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En moderne Søhelt
Also known as A Modern Naval Hero in the USA
(1907) Denmark
B&W : Short film
Directed by Viggo Larsen
Cast: Robert Storm Petersen [the naval officer], Viggo Larsen, Gustav Lund
Nordisk Films Kompagni production; distributed by Nordisk Films Kompagni. / Produced by Ole Olsen. Scenario by Arnold Richard Nielsen. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format. / The film was released in the USA on 25 April 1908; in a split-reel with Ihles & Antonio, Boxers (1908).
Drama: War.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? It is time of war. The canons are tendering incessantly from the man-of-wars besieging the town, and the forts on shore are answering back. The admiral is having a war council with some of the officers in the great cabin. The point is to get hold of some important papers, which are in the foe’s possession on shore. Two young officers at once volunteer to undertake this perilous expedition. They disguise themselves as fishermen and go on shore in a rowboat. They get luckily through the outposts and reach safely the cottage where the general has taken up his quarters. While the officers are discussing, both the spies are listening, upstairs. An ordinance is bringing a report, which causes all the officers to leave the cottage. At once the two desperadoes set to work, sawing a hole into the ceiling, through which one of them jumps down into the room and gets hold of the important paper. He has just handed this to his friend, as the officers return. He has not time enough to get away, but hides himself beneath the sofa. The theft is discovered at once, the spy is found, and for a moment it looks bad enough for the daring man. But then shooting is heard from the spy upstairs, a moment’s confusion arises, and he succeeds in escaping. Outside the house a fighting detains him, so that he cannot get away, but he has a firm hand and is also this time successful. Now it goes through the streets at a rattling pace, but not fast enough for our hero. A motorcar is rushing by, he jumps into it, and is in this way carried some long distance. He gets on board and delivers the document, but he cannot wait for the admiral to thank him; he must be off again to save his friend, who has been imprisoned. Outside the prison walls he jumps into a common sewer, goes through all the stinking passages, all the time knocking at the stones, until a soft knocking is answering him back. When he has assured himself that his friend is inside he at once sets to work to rock out a big stone. After having worked awhile he has made a hole big enough for the officer to creep through. For a moment the two desperadoes are embracing one another, and then they set out for the admiral’s ship. The two heroes are now again standing in the great cabin, this time to get their reward. In front of the jubilant crew the admiral is decorating the young officers with the medal for bravery.
Survival status: The film is presumed lost.
Current rights holder: (unknown)
Listing updated: 19 November 2022.
References: Mottram-Danish p. 33 : Website-IMDb.
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