The Lion Tamer's Revenge (1912)

The Lion Tamer's Revenge

1912
ShortThriller

The incidents of the story are laid in Rome. Herman. a lion tamer, and Cleo, his assistant, are the leading figures of a circus that is showing in one of the great Roman amphitheaters. Cleo is betrothed to Herman and he loves her with a love that is intense. This love begets in him none of the tenderness that endears a man to a woman; it is rather the similitude of a lion's rights over his mate; rights for which he will battle to the death against an intruder and, if needs be, include her in the slaughter. It is only to be expected that Cleo's nature has never been stirred by such devotion. Her lover is her master, a task master at that, and she pines in secret for a something that will transform the galling chains into links of sunshine. This something is introduced into her life one day, when Lieutenant Alexander, of the Roman army, presents her with a bouquet of beautiful flowers, ostensibly as a token of his admiration for her grace and skill in an equestrienne act, but really as an expression of his sincere admiration of herself as a woman. Herman, whose eyes overlook nothing in which Cleo is concerned, observes the act, and we see a snarl on his lips as he questions her in the ring. Her easy, candid reply reassures him, and the snarl is succeeded by a smile as he learns that the gracious little gift is from a stranger. But the Lieutenant, in his blind infatuation, bungles things, and takes the first step in what is destined to become a tragedy. He follows Cleo to her dressing room and, on being rebuffed, shows such deep disconsolation that the warm heart of the woman is touched. Besides he has brought a thrill to her heart that has been hitherto unknown to her, and, moved by sympathy and attracted by his fine appearance, she consoles him by a soft pat on the shoulder and by musical words that electrify the man. Ardent lover that he is, it is only after a few endearing words that he takes her in his arms and kisses her. Herman opens the door almost at the moment and the lovers just escape being discovered. The Lieutenant departs. Herman's jealousy being aroused, he turns ferociously on Cleo and gives her much the same rough usage as he would his refractory animals. She is thoroughly cowed and mute before him and he leaves her with a threat should she dare to love another man. The lion tamer grows more jealous as he thinks of the attentions of the Lieutenant, and he arranges with the clown of the circus to spy on her movements. Cleo receives a clandestine letter from Lieutenant Alexander, and joins him on an autoing trip. She is followed by the clown, who succeeds in gaining a place on the back springs of the auto as it speeds away. Cleo is late for dinner that day, and on being reprimanded by Herman, gives an evasive explanation. At this juncture the clown comes into the dinner table, and makes signs to Herman to follow him out of doors. There he tells him of the meeting and of the tender words that have passed between the lovers. Returning to the room, Herman accuses Cleo of her duplicity before the entire circus force, and forbids her to leave the circus premises in the future. But the lovers meet again, and a fiendish plan is suggested to Herman by the clown to entrap them. He calls on Cleo and good-naturedly offers to carry a note from her to Alexander. Deceived by his manner, she writes the note and delivers it to him. The clown carries it directly to Herman, who opens it carefully and reads it. Then it is re-sealed, and the clown takes it to the Lieutenant, who is overjoyed to receive it. This note fixes a meeting place for the lovers, the following night. The Lieutenant tells the clown, verbally, that he will be at the rendezvous and requests him to advise Cleo accordingly. This is done and Herman is informed of the particulars. The fateful night arrives. The clown calls on Cleo and notifies her that Lieutenant Alexander awaits her outside. He then joins Herman, who is waiting in a concealed spot near the door, through which Cleo must pass. As she cautiously emerges, Cleo is seized from behind by the conspirators, and is gagged and bound. They then carry her to the caged arena in which the lions perform, and tie her to the bars. The clown meets the Lieutenant at the appointed spot and asks him to follow him to the place where Cleo awaits him. Suspecting nothing, Alexander is led into the arena. He begins to feel that he has been entrapped, just as the clown rushes from him through the gate and locks it. Now the plot unfolds itself to him, and, like a brave man, he determines to die gamely. Seizing a platform leaning up against the cage bars, he pulls it aside, thinking it may lead to safety. With horror, he discovers Cleo behind it in a fainting condition, upheld by the thongs which bind her to the bars. Then the whole truth flashes on him. Now the thunderous roars of the lions which are being turned into the arena by Herman fall on his ears. He again places the platform in front of Cleo and gets behind it himself, hoping to be able to keep the brutes from reaching her. All in vain. The infuriated animals crowd around the spot with such fierce determination that he rushes out into the center of the arena to distract their attention from his beloved. He wrestles with them desperately, and we see him go down. After that there is a merciful hiatus, during which Cleo makes her escape, just how the producer has failed to show us. The final scene shows the arrival of the police in the arena next morning. A white sheet hides the ghastly remains of what had once been a gallant soldier. Herman explains to the police that the tragedy is due to an accident, but Cleo, with avenging finger, points to him as the man who had lured the Lieutenant to the spot. He springs at her like a wild animal, but is seized by the officers.

