Key to Power (1918)

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Synopsis by Janiss Garza

Before Educational Films became infamous for its cheap two-reel comedies, it was actually known for making educational shorts. This picture, released a month after the end of World War I, was one of the studio's attempts at producing a dramatic feature. After his graduation from West Point, Bruce Wendell (Hugh Thompson) becomes an army captain. His sweetheart, Ann Blair (Claire Adams), comes from an army family. Her other suitor is Lieutenant Parrish (Fred Radcliffe). Not long before the U.S. gets involved in the war, German spies come to town and convince Parrish's father (Tom Burroughs) to stop giving Bruce's father (J.J. Dunn) the use of his cars to transport coal. This ruins Wendell, and before he dies, he asks that Bruce resign from his post and continue fighting the Germans from home. No one understands Bruce's actions, especially after the U.S. enters the war. Ann, in fact, gets engaged to Parrish. But Bruce's motivation becomes clear when German agent Meyer (Stephen Grattan) blows up a mine and kidnaps Ann and her brother Bobbie (Frazier Nounnan). Bruce saves the day and Ann returns to him.