A Central American Romance - Production & Contact Info

A Central American Romance (1910)
Short | Drama, Short

Primary photo for A Central American Romance

A Central American Romance (1910)

Short | Drama, Short

The first scene of this interesting romance might well be entitled "The Lady of the Balcony and a Soldier of Fortune." Here we are introduced to a typical Central American village street, adown which can be seen riding a gallant (?) ...See moreThe first scene of this interesting romance might well be entitled "The Lady of the Balcony and a Soldier of Fortune." Here we are introduced to a typical Central American village street, adown which can be seen riding a gallant (?) officer of the army of a Central American Republic. He pauses in front of a little cottage, leaning from whose balcony can be seen a beautiful southern senorita. Doffing his cap, the officer dismounts from his horse and proceeds to lay siege to the heart of this dark-eyed charmer. In the midst of this flirtation, in which the lady of the balcony seems to take but poor interest, a blind beggar heedlessly knocks against this gold and lace officer. With all the brutality of his nature, he knocks the poor old man to the ground, where he lies stunned and bleeding. This is seen by a young soldier of fortune, an American, who hastily helps the old man to his feet, and after sending him kindly on his way, coolly turns around and knocks the officer down for his inhumanity to the helpless. All this gallantry on the part of the young American is not lost on the fair southern observer, who, when the officer rides off wild with rage, quickly informs the American that the officer whom he has just insulted is no other than the Commander of the Army, and that he will be arrested within an hour unless he immediately seeks safety in flight. The American, however, is fascinated by the southern girl, whose every glance is filled with admiration. While he lingers, loath to leave so fair a chance acquaintance, he is surrounded and put under arrest, and soon finds himself locked in a dungeon cell. Word reaches the ears of the senorita of the balcony that at sunrise a number of political prisoners are to be shot, among whom are her own brother and another American. With the quick wit of the Spanish girl she contrives to send the American a note informing him of this fact, and at the same time provides him with the means of escape and instructions how to reach an American war vessel lying in the harbor, that he may seek its powerful aid in saving the lives of these guiltless men. The young American waits a favorable chance and eventually succeeds in making a daring escape along the cliffs of the see, not, however, until he has throttled the guard, whom he deceived by a clever trick. Finally reaching a boat, he starts out for the warship. Arriving on board he lays his case before the officer, who, realizing the necessity of urgent haste, summons a big crew of brave blue jackets. The ship's boat is lowered and soon a boatload of eager young American sailors is pulling for the shore to rescue the condemned men from an unjust death. The gray dawn is just beginning to change into the pink of sunrise when the Commander tolls out the death knell to the condemned prisoners. While they are being marched to their places of execution we are shown the landing of the blue jackets, who, smashing in the gates of the prison and with Stars and Stripes floating, arrive at the scene of the execution just as the sun rises out of the sea. The American demands the immediate release of the condemned men in the name of the United States government. Heedless to this plea for mercy and justice, the brutal officer gives the word to fire upon the crowd of helpless and bound prisoners, but before the command can be put into execution the flash of a dozen or more sailors' cutlasses is seen, and in a moment the courtyard is a mass of struggling, slashing sailors and soldiers. The conflict is of very short duration, however, for justice backed up by Yankee pluck will not be denied. The officer is knocked to the ground and the soldiers flee for their lives, while the courtyard rings with the cheers of both prisoners and sailors in triumph. When our brave young American soldier of fortune has the extreme pleasure of delivering to the arms of a certain southern beauty her brother, the way and manner in which she expresses her thanks cause him to suddenly decide that he will continue his stay in Central America much longer than he expected, and incidentally to calculate upon what size of ring would best fir a certain dark-eyed lady's engagement finger. Written by Moving Picture World synopsis See less