Released
1912

Details

Release year: 1912

Storyline

The incidents of the story are laid in Rome. Herman. a lion tamer, and Cleo, his assistant, are the leading figures of a circus that is showing in one of the great Roman amphitheaters. Cleo is betrothed to Herman and he loves her with a love that is intense. This love begets in him none of the tenderness that endears a man to a woman; it is rather the similitude of a lion's rights over his mate; rights for which he will battle to the death against an intruder and, if needs be, include her in the slaughter. It is only to be expected that Cleo's nature has never been stirred by such devotion. Her lover is her master, a task master at that, and she pines in secret for a something that will transform the galling chains into links of sunshine. This something is introduced into her life one day, when Lieutenant Alexander, of the Roman army, presents her with a bouquet of beautiful flowers, ostensibly as a token of his admiration for her grace and skill in an equestrienne act, but really as an expression of his sincere admiration of herself as a woman. Herman, whose eyes overlook nothing in which Cleo is concerned, observes the act, and we see a snarl on his lips as he questions her in the ring. Her easy, candid reply reassures him, and the snarl is succeeded by a smile as he learns that the gracious little gift is from a stranger. But the Lieutenant, in his blind infatuation, bungles things, and takes the first step in what is destined to become a tragedy. He follows Cleo to her dressing room and, on being rebuffed, shows such deep disconsolation that the warm heart of the woman is touched. Besides he has brought a thrill to her heart that has been hitherto unknown to her, and, moved by sympathy and attracted by his fine appearance, she consoles him by a soft pat on the shoulder and by musical words that electrify the man. Ardent lover that he is, it is only after a few endearing words that he takes her in his arms and kisses her. Herman opens the door almost at the moment and the lovers just escape being discovered. The Lieutenant departs. Herman's jealousy being aroused, he turns ferociously on Cleo and gives her much the same rough usage as he would his refractory animals. She is thoroughly cowed and mute before him and he leaves her with a threat should she dare to love another man. The lion tamer grows more jealous as he thinks of the attentions of the Lieutenant, and he arranges with the clown of the circus to spy on her movements. Cleo receives a clandestine letter from Lieutenant Alexander, and joins him on an autoing trip. She is followed by the clown, who succeeds in gaining a place on the back springs of the auto as it speeds away. Cleo is late for dinner that day, and on being reprimanded by Herman, gives an evasive explanation. At this juncture the clown comes into the dinner table, and makes signs to Herman to follow him out of doors. There he tells him of the meeting and of the tender words that have passed between the lovers. Returning to the room, Herman accuses Cleo of her duplicity before the entire circus force, and forbids her to leave the circus premises in the future. But the lovers meet again, and a fiendish plan is suggested to Herman by the clown to entrap them. He calls on Cleo and good-naturedly offers to carry a note from her to Alexander. Deceived by his manner, she writes the note and delivers it to him. The clown carries it directly to Herman, who opens it carefully and reads it. Then it is re-sealed, and the clown takes it to the Lieutenant, who is overjoyed to receive it. This note fixes a meeting place for the lovers, the following night. The Lieutenant tells the clown, verbally, that he will be at the rendezvous and requests him to advise Cleo accordingly. This is done and Herman is informed of the particulars. The fateful night arrives. The clown calls on Cleo and notifies her that Lieutenant Alexander awaits her outside. He then joins Herman, who is waiting in a concealed spot near the door, through which Cleo must pass. As she cautiously emerges, Cleo is seized from behind by the conspirators, and is gagged and bound. They then carry her to the caged arena in which the lions perform, and tie her to the bars. The clown meets the Lieutenant at the appointed spot and asks him to follow him to the place where Cleo awaits him. Suspecting nothing, Alexander is led into the arena. He begins to feel that he has been entrapped, just as the clown rushes from him through the gate and locks it. Now the plot unfolds itself to him, and, like a brave man, he determines to die gamely. Seizing a platform leaning up against the cage bars, he pulls it aside, thinking it may lead to safety. With horror, he discovers Cleo behind it in a fainting condition, upheld by the thongs which bind her to the bars. Then the whole truth flashes on him. Now the thunderous roars of the lions which are being turned into the arena by Herman fall on his ears. He again places the platform in front of Cleo and gets behind it himself, hoping to be able to keep the brutes from reaching her. All in vain. The infuriated animals crowd around the spot with such fierce determination that he rushes out into the center of the arena to distract their attention from his beloved. He wrestles with them desperately, and we see him go down. After that there is a merciful hiatus, during which Cleo makes her escape, just how the producer has failed to show us. The final scene shows the arrival of the police in the arena next morning. A white sheet hides the ghastly remains of what had once been a gallant soldier. Herman explains to the police that the tragedy is due to an accident, but Cleo, with avenging finger, points to him as the man who had lured the Lieutenant to the spot. He springs at her like a wild animal, but is seized by the officers.

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