The Rear Car
"A Mystery Play - From a New Angle" by Edward E. Rose
The Rear Car was adapted into film as "Red Lights" in 1923. Unfortunately, I haven't seen it although it still exists. (It was adapted again in 1933 as Murder in the Private Car.)
Red Lights is yet another of those silent films that has had enough changes made to the source material to get listed as borderline science fiction in several references.
SPOILERS
An eccentric scientist is an added character in the film. He uses a mysterious telepathic machine that sends messages using strange "red lights". His primary target is the heroine, Ruth Carson, who is traveling by train to finally meet her lost, rich father. The entire story takes place on this train.
Other changes are made as well. The villain in the film is Ruth's long-lost half brother. In the play it was her presumed-dead uncle.
One constant in both is the character Sheridan Scott (played by Raymond Griffith in the film). He's not a crime detective; he's a crime "deflector". Scott's a wacky guy who describes himself as follows:
"The detective appears after the crime is committed. The de-flector appears before crime is perpetrated and de-flects it. And the deflection is in direct ratio with the animus of the exiting body -".
Most reviews seem to indicate that the plot, although sometimes entertaining, was not brought to the screen properly. The New York Times concluded: "But the story is never adequately explained."
Imho, that's not the fault of Edward Rose's play.
written: 8/14/2002