The Midnight Man (1917)

Jack Mulhall, who had a knack for light comedy, was miscast in this crime drama. Two safe manufacturers, Moore (Hal Wilson) and Hardin (Wilbur Higby), are planning to go into partnership. Moore's son Bob (Mulhall) opposes the consolidation because he has invented a supposedly crack-proof safe and he believes Hardin's safes to be inferior. Hardin, meanwhile, is not thrilled about the romantic partnership developing between Bob and his daughter Irene (Ann Kroman). One night Bob catches top safecracker John Rehan, known as "the Eel" (Al McQuarrie), breaking into his new safe. The crook escapes, but Bob is determined to find him, since he obviously knows more about safes than he does. He finds the Eel at the home of his girlfriend, Molly Murta (Uard Lamont), and offers him a job. The Eel accepts, but when Hardin gives his daughter an expensive necklace for her birthday, he eyes it hungrily. Hardin locks the necklace in a safe and offers Bob anything he wants if he can open it. That night he does, and leaves the necklace looped around the safe's knob. The Eel, however, steals it and Bob has to go to a lot of trouble to get it back. When he finally recovers it, Hardin asks what he wants and Bob, naturally, takes Irene. ~ Janiss Garza, Rovi