Summary
In a labyrinthine narrative steeped in familial intrigue and daring escapades, the elderly, chess-obsessed magnate James Rance issues a stark ultimatum to his wayward grandson, Tommy. Having forsaken a crucial chess match for the allure of a poker table — a clandestine diversion orchestrated by his conniving uncle Gilbert — Tommy is warned that another such transgression will irrevocably divert his inheritance into Gilbert's avaricious grasp. True to form, the very next evening sees Gilbert deliberately instigating a violent fracas during another poker game, culminating in a supposed fatality, thereby implicating Tommy and further jeopardizing his future. Concurrently, a parallel romantic entanglement unfolds as Terrence Redmond, a benevolent guardian to a war orphan from the battle-scarred fields of France, finds himself captivated by Dawn Moyer. The threads converge at a lavish soiree hosted by Elsie Rance at the opulent Hotel Plaza, where Terrence, ever the gallant figure, pledges his unwavering assistance to Elsie. The subsequent morning, Tommy's conspicuous absence ignites a desperate search. Elsie summons Terrence, who, after a swift, decisive display of jujitsu against Gilbert's formidable Japanese retainer, tracks Tommy and Dawn to Gilbert's secluded country estate. The villain's treachery escalates with a poisoning attempt on Terrence, foiled only when a feline inadvertently consumes the tainted cream, succumbing dramatically. What ensues is a breathtaking, anachronistic broadsword duel between Terrence and Gilbert’s henchmen, a brutal ballet of steel where Terrence’s innate, inherited propensity for violence grants him ultimate victory. This timely triumph ensures Tommy’s return for the decisive chess match, securing his birthright. The resolution also sees Elsie find love and engagement with Terrence's friend, Bruce, leaving Terrence free to pursue his blossoming romance with Dawn, untangling the complex web of inheritance, romance, and peril.
Synopsis
Elderly millionaire James Rance, whose only passion is chess, warns his grandson Tommy, who missed the previous evening's game because he played poker with his uncle Gilbert, that should he miss another game, Gilbert will gain the boy's inheritance. During another poker game the next night, Gilbert provokes a fight between Tommy and another player that results in the other player's supposed death. Meanwhile, Terrence Redmond, the guardian of an orphan he found while fighting in France, falls in love with Dawn Moyer. During Elsie Rance's party at the Hotel Plaza, Terrence gallantly offers to assist Elsie whenever she needs him. The next morning, when Tommy's absence is discovered, Elsie calls Terrence, who, after beating Gilbert's Japanese servant in jujitsu, locates Tommy and Dawn at Gilbert's country home. After Gilbert's attempt to poison Terrence is discovered when a cat dies after drinking Terrence's cream, Terrence fights Gilbert's henchmen with broadswords and wins because of his inherited penchant for violence. Tommy returns in time for the chess match, and Elsie becomes engaged to Terrence's friend Bruce, leaving Terrence free to romance Dawn.
Review Excerpt
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A Whirlwind of Inheritance, Intrigue, and Inherited Violence: Revisiting 'A Dangerous Affair' (1919)
Stepping back into the cinematic landscape of 1919, one encounters a film like A Dangerous Affair, a compelling melodrama that, even a century later, retains a certain vivacious charm, a testament to the enduring power of classic storytelling. Directed by someone with a clear vision for pace and dramatic escalation, and penned by Carl Krusada and Garfield Thompson, this silent-era gem p..."
