Filmed under rather strenuous conditions at Ausable Chasm in upstate New York, this low-budget serial released in 15 chapters by Pathé starred one of the most popular action performers of the era, Charles Hutchison. Although known as a daredevil, Hutchison, who was suffering injuries received in a previous serial, this time balked at plunging into the icy chasm and director George B. Seitz reportedly doubled him himself. While Seitz splashed about in the freezing river, another well-known serial director, Spencer Gordon Bennet, called the shots and the scene went smoothly enough. Hutchison played Larry Hutchdale, a young adventurer striving to gain possession of a formula for making paper from seaweed. The villain in the piece was none other than Warner Oland, the Swedish character star who had menaced Pearl White in several previous chapterplays; Hurricane Hutch also offered employment to brunette leading lady Lucy Fox, villainous Harry Semels, and wiry Joe Cuny. In his first of many serials, Joe Bonomo, of saltwater taffy fame, performed several eye-catching stunts, and cameraman Frank Redman doubled as one of Oland's henchmen.
by Hans J. Wollstein
synopsis
