Behind the Secret Panel - Production & Contact Info

Behind the Secret Panel (1916)
Short | Short, Drama

Primary photo for Behind the Secret Panel

Behind the Secret Panel (1916)

Short | Short, Drama

Although Sonia Marask has been married to Petroff Marask for some years, she doesn't know that he holds Nihilistic meetings in the cellar of their home. M. Lazar, Chief of the Russian Secret Service, is one of Sonia's ardent admirers and ...See moreAlthough Sonia Marask has been married to Petroff Marask for some years, she doesn't know that he holds Nihilistic meetings in the cellar of their home. M. Lazar, Chief of the Russian Secret Service, is one of Sonia's ardent admirers and jealous of Count Savanoff, a wealthy roué. Sonia has been playing one against the other, being clever enough to keep them both within limits, which they are anxious to exceed. Lazar arrives at the Marask house shortly afterward and is having a most enjoyable tete-a-tete with Sonia in the drawing room when Count Savanoff is ushered in. When Marask comes in Lazar leaves in ill humor, bent on getting even with the Count. He learns from Marask's brother, one of his stool pigeons, that Marask is deeply involved in a Nihilistic conspiracy. The butler tells Lazar of the meetings in Marask's house, of the secret passage from the cellar and makes other incriminating revelations. Lazar now sees a way whereby Count Savanoff and Marask can be removed in order to give him a clear field for the possession of Sonia. It so happens that on the very day on which Lazar has planned to carry out his scheme, Count Savanoff sends a big box of roses to Sonia with his card attached. Marask comes into the library and picks up the card, taking his wife to task for her flirtation. Lazar is announced and Sonia retires, in order that Marask may have a private interview with him. Lazar tell Marask that his friend, Savanoff, has denounced him as a Nihilist. Having aroused Marask to a great pitch of fear and jealousy, Lazar gives him a vial of poison, advising him to act swiftly and secretly and assuring him that he may depend on his protection. The Count at Marask's suggestion, is invited by Sonia to dine at their house that very evening, where Marask poisons him. Marask and Sonia are placed under arrest and taken before the Lieutenant of Police for examination, after which Marask is led off to prison, while Sonia is brought before Lazar, who tells her that the charge against her and her husband may mean Siberia. After a while Lazar gets very offensive in his attentions and assures her that he will save them both if she is willing to become his mistress. Sonia scorns his offer and Lazar calls the guard and has her placed in close confinement to give her an opportunity to change her mind. A month later Sonia is again brought before Lazar. It is apparent that Lazar has been drinking heavily, when Sonia is brought in. She hears one of the attendants who has been testing gold coins with a powerful acid tell Lazar to be careful with the bottle of acid. Lazar finds that Sonia is still unyielding and thereupon calls in several guards with knouts. As they are about to seize her, Sonia weakens and cries that she consents to sacrifice her honor rather than suffer further punishment. Lazar smiles cynically and sends the guards away. As Lazar enfolds her in his arms, she reminds him that he must keep his promise to sign a release for herself and husband before she accedes to his wishes. She puts the pen in his hand. He signs the order and then lurches toward her to exact his payment. Sonia eludes him and he starts to snatch the release from her, she seizes the bottle off the table and throws the acid in his face. Utterly blinded, Lazar staggers about the room. Sonia then hits him over the head with his own pistol and knocks him senseless. Then she rushes out of the door and shows the lieutenant in charge the order of release, cautioning him that the chief doesn't wish to be disturbed. In quick order Marask is released, and with the assistance of Nihilists, Marask and Sonia make their escape to the Russian border in an automobile, after a hot pursuit by the Russian police. Later they take passage on an ocean steamer, and in the final scene we see them on board in New York harbor. Written by Moving Picture World synopsis See less

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5 cast members

Name	Known for
Paul Panzer Petroff Marask Petroff Marask See fewer	The Black Book (1929)
Sonia Marcelle Sonia Marask Sonia Marask See fewer	Elusive Isabel (1916)
William Welsh Lazar (as William J. Welsh) Lazar (as William J. Welsh) See fewer	The Bull's Eye (1917)
Tony Merlo Count Savanoff (as Anthony Merlo) Count Savanoff (as Anthony Merlo) See fewer	Seventeen (1916)
Howard Crampton The Butler The Butler See fewer	20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1916)

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