Here is the fourth of four installments, where I share stills and describe the scenes in chronological order from Part 3 which is missing from the current version of Terror Island.  This post begins where the previous installment left off.

Beverly is worried having not received an answer to her call.

Harper drawing himself up painfully, by aid of desk, gains his feet. Sato staggers in from kitchen.  He explains how he was overpowered.  Starkey staggers in and falls.

Harper says:  “Miss West do you think she is safe?”

The phone is found to be disconnected.

[318-4]

Harper sees smashed model.  He goes to the fireplace and sits in easy chair.  The cat jumps on his lap.

[318-5]

Starkey fixes phone.

Harper looks in direction of Starkey – smiles – takes box from cat’s neck – glances at it – then let eyes turn upward as he thinks of Beverly.

Beverly answers phone as she hears the voice of Starkey on the other end. FADEOUT

Outwitted in his efforts to secure the map, Guy Mordaunt turns his attention to Harper’s submarine, hoping to block the inventor.

The next day, Harper, Starkey and Beverly are in the dining room and Harper hands Beverly the jewel-box.

Sato and the Watchman enter the dining room and the Watchman says: “Somebody knocked me cold and put the sub out of commission – all of the gauges are smashed.”

Harper jumps to his feet, Beverly rises. Starkey gets up.  All show excitement as they prepare to depart.

End of Part 3.

Credits:

• Cropped Stills – Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (A.M.P.A.S.)
• Paraphrased Scenes – Paramount Files at Margaret Herrick Library

Here is the third of four installments, where I share stills and describe the scenes in chronological order from Part 3 which is missing from the current version of Terror Island.  This post begins where the previous installment left off.

[318-17]

The two sailors rush forward.  Guy and two more sailors enter.  All begin a search of the desk and surroundings. Guy kneels beside Harper and searches his pockets, throwing a bunch of keys on desk which he takes from pockets.

[318-18]

The Japanese Assistant disables phone.

Guy reaches into basket and lifts out cat – holds cat by the neck while he empties contents of the basket – then tosses cat from him.  He is unable to find the box.

Guy looking down at Harper with angry, vengeful expression – leans forward as if to vent his wrath on the unconscious man.  Suddenly he straightens – picks bunch of keys and turns toward model.

[318-15]

Guy goes toward model in angry mood – picks up hammer and smashes model.  Guy and Sailors exit.

Credits:

• Cropped Stills – Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (A.M.P.A.S.)
• Paraphrased Scenes – Paramount Files at Margaret Herrick Library

Here is the second of four installments, where I share stills and describe the scenes in chronological order from Part 3 which is missing from the current version of Terror Island.  This post begins where the previous installment left off.

Sato, Harper’s Japanese Assistant opens the door and is confronted by Mordaunt’s Japanese Assistant.

As Starkey exits, one of two sailors that slipped along the wall fells Starkey with blackjack.  He crumbles on the steps.

[318-14]

Harper slowly rises to his feet, revolver in hand.  With left hand he motions over shoulder and calls “Sato!”

Mordaunt’s Japanese Assistant is seen bending over Sato, who has been rendered unconscious. We then see  Mordaunt’s Japanese Assistant pick up a heavy steel from table and exit toward where Harper is.

[318-19]

Without looking around, Harper motions, who he thinks is Sato, to come forward.  The Mordaunt’s Japanese Assistant comes quickly and silently behind him and raises steel.  At the same time, the faces of the two sailors appear in hall door.  Harper raises revolver.

[318-20]

The sailors are slowly raising their hands at a command from Harper.  Their eyes are staring as they watch the Japanese Assistant behind him.  By their faces, one sees the blow has fallen.

[318-16]

The Mordaunt’s Japanese Assistant stands over Harper, ready for another blow, but Harper is unconscious.

Credits:

• Cropped Stills – Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (A.M.P.A.S.)
• Paraphrased Scenes – Paramount Files at Margaret Herrick Library

[318-45]

As promised in a previous post, here is the first of four installments, where I share stills and describe the scenes in chronological order from Part 3 which is missing from the current version of Terror Island. This post begins where Part 2 ends on Kino; Part 2 ended with Beverly giving Harper[Houdini] the box with the pearl in it. “My uncles coming! Keep this for me!”

