. She rides hard for the tavern in an effort to stop the deal. Meanwhile Larrv has bearded Harding and Martin in their stronghold, the inn, and has been captured and tied in an upstairs room. The boys discover his prison and succeed in their rescue. They also save Madge from complications and all ends well. “THE NEWLYWEDS’ TROUBLES” Two Reel Junior Jewel Production Newlyweds Series SNOOKUMS enjoys himself in the railroad waiting room while his father and mother sleep on a bench. He squirts water from the drinking fountain, gives his father’s spare pants to a hobo and then conceals himself in a traveling bag which the porter throws on a baggage truck. The parents frantically seek the child, who emerges from the grip and climbs in the window of a moving train. Lovey and Dovey jump aboard the train. They are compelled to buy tickets for a sleeper jump. Snookums plays with a shot-gun while the passengers work themselves up by reading about a train hold-up. Dovey takes the shotgun away from the baby and springs into the aisle. The passengers throw up their hands, but Dovey is overpowered and arrested as a bandit. He gets out by diplomacy and they all get ready for bed. The baby marches up and down the aisle while the passengers sleep, beating his toy drum. Commotion reigns until the train stops. The Newlyweds prepare to get off, but they find the baby asleep and decide to go on to the next stop rather than wake him. “THE SQUARE SHOOTER” Two-Reel Mustang Starring FRED GILMAN *tf>QUARE DEAL” Dillon, with ^his fast white horse, is a sure ^ thing winner of the forthcoming Cattlemen’s Sweepstakes for a prize of $5,000. He is in love with Mary Tracy, wfio is annoyed by the persistent attentions of Black Jack Barton, owner of the Ace High Saloon, who holds notes against her and wants to “collect” by marrying her. Dillon beats Barton in a fight over the girl and then bets his ranch against the Ace High Saloon that he will win against Barton in the sweepstakes. Knowing that Barton has planned foul work to keep him out ,of the race, Dillon keeps clear of the town until the last minute to avoid a bullet in the back, sending Mary ahead to the starting line with his horse. Barton’s henchmen waylay Dillon as he is about to start to town. He licks them both, but not until he is too late for the starting gun. While he is galloping toward the starting line Mary gets on his horse and rides for him. She is thrown from the horse when the saddle cinch breaks. Dillon picks her up and, finding that she is only stunned, jumps on the horse and rides bareback to victory. He advises Barton to get out of town and Barton takes his advice while the going is good. Dillon and Mary embrace. Laura La Plante & Martha Mattox