The Trap (1922 film)
| The Trap | |
|---|---|
 Newspaper advertisement. | |
| Directed by | Robert Thornby |
| Written by | Lon Chaney (story) Lucien Hubbard (story) George C. Hull (writer) Irving Thalberg (story) |
| Starring | Lon Chaney Alan Hale |
| Cinematography | Virgil Miller |
| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 60 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | Silent (English intertitles) |
The Trap is a 1922 American silent film directed by Robert Thornby and starring Lon Chaney and Alan Hale. It was released by Universal Pictures. The film was released in the United Kingdom under the title Heart of a Wolf.
The film stars Chaney as the leading character, Alan Hale as his rival, and Irene Rich as the female lead. Chaney had also appeared in an unrelated film of the same name in 1913. The film also features in a minor role Chaney's son Creighton (later known as Lon Chaney Jr.) in his film debut.
Plot[]
As described in a film magazine,[1] Gaspard the Good (Chaney) returns from a trip to his traps to find his sweetheart Thalie (Godowsky) deeply interested in a newcomer, Benson (Hale). When Gasperd goes to his mine he finds Benson's men in possession, he having acquired it through a legal technicality. Broken in health and spirit, Gaspard waits. Benson marries Thalie and, in the seven years that follow, she becomes ill and dies, leaving a son. Benson is thrown in jail for shooting a Swede, whom Gaspard had urged to fight Benson. Gaspard takes the child to his cabin and, knowing that Benson will come after his release from prison to claim his child, plans an awful revenge. He arranges a trap in his cabin that he hopes Benson will walk into and be eaten by a hungry wolf that has been penned up. The boy, however, walks into the trap, and Gaspard is nearly killed rescuing him. Then Benson comes, and Gaspard, having learned a lesson, turns the boy over to him and wishes them Godspeed.
Cast[]
- Lon Chaney as Gaspard the Good
- Alan Hale as Benson
- Dagmar Godowsky as Thalie
- as The Boy
- Irene Rich as The Teacher
- Spottiswoode Aitken as The Factor
- Herbert Standing as The Priest
- Frank Campeau as The Police Sergeant
Production[]
The Trap was filmed in Yosemite National Park in California.
Survival status[]
Several prints of The Trap exist and it is available on DVD.[2]
References[]
- ^ "Reviews: The Trap". Exhibitors Herald. New York City: Exhibitors Herald Company. 14 (20): 59. May 13, 1922.
- ^ Progressive Silent Film List: The Trap at silentera.com
External links[]
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to The Trap (1922 film). |
- The Trap at IMDb
- Synopsis at AllMovie
- The Trap is available for free download at the Internet Archive
 | This article about a silent drama film from the 1920s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by . |
- 1922 films
- American films
- English-language films
- American black-and-white films
- Films directed by Robert Thornby
- 1922 Western (genre) films
- Universal Pictures films
- 1922 drama films
- Silent American Western (genre) films
- 1920s silent drama film stubs