One of Guy Mordaunt’s men “saw the dame slip the box to that scrappy guy”.

We see a close-up of the pearl in jewel box, held in Harper’s hand and Guy crouching outside the window of the Library

Stella has a plan to get the jewel-box from Harper.

[318-9]

Harper rises as Stella enters.

Stella speaks: “My Cousin West, is terribly worried about her jewel – a keepsake, you know – and she sent me for it – just couldn’t sleep without it.“

Harper is about to hand her the box when he looks down beside desk as though attracted by a sound.

A cat on floor looks up at desk.  Harper speaks to cat, stoops and picks her up, placing her on the desk and strokes her back.

[318-7]

Harper is praising the cat, as Stella holds hand out for jewel.  The phone rings; Harper sits and places cat on lap and picks up phone.  It is Beverly on the phone who says: “I am a bit nervous and – worried. I know my jewel case is safe with you – but don’t let it out of your hands”

Harper hangs up, as Stella demands the jewel case.  Harper says: “Tell your cousin that I will give it to no one but herself.”

[318-1]

As Harper is stroking cat on lap, his hand comes from jacket pocket and secretly fastens box to cat’s collar by a rubber band which the long hair of the cat covers.

[318-3]

Stella demands the box and Harper shakes his head.

[318-8]

As Harper sits at desk stroking cat, Starkey comes from behind chair

[318-10]

and indicates he will take Stella home.

[318-6]

Stella and Starkey exit.

Credits:

• Cropped Stills – Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (A.M.P.A.S.)
• Paraphrased Scenes – Paramount Files at Margaret Herrick Library

Terror Island Parts 3 and 4 according to Kino:

Below is Kino’s brief explanatory text for Parts 3 and 4 which are considered missing:

The reality is Kino’s brief explanatory text only covers Part 4 and not Part 3.

In future posts (i.e. four installments), I will share Stills from Part 3 and describe the scenes that lead up to Part 4.

Related:

• 23 to 25 Minutes of Terror Island is Missing

While filming a moving picture [Terror Island] on Catalina Island in California, he took part in a real-life nautical drama.  A small vessel had been disabled and was in immediate danger of capsizing or smashing into the rocks off Sugar Loaf Point. [The Witch of Lime Street]

In response to the crew’s distress calls, Houdini quickly secured himself to a line and dove into the turbulent waters.  Shielding himself from the surf with a life preserver extended in front of him, he propelled himself with froglike strokes toward the stranded men – who, as if so directed, were waving and yelling for help.  While onshore a crowd in front of the Hotel St. Catherine cheered the star’s effort to save them. [The Witch of Lime Street]

The scene did not unfold as it would have in one of his melodramas.  Exhausted, Houdini was cut on the rocks and battered almost unconscious.  He had to be saved by deep-sea divers.  It took a motor launch nearly forty-five minutes to cut through the waves and reach the party.  Even so, he wondered to himself if he could have pulled off the feat when he was younger. [The Witch of Lime Street]

300 feet of film at 20 fps (75 feet a minute) is 4 minutes of footage.

Where is this footage now?

Credits:

• The newspaper photo and snippets are from the November 29^th, 1919 Los Angeles Newspaper article reproduced by Patrick Culliton in The Tao of Houdini on page 153.
• The italicized passages are from page 35 and 36 of The Witch of Lime Street by David Jaher.

Related:

• 23 to 25 Minutes of Terror Island is Missing

Last week we looked at a photo of some lost Terror Island Posters. So why should this week be any different.  Below are more posters which are found on page 12 of the Terror Island Pressbook.

Back in the day, exhibitors could purchase One Sheet posters for 12 cents, Three Sheet Posters for 36 cents, Six Sheet Poster for 72 cents, and the Twenty-four Sheet Poster for 1 dollar.  Can you imagine what one of these posters would go for today?

Now if we could just find one of these posters that survived.  That would truly be amazing!

Here is an amazing photo courtesy of the Radio Times Hulton Picture Library:

It shows 1921 posters for “Terror Island” and for “The Perfect Woman” that may be lost to time.

Related:

• Terror Island – Not a Serial! (Ad 1 of 7)