A Scream in the Night (1919)

Run Time - 80 min.  |   Countries - United States  |  
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Synopsis by Janiss Garza

Back in the days when Darwinism was considered a controversial scientific theory, people had some pretty strange notions about evolution. That can be the only excuse for this film. In an Indian jungle, a mad scientist steals the young daughter of Senator Newcastle (Stephen Grattan) and raises her to be a female Tarzan. He plans to use her to prove Darwin was right. He names the girl (Ruth Budd) Darwa, and she spends her time climbing trees and wearing leopard skins and is watched over by a servant, Lotec (Ed Roseman). But one day a group of explorers find her and take her back to civilization, where she becomes a sensation in society and gets engaged to a prominent young man. At this juncture, the scientist once again steps in, spouts off about Darwin, and kidnaps the girl. He takes her to the same place he has imprisoned Senator Newcastle, who immediately recognizes her because of her resemblance to his wife. Finally, the scientist throws Darwa into a cage with a dangerous ape, but she uses her wits and manages to avoid being killed. Eventually she is reunited with her fiancé. This is one of the wackier films put out during the silent era.