The Lonely Villa (1909)
Drama | 10 June 1909
Cast:
David Miles, Marion Leonard, Gladys Egan [ More ]Director:
D. W. GriffithWriter:
Mack SennettProduction Company:
Biograph Co.In his 1973 autobiography, Billy Bitzer, His Story, the cameraman wrote that James Kirkwood played a robber in The Lonely Villa. He had dropped in on his old friend, D. W. Griffith, to say hello, and the director "prevailed upon him to put on whiskers, step into the picture, and go to work."
The 19 Jun 1909 Moving Picture World ran the following review: "'Thank God, they're saved!' said a woman behind us at the conclusion of the Biograph film bearing the above title. Just like this woman, the entire audience were in a state of intense excitement as this picture was being shown. And no wonder, for it is one of the most adroitly managed bits of bloodless film drama that we have seen. From the moment the picture starts, all is expectancy. Indeed, when we saw the picture at Fourteenth street, the house literally 'rose' at the story, it is so closely, effectively and convincingly told. As good a piece of sharp, rapid, decisive, dramatic work as we have seen. As is usual nowadays, with all Biograph stories, and the Biograph Company certainly have the art of getting hold of good stories, this one is finely photographed. The acting, too, is of a high order. The villains are villainous, the husband very realistic in his agony, especially at the telephone, whilst the Biograph heroine is as handsome and graceful as ever. We really felt inclined to kick that burglar man for so unceremoniously stripping the jewels from this fair lady's neck. "Lonely Villa" is another Biograph success."
Writer Mack Sennett would later spoof this film in his own Help! ...
In his 1973 autobiography, Billy Bitzer, His Story, the cameraman wrote that James Kirkwood played a robber in The Lonely Villa. He had dropped in on his old friend, D. W. Griffith, to say hello, and the director "prevailed upon him to put on whiskers, step into the picture, and go to work."
The 19 Jun 1909 Moving Picture World ran the following review: "'Thank God, they're saved!' said a woman behind us at the conclusion of the Biograph film bearing the above title. Just like this woman, the entire audience were in a state of intense excitement as this picture was being shown. And no wonder, for it is one of the most adroitly managed bits of bloodless film drama that we have seen. From the moment the picture starts, all is expectancy. Indeed, when we saw the picture at Fourteenth street, the house literally 'rose' at the story, it is so closely, effectively and convincingly told. As good a piece of sharp, rapid, decisive, dramatic work as we have seen. As is usual nowadays, with all Biograph stories, and the Biograph Company certainly have the art of getting hold of good stories, this one is finely photographed. The acting, too, is of a high order. The villains are villainous, the husband very realistic in his agony, especially at the telephone, whilst the Biograph heroine is as handsome and graceful as ever. We really felt inclined to kick that burglar man for so unceremoniously stripping the jewels from this fair lady's neck. "Lonely Villa" is another Biograph success."
Writer Mack Sennett would later spoof this film in his own Help! Help! (1912, see entry).
The Lonely Villa is an extant film and widely available. It shared a split-reel with A New Trick (1909, see entry).
"Mr. Robert Cullison resides in a very beautiful country villa, far removed from contiguous neighbors, and about twenty miles from the city. He is expecting a visit from his mother, who is to arrive in the city from the West the next morning. The intelligence is learned by a couple of crooks, who plan to get Cullison away over night by sending him a fake letter by an apparently idiotic country bumpkin which reads: 'Robert, Have taken an earlier train. Will arrive in New York 10:30 P. M. Meet me with car. Mother.' He gets ready, as it is now nearly 8 o'clock, and while he is bidding adieu to his wife and three young children, the bumpkin is taking in the place under the pretense of dozing in the doorway. Realizing he is leaving them alone, Robert warns his wife to be sure to fasten the doors and windows securely, also leaving her a revolver from which the disguised bumpkin slyly extracts the cartridges. Off he goes and is not out of sight when the crooks begin their work. Bursting in the front door with a bar, they alarm the folks and throw them into a dreadful panic, as they feel their abject helplessness. Out on the road we see the husband speeding further away from them, when suddenly his machine becomes disabled and he is obliged to halt at a roadside inn. Here an idea strikes him to telephone his wife of his possible delay, when in answer he receives the alarming cries of his terrified wife intermingled with the thumping of the burglars, who are slowly but surely breaking their way into the sitting-room. He reminds ...
"Mr. Robert Cullison resides in a very beautiful country villa, far removed from contiguous neighbors, and about twenty miles from the city. He is expecting a visit from his mother, who is to arrive in the city from the West the next morning. The intelligence is learned by a couple of crooks, who plan to get Cullison away over night by sending him a fake letter by an apparently idiotic country bumpkin which reads: 'Robert, Have taken an earlier train. Will arrive in New York 10:30 P. M. Meet me with car. Mother.' He gets ready, as it is now nearly 8 o'clock, and while he is bidding adieu to his wife and three young children, the bumpkin is taking in the place under the pretense of dozing in the doorway. Realizing he is leaving them alone, Robert warns his wife to be sure to fasten the doors and windows securely, also leaving her a revolver from which the disguised bumpkin slyly extracts the cartridges. Off he goes and is not out of sight when the crooks begin their work. Bursting in the front door with a bar, they alarm the folks and throw them into a dreadful panic, as they feel their abject helplessness. Out on the road we see the husband speeding further away from them, when suddenly his machine becomes disabled and he is obliged to halt at a roadside inn. Here an idea strikes him to telephone his wife of his possible delay, when in answer he receives the alarming cries of his terrified wife intermingled with the thumping of the burglars, who are slowly but surely breaking their way into the sitting-room. He reminds her of the pistol, but alas it is empty and harmless. Back and forth go the wailings of the wife and the encouraging words of the husband; suddenly all is still. The burglar has cut the wire. Rushing out of the inn, he finds his auto far from available, so he calls a policeman and they enlist the services of a gypsy wagon. Up the road they go at a breakneck speed, and during all this time the burglars are working from room to room, getting closer and closer to the frightened little family, who has as the last stand huddled in the library. Crash goes the door, in leap the sinister dogs, but at the same time in rushes the husband with the police and friends, so the burglars will have ample time to taunt each other with 'I told you so.'”—5 Jun 1909 Moving Picture World
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