By the Sun's Rays

Last updated

By the Sun's Rays
MurdockMacQuarrieBytheSunRays1914PDUS.JPG
Screenshot
Directed by Charles Giblyn
Produced byNestor Film Co.
Starring Murdock MacQuarrie
Lon Chaney
Distributed by Universal Pictures
Release date
  • July 22, 1914 (1914-07-22)
Running time
11 minutes
CountryUnited States
Languages Silent
English intertitles

By the Sun's Rays is a 1914 American short silent Western film directed by Charles Giblyn and featuring Lon Chaney and Murdock MacQuarrie. [1] It is one of the earliest surviving films of Lon Chaney, with several prints existing in private film collections and a video release in 1995. [2] A still from the film exists showing Lon Chaney in the role of the villainous "Frank Lawlor". [3]

Contents

Plot

The short film.

A gang of bandits keeps robbing the gold shipments from a Colorado mining company each time one is sent out. A detective named John Murdock is asked to assist mine superintendent John Davis in finding the culprits. The office clerk, Frank Lawler (Chaney), is in love with Davis' daughter Dora but his advances are rejected by the girl who loves Murdock instead. After another shipment arrives, Murdock assembles a posse. He discovers that Lawler has been sneaking out of the office and using a mirror to signal the bandits to alert them to the arrival of the gold shipments.

With the town's men off in the woods, Lawler attempts to molest Dora in the mining office and she tries to hold him off until help arrives. After the bandits are arrested, the posse returns to the office, and Murdock catches Lawler in the act of assaulting Dora. Murdock produces the mirror from Lawler's desk drawer, and accuses him of complicity with the robberies. Lawler attempts to escape but he is shot dead in the street by one of the deputies. Murdock winds up getting the girl.

Cast

Reception

Moving Picture World called it "A western number of about average interest". [4] Motion Picture News stated: "An old plot but the novel manner in which it is worked makes it interesting....The picture will appeal more to lovers of westerns than others". [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lon Chaney</span> American actor (1883–1930)

Leonidas Frank "Lon" Chaney was an American actor and makeup artist. He is regarded as one of the most versatile and powerful actors of cinema, renowned for his characterizations of tortured, often grotesque and afflicted, characters and for his groundbreaking artistry with makeup. Chaney was known for his starring roles in such silent horror films as The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923) and The Phantom of the Opera (1925). His ability to transform himself using makeup techniques that he developed earned him the nickname "The Man of a Thousand Faces".

<i>Danger, Go Slow</i> 1918 film

Danger, Go Slow is a 1918 American silent comedy film directed by Robert Z. Leonard, and starring Mae Murray, Jack Mulhall and Lon Chaney. Robert Z. Leonard and Mae Murray co-wrote the screenplay together. The film is today considered lost.

<i>Red Margaret, Moonshiner</i> 1913 film by Allan Dwan

Red Margaret, Moonshiner is a 1913 American silent short romance film directed by Allan Dwan, starring Pauline Bush, Murdock MacQuarrie and Lon Chaney. This film, now considered lost, is a good example of Chaney's early attempts at creating bizarre makeups to enhance his roles, wearing a long beard and wild hair here as "Lon", the old moonshiner. The film's original working title was Warrington's Honor. Some sources say the film was later edited down to one reel and re-released in theaters as Moonshine Blood in 1916.

<i>Bloodhounds of the North</i> 1913 film by Allan Dwan

Bloodhounds of the North is a 1913 American silent short drama film directed by Allan Dwan and starring Murdock MacQuarrie, Pauline Bush, and Lon Chaney. The film is now considered lost. Some sources state the film was edited down to one reel and re-released theatrically in 1916 as Accusing Evidence, but this is disputed.

The Lie is a 1914 American silent short western drama film directed by Allan Dwan and featuring Murdock MacQuarrie, Pauline Bush, and Lon Chaney. The film is now considered lost. A still exists from the film showing Chaney as "Young MacGregor".

<i>The Honor of the Mounted</i> 1914 film by Allan Dwan

The Honor of the Mounted is a 1914 American silent short drama film directed by Allan Dwan and featuring Murdock MacQuarrie, Pauline Bush, and Lon Chaney. The film is now considered lost.

Remember Mary Magdalen is a 1914 silent short drama film directed by Allan Dwan and featuring Pauline Bush, Murdock MacQuarrie, and Lon Chaney. The film is now considered lost.

The Menace to Carlotta is a 1914 American silent short drama film directed by Allan Dwan, featuring Pauline Bush, William C. Dowlan, Murdock MacQuarrie and Lon Chaney. On March 19, 1914, it was banned by the censor of Quebec. Unfortunately, the film is now considered lost. Notably, Chaney wrote the film's scenario marking his first known screenwriting credit. Initially, the film was titled Carlotta, the Bead Stringer.

