The Witching Hour
Cast & Crew
George Irving
C. Aubrey Smith
Marie Shotwell
Robert Conness
Jack Sherrill
Freeman Barnes
Film Details
Synopsis
Jack Brookfield, a gambler with telepathic powers, becomes reacquainted with an old flame, Mrs. Helen Whipple, a widow with a son named Clay. The Whipple family is cursed with a peculiar fear of the cat's eye, and one day Clay kills Tom Denning when Denning taunts Clay with a cat's eye stickpin. Clay is prosecuted for the murder by District Attorney Hardmuth, who has political aspirations and who is Clay's rival for the affections of Brookfield's niece Viola. Jack inadvertently shows Hardmuth a way to assassinate the governor, and Hardmuth hires a down-and-out gambler named Raynor to do the job. By force of will power, Brookfield makes Raynor confess the murder scheme, and the public reaction against Hardmuth results in Clay's acquittal. Clay proves his courage to Viola by assisting in the escape of Hardmuth, whom Brookfield considers an innocent victim. Brookfield convinces Helen that he will quit gambling, and both couples are reunited.
Director
George Irving
Cast
C. Aubrey Smith
Marie Shotwell
Robert Conness
Jack Sherrill
Freeman Barnes
Lewis Sealy
William Eville
Robert Ayerton
Helen Arnold
Etta De Groff
Film Details
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
One contemporary trade article states that Thomas' play was based on the novel Caleb Powers, but no evidence of that novel's existence has been discovered. The film was shot at the Frohman Studios in Flushing, NY. It opened in New York on December 10, 1916. John Mason, who starred in the New York stage production, and Edith Taliaferro were the producers' first choices for the roles of Jack Brookfield and Viola Campbell, respectively. The film was remade twice: by Famous Players-Lasky in 1921, directed by William Desmond Taylor (see AFI Catalog of Feature Films, 1921-30; F2.6428); and by Paramount in 1934, directed by Henry Hathaway.
