Measure for Measure
Lubin Catalog synopsis (dated 1909/Length 965 feet)
At about the time this film was made, s.f. movies were just starting to make the change from being short satires and spoofs to becoming longer and more serious in nature as this synopsis demonstrates:
"Jules, a young inventor and Dick his chum are working side by side. Jules is just perfecting a new and highly destructive submarine mine. He takes the drawing to show them to the superintendent and exits.
In the meantime the false friend roams through Jules drawer takes away some papers which he conceals in his shirt bosom. On the way home Dick asks his chum to enter a salon which he refuses to do but his friend pulls him in. He asks him to drink some whiskey but he prefers to take a glass of milk. Unobserved Dick puts some knockout drops in his friend's glass. They leave for their room where Jules is fast asleep. In the meantime Dick tries to sell the blue prints of the submarine mine to the Ambassador of a Foreign Poser. He writes a letter in Jules name.
He then goes to Jules sweetheart and tells her that Jules in a drunkard and asks her to marry him. He is firmly rebuked. But just then Jules enters staggering, still under the influence of the drug.
The girl's father who overheard the conversation between his daughter and Dick readily believes Jules to be a drunkard and throws him out of the house. This is exactly what his chum wanted. With the aid of three men he takes Jules to an isolated spot where he is held prisoner.
The next day there is great excitement at the factory. Jules disappeared and with him valuable secrets of the factory. Dick's part in the discovery and readiness to help aroused the suspicion of one of the detectives and he decides to watch him.
In the meantime the Ambassador had an interview with Dick and offered him $20,000 if the missing blue prints were brought. Dick promises to bring them at oncel.
Jules has regained consciousness. He now sees the plot and with the aid of one of his watchers sends a message to his sweetheart.
While Dick vainly tries to force the secret of the submarine mine from Jules' iips, his sweetheart is preparing his rescue.
She and special officers detailed to free him come just in time to witness a terrific explosion which took place inside the hut where Jules in help captive. Instead of giving away the secret, he threw the min between his captors. He himself is badly hut and is taken to the hospital. His bravery is rewarded and his sweetheart nurses him back to health."
If you think that this is a convoluted plot, you're not alone. Two reviews at the time pretty much took this stance; one stated "The complications of this melodrama would have produced a more effective story if they had been knit together more smoothly…".
Four stills that accompany the synopsis may be all that remain of this film.
But, of the Lubin films that I've delved into, this one might be the one I'd most like to watch (which maybe ain't sayin' much).
written: 6/24/2003
