The Jackals of a Great City (1916)

movie

Country: USA
Genres: Crime, Drama, Short
Release: 1916-06-27
Director: Edward LeSaint
Writers: Harvey Gates
Language: None | English
Stars: Harry Carey , Stella Razeto , Jean Hathaway , Hayward Mack
Runtime: min
Awards: N/A
AKA: The Jackals of a Great City , The Jackals of a Great City (United States of America)
Plot: Leila Hughes is the sole support of her aged grandmother. Tom Duane, a young contractor, has become acquainted with Leila and finds much to admire in her. Aggressive with his men, Tom becomes timid and embarrassed in the presence of a woman. He has visited the house several times and the old grandmother approves of Tom as a man, but not as a lover. One day she calls him to task for his timid advances and shows him a page from her diary in which she has written that she wished her lover would take her by main force and marry her. Tom believes this to be Leila's writing, and the grandmother does not tell him that it is her own diary. Leila has another admirer in the person of Clay Wimburn. Clay's independence appeals to her to a certain extent and she finds pleasure in his company because he treats her more like a companion than a woman. Wimburn is connected with a gang of white slavers. They are clamoring for another girl. Clay has begun to love the girl, and although he has told the gang of his find, he decides not to let them have her. One evening Clay invites Leila to attend a dance with him and she promises. Shortly after Tom calls at the house and she tells him of the date with Clay. Tom upbraids Leila for going with another man. She flies into a rage and Tom determines to use force. He secures a marriage license and going to Clay's room, he forces him to telephone to Leila to meet him at a certain place. Leila thinks that this is part of the arrangement for the dance and promises. Clay is bound in his room. Tom goes for a minister to marry them. The white slave gang have been notified that this is the night Clay will get the girl and they have a taxicab with their own driver to see that Clay carries out his part of the bargain. Tom gets into this taxi and is driven to the appointed place, where Leila is waiting. She thinks it is Clay and jumps into the car. The driver, having his own orders, takes them to the headquarters of the gang. When the taxicab arrives at the house both Tom and the girl are hustled inside before they can see what is happening. Leila thinks that it is a plan of Tom's to force her into marriage and she tells the men that she will not marry Tom. They give her the laugh, and upon the arrival in the lighted room discover that Tom is a stranger, and attack him. He is overpowered. Leila takes one of the men's revolvers and turns out the lights and when the lights flash on again the window is seen to be open. The chief believes she has fled, so he orders two men to go up the fire escape, while the others are sent below to cut off her escape. Leila then comes from her hiding place in a davenport and finds Tom unconscious. When Tom revives he requests Leila to marry him. She threatens to have him arrested for his joke. While they are talking, the police, who have been detailed to raid the joint, come in with their prisoners, and Tom, hearing footsteps, hides. The officers then tell Leila that she must accompany them, but Tom comes from his hiding place and holds them up. Two of the gang return and attack the officers and Tom and Leila escape in the confusion. She takes him to her home to have his bruises dressed. Tom is astounded when he finds that the diary he has based his hopes on is her grandmother's. Tom starts out dejectedly, but Leila asks him timidly if the license he has secured won't be good the next day. He can hardly believe his ears, but tells her that the best way to find out about the license will be to give it a trial.
IMDB:tt0375863