The End of the Feud is a 1914 American silent drama film directed by Allan Dwan and featuring Murdock MacQuarrie, Pauline Bush, and Lon Chaney. The film is now considered lost.

<i>The Tragedy of Whispering Creek</i> 1914 film

The Tragedy of Whispering Creek is a 1914 American silent short Western film directed by Allan Dwan and featuring Murdock MacQuarrie, Pauline Bush, and Lon Chaney. Chaney expert Jon Mirsalis says Chaney also wrote the screenplay, based on a story by Elliott J. Clawson, but the Blake book says the film's director Allan Dwan wrote the screenplay himself. A print exists in the Deutsche Kinemathek film archive, making it Chaney's earliest surviving moving picture. A still exists which shows Chaney in his role as "The Greaser".

The Unlawful Trade is a 1914 American silent short drama film directed by Allan Dwan and starring Pauline Bush, William Lloyd, Murdock MacQuarrie, George Cooper, and Lon Chaney. Allan Dwan also wrote the screenplay, based on a story by George Cooper. The film is now considered lost.

The Forbidden Room is a 1914 American silent drama film directed by Allan Dwan and featuring Murdock MacQuarrie, Pauline Bush and Lon Chaney. The film's working title was originally The Web of Circumstance. The film is now considered to be lost.

<i>The Hopes of Blind Alley</i> 1914 film by Allan Dwan

The Hopes of Blind Alley is a 1914 American silent drama film directed by Allan Dwan and featuring Murdock MacQuarrie, Pauline Bush and Lon Chaney. A still exists showing Lon Chaney as the Italian statuette vendor. The film is now considered to be lost.

A Ranch Romance is a 1914 American silent Western film featuring Murdock MacQuarrie and Lon Chaney. A still from the film exists showing Chaney in action. The film is now considered to be lost.

<i>Her Grave Mistake</i> 1914 film

Her Grave Mistake is a 1914 American silent Western film featuring Lon Chaney and Murdock MacQuarrie. Very little is known about who wrote or directed this film. The film is now considered to be lost.

<i>The Oubliette</i> 1914 film

The Oubliette is a 1914 American silent historical drama film directed by Charles Giblyn, featuring Murdock MacQuarrie, Pauline Bush, and Lon Chaney. It is part one of a four-film series directed by Giblyn called The Adventures of François Villon. The Oubliette was written by Harry G. Stafford, based on a short story of the same name by George Bronson Howard published in The Century Magazine.

<i>The Higher Law</i> (1914 film) 1914 film

The Higher Law is a 1914 American silent drama film directed by Charles Giblyn and featuring Murdock MacQuarrie, Pauline Bush and Lon Chaney. It was written by Harry G. Stafford, based on a story by George Bronson Howard. This film was the second in a series of four films called The Adventures of Francois Villon. Lon Chaney was featured in this one, as well as in the first installment, The Oubliette (1914), but did not appear in the other two. The film is now considered to be lost. The film co-starred Millard K. Wilson, who became a lifelong friend of Chaney and later served as his director in films at M-G-M.

<i>A Small Town Girl</i> 1915 film by Allan Dwan

A Small Town Girl was a 1914 American silent drama film directed by Allan Dwan and featuring Lon Chaney, Pauline Bush and Rupert Julian. The film is now considered to be lost.

The Stronger Mind is a 1915 American silent drama film directed by Joe De Grasse and featuring Lon Chaney, Murdock MacQuarrie and Pauline Bush. Chaney did not routinely work for the United production unit at Universal, and was obviously sent over as a one-time loan-out for this production. It is now considered to be a lost film. A still exists showing MacQuarrie and Chaney as the two bank robbers.

Accusing Evidence is a 1916 American silent Western film directed by Allan Dwan and starring Lon Chaney, Pauline Bush and Murdock MacQuarrie.

References

  1. ↑ "Silent Era: By the Sun's Rays". silentera. Retrieved June 19, 2008.
  2. ↑ Blake, Michael F. (1998). "The Films of Lon Chaney". Vestal Press Inc. Page 22. ISBN   1-879511-26-6.
  3. ↑ Mirsalis, Jon C. "By the Sun's Rays". Lonchaney.org. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  4. ↑ Mirsalis, Jon C. "By the Sun's Rays". Lonchaney.org. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  5. ↑ Blake, Michael F. (1998). "The Films of Lon Chaney". Vestal Press Inc. Page 21. ISBN   1-879511-26-6.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.