The Human Menace - Production & Contact Info

The Human Menace (1915)
Short | 20 min | Short, Drama

The Human Menace (1915)

Short | 20 min | Short, Drama

The story opens in a small town with Zoe Wharton and Halsey Burnes engaged. Their fathers, old cronies, are delighted and give a party for them. While the young people are playing games, to escape the crowds, Zoe and Halsey go into the ...See moreThe story opens in a small town with Zoe Wharton and Halsey Burnes engaged. Their fathers, old cronies, are delighted and give a party for them. While the young people are playing games, to escape the crowds, Zoe and Halsey go into the dining room, where Halsey discovers some wine, which his father has been drinking and pours out some for Zoe and himself. At first the girl refuses it, but when he urges her, she drinks. Unused to it, they both feel its effects very quickly and Halsey kisses her passionately and she responds. Three months elapse and Zoe waits impatiently for Halsey, who is talking with Mabel Welsh, a girl in the village. When he arrives, she tells him they must be married at once. Halsey is horrified, but tells her that when he calls for her that night to take her to the dance, he will tell her just when they can be married. That night, while Zoe waits dressed for the party, Halsey and Mabel Welsh are waiting at the station for the train. Halsey writes a note and sends it by a boy to Zoe. Halsey tells her that he cannot marry her as he had married Mabel Welsh the month before. He advises her to go to the city until it blows over. When Zoe finally realizes he has left her, her first impulse is to commit suicide, but she cannot. After robbing her little bank she takes his advice and goes to the city, leaving a note for her father saying she and Halsey have eloped. Months elapse and Zoe is in the county hospital. She cries for her child. The nurse tells her the baby died a few hours earlier. At first Zoe is heartbroken, then she realizes it is for the best. Later she is discharged from the hospital; wandering on the streets weak, exhausted, and without money, she is picked up by Mamie, a girl of the streets, who takes her to her home and advises her to go to the Thalia, a resort on the Barbary Coast, where she is working. Zoe consents to go and says she will start that night. The same evening, Judson Holmes is giving a dinner party and his motherless 16-year-old daughter Ellen is present. After the dinner one of the guests suggests a slumming party; Holmes consents, but leaves Ellen at home. As soon as the guests leave, Ellen calls the club and reaches Halsey Burnes and invites him up as she is alone. Zoe's first night at the Thalia is difficult, and when Judson Holmes and his party reach there they find them all dancing. Zoe stops opposite Holmes, who sits in a box, and the two watch each other, fascinated. He excuses himself to his guests and tells the waiter he wishes to see Zoe. She comes to him and the two sit talking forgetful of the place. Suddenly Holmes says he wishes to take her away from it all and, seeing the hurt look on Zoe's face, says that he means marriage. The girl consents but dares not tell him of Burnes and the baby. They return from their honeymoon and Holmes proudly introduces Zoe to the household as their new mistress. Then he sends for Ellen, who is sulking in her room. Zoe attempts to kiss her, but the girl repels all attempts and shakes hands only. She then meets her husband's friends. The guests, for the most part, treat her patronizingly and she stands frightened and apart when Halsey Burnes is announced. She can hardly believe her senses but pulls herself together before her husband introduces them. Burnes is overcome to see Zoe and when he moves away and takes Ellen into the conservatory, Zoe, deserted by the crowd, also walks unnoticed, and follows him to the conservatory. She stops short as she hears Halsey asking Ellen to elope. The girl consents. When she leaves, Zoe comes out in a fury and turns on Halsey, saying she will tell her husband. With a sneering laugh, he leaves her. Zoe sends for her husband and tells him all. In a fury he sends for Burnes, and Ellen, with her bags packed, comes in and overhears it all. Holmes tells Burnes that unless he leaves within 12 hours, he will kill him. Ellen starts to cry and Zoe takes her and leads her to her room. The girl clings to her and Zoe kisses her tenderly. She returns to her husband, who stands with head bowed. Zoe extends her hand wearily. She says goodbye, but as she turns, Holmes gathers her in his arms, and tells her he loves her and that it is only her present and future life he wishes. Written by Moving Picture World synopsis See less

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Cast	+ Add Cast
7 cast members

Name	Known for
Cleo Madison Zoe Wharton Zoe Wharton See fewer	Her Bitter Cup (1916)
Joe King Actor Actor See fewer	Smashing the Money Ring (1939)
Edward Sloman Actor Actor See fewer	The Mantle of Charity (1918)
Marjorie Daw Actress (as Margaret House) Actress (as Margaret House) See fewer	Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (1917)
Hylda Hollis Actress Actress See fewer	The Black Box (1915)
Laura Oakley Actress Actress See fewer	The Black Box (1915)
Ray Hanford Actor Actor See fewer	Wolfblood (1925)