Terror Island

Terror Island
Directed by James Cruze
Produced by Jesse Lasky
Written by Arthur B. Reeve (story)
John W. Grey (story)
Walter Wooda (adaptation)
Starring Harry Houdini
Lila Lee
Cinematography William Marshall
Production
company
Realart Productions
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Release date
 April 1920
Running time
 5 reels; (originally 7 reels)
Country United States
Language Silent (English intertitles)

Terror Island is a 1920 American silent adventure film produced by Jesse Lasky and directed by James Cruze. It is a starring vehicle for illusionist Harry Houdini here costarring with Lila Lee.[1] This film listed as 7 reels by the AFI but two reels are lost/missing with only 5 reels remaining.[2] The film had the working title of Salvage.

Plot

Beverly West appeals to Harry Harper, the inventor of a submarine device for salvaging sunken vessels, to help her rescue her father from the South Sea natives who are holding him as a ransom for the skull shaped pearl that Beverly possesses. Also desirous of the pearl is Job Mourdant, Beverly's guardian, who kidnaps his ward and heads out to sea. Harry follows and saves Beverly when Mourdant throws her overboard.

After the two parties arrive on the island, Harry is captured but escapes in time to see the natives thrust Beverly into an iron safe and throw her into the sea. Once again, Harry saves the girl, and finally procures the gems after struggling with a man in a diving suit. Harry then so impresses the natives with his magic that they release Beverly and her father and the three set sail for home.

Cast

  • Harry Houdini as Harry Harper
  • Lila Lee as Beverly West, niece of Job Mordaunt
  • Jack Brammall as Ensign Tom Starkey
  • Wilton Taylor as Job Mordaunt
  • Eugene Pallette as Guy Mordaunt
  • Edward Brady as Captin Marsh
  • Frank Bonner as Chief Bakaida
  • Ted E. Duncan as First Officer Murphy
  • Fred Turner as Mr. West
  • Rosemary Theby as Sheila Mourdant, Guy Mordaunt's wife

References

  1. ↑ Progressive Silent Film List: Terror Island at silentera.com
  2. ↑ The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: Terror Island


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