The Purple Mask (1916)

Release Date - Dec 25, 1916 (USA)  |   Countries - United States  |   MPAA Rating - NR
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Synopsis by Hans J. Wollstein

The popular action adventure team of Grace Cunard and Francis Ford (older brother of John) wrote, directed, and starred in this 16 chapter serial in which Cunard plays a female Robin Hood. Playing lovely Patricia Montez by day, Cunard turns into The Queen of the Apaches, an outlaw who steals from the rich to gives to the poor, always leaving a purple mask behind as a trademark. She is pursued by detective Phil Kelly (Ford), who also lives a double life. The detective is in reality the head of a strange gang, the members of which know him only as a cloaked figure they call The Sphinx. Appearing in a supporting role as Cunard's butler is Mario Bianchi who, as Monty Banks, would enjoy a minor career as a comedy star in the '20s. Other minor roles were played by Joe Moore, the brother-in-law of Mary Pickford, future comedienne Gertrude Short, future B-Western menace Tom London and Ford's son Philip Ford. Pulp fiction in its purest form, The Purple Mask was a major success for its producer, Universal.