Uploaded December 2020 | Updated September 2026, 37 minutes ago
One of Pearl White’s best- and rarest- of her serials, PEARL OF THE ARMY was produced by Pathe in mid 1916 as a part of the “preparedness” trend in serials, i.e., preparing for the United States’ entry into WW1. It was one of the biggest money making serials that Pathe made starring Pearl White. This particular episode is a cut down 8mm film print version from the late 1940’s (possibly used as filler material for an early TV station) that only features 10 episodes instead of the original 15 produced in 1916. Directed by Edward Jose, this chapter is so well done that it can be viewed by itself and still be entertaining.
Some necessary background before seeing this episode: “The Silent Menace” is an enemy spy who in the first chapter had stolen the plans for the Panama Canal (which was only two years old in 1916) after wrecking a train carrying said plans, and is plotting to begin a revolution within the United States. Chapter after chapter, Pearl battled it out trying to figure out who the Menace is and stop him, with this episode being the one where she finally does. Ralph Kellard (clean shaven Captain Ralph Payne) and Floyd Buckley (mustached Lt. T. O. Adams) play competing love interests to her, and are both prime suspects for being “The Silent Menace”. It has been 50 years since these prints have been viewed by the general public- sit back, and allow Pearl White to thrill and entertain you in THE SILENT MENACE- UNMASKED!
Huge thanks to Panayotis Carayannis for the film!
Scanned from a standard 8mm film print on a Wolverine Reels2Digital super and standard 8 film scanner.
IMDB for “Pearl of the Army”: imdb.com/title/tt0007165/?ref_=tt_mv_close
One of Pearl White’s best- and rarest- of her serials, PEARL OF THE ARMY was produced by Pathe in mid 1916 as a part of the “preparedness” trend in serials, i.e., preparing for the United States’ entry into WW1. It was one of the biggest money making serials that Pathe made starring Pearl White. This particular episode is a cut down 8mm film print version from the late 1940’s (possibly used as filler material for an early TV station) that only features 10 episodes instead of the original 15 produced in 1916. Directed by Edward Jose, this chapter is so well done that it can be viewed by itself and still be entertaining.
Some necessary background before seeing this episode: “The Silent Menace” is an enemy spy who in the first chapter had stolen the plans for the Panama Canal (which was only two years old in 1916) after wrecking a train carrying said plans, and is plotting to begin a revolution within the United States. Chapter after chapter, Pearl battled it out trying to figure out who the Menace is and stop him, with this episode being the one where she finally does. Ralph Kellard (clean shaven Captain Ralph Payne) and Floyd Buckley (mustached Lt. T. O. Adams) play competing love interests to her, and are both prime suspects for being “The Silent Menace”. It has been 50 years since these prints have been viewed by the general public- sit back, and allow Pearl White to thrill and entertain you in THE SILENT MENACE- UNMASKED!
Huge thanks to Panayotis Carayannis for the film!
Scanned from a standard 8mm film print on a Wolverine Reels2Digital super and standard 8 film scanner.
IMDB for “Pearl of the Army”: imdb.com/title/tt0007165/?ref_=tt_mv_close
