A Colonel in Chains

A Colonel in Chains (1914)

23 Feb 1914 • Short, Adventure • 0h 22m
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With Kathlyn's revelations of herself as a slave, Prince Umballah, her purchaser, has her imprisoned in the dungeon of the royal palace. There she finds her father, whom she was led to believe had been dead. That worthy gentleman, enraged, tries with his bare hands to end the life of the hateful Umballah, who intrudes upon their presence, but is dragged away by his retainers. This is brought about when Umballah informs Kathlyn that she is to be the favorite of his harem. This so infuriates Col. Hare that he is about to strangle the dusky Prince, when Kathlyn implores him not to stain his hands with blood. Umballah staggers to his feet, furious with rage, leaves the place vowing vengeance, promising to return with the executioner to publicly flog his prisoner. As he staggers up the steps in the corridor of the palace, he encounters Bruce, the American hunter, who has found his way into that labyrinth in search of Kathlyn. Umballah suspicions him, questions him and then orders him taken from the palace. In the throne-room Umballah finds his councilors, makes his complaint, and it is agreed that Col. Hare must suffer for tampering with his sacred person. A big baboon escapes from confinement and in prying about perches upon the prison window in the very cell in which Kathlyn and her father are confined. This alert young woman conceives the idea of communicating with the outer world, sending by it a message to its keeper so that Ahmed will get it and further their plans for escape. She rips the insole from her shoe, and writes with the Colonel's indelible pencil, "In the palace prison. Help. Kathlyn." She ties this about the neck of the monkey and then it is captured by Ahmed, who, seeing the message, at once takes it to Bruce. The resourceful American consults with Ramabai, and they conclude to drive an elephant up to the prison window and pull out the bars. This is done, and so much of the masonry comes free that Kathlyn easily escapes through the opening: but Col. Hare, securely chained to the pillar in his prison, is unable to get away. He tells his daughter to leave, as fortune will free him; so she reluctantly hurries away to the Hare bungalow in the jungles of Allaha, as the scene dims. Kathlyn's safety having been secured, she immediately begins planning how to release her father. The first move in this project is to secure Umballah by strategy. They accomplish this with the aid of the fascinating Pundita, who pretends to have turned against Kathlyn and assumes to wish to affect her capture. Umballah, disarmed by rage, immediately starts out in quest of his prey. On arriving at the bungalow, he rushes into the room, but suddenly finds the door barred behind him by Kathlyn, who is holding a leopard in leash. Thus they take advantage of his fear, and he is forced to sign a release for Col. Hare from the palace prison. Having secured this important document, Bruce. Kathlyn and Pundita, leaving Umballah guarded by the leopard, rush to their elephant with their impedimenta and start to a rendezvous in the jungle, where they are to meet Col. Hare, who is to come when released through the medium of Umballah's message. Umballah, having finally affected his escape with great difficulty, returns to the palace, but too late. The messenger has filed his order, the prisoner has been released, and is well on his way toward the coast. The vengeful Parsee prince, however, is not to be so easily outwitted, and starts his retainers on dromedaries to intercept the flight of the Americans. Umballah, coming up with the rear of the procession, takes a long distance shot and wounds Kathlyn.


Writer
Kathlyn Williams, Tom Santschi, Lafe McKee
Starring

Language: None, English
Awards:
Country: United States
Metacritic Score:
DVD Release Date:
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