The Purple Cipher (1920)
October 11, 1920
Release Date
Plot.
Jeanne Baldwin, Leonard Staunton, Alan Fitzhugh and Jack Baldwin are guided on a tour of underground dens in Chinatown by Hop Lee. During their trip, Wang Foo abducts Jeanne, and she and her companions are rescued through the intervention of private detective Frank Condon. Three months later, Fitzhugh is missing, supposedly murdered by the Chinese. Jack Baldwin is threatened, poisoned and his body disappears. Next, a threat against Jeanne is received by Staunton. To save her life, he is to meet the blackmailers at a bay in the harbor. Enlisting the aid of a submarine, Staunton captures the three conspirators, who turn out to be the missing victims in the case, led by Condon. The three had planned the escapade to extort money from Staunton. The mystery thus resolved, Staunton and Jeanne are married. A lost film.
Where to Watch.
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Cast & Crew.

Earle Williams
Leonard Staunton

Vola Vale
Jeanne Baldwin

Ernest Shields
Jack Baldwin

Allan Forrest
Alan Fitzhugh

Henry A. Barrows
Frank Condon

Goro Kino
Hop Lee

Frank M. Seki
Wong Foo

Arthur Redden

Chester Bennett
Director

Murray Leinster
Story

J. Grubb Alexander
Writer

Jack MacKenzie
Director of Photography

Albert E. Smith
Presenter
Details.
Wiki.
The Purple Cipher is a 1920 American silent mystery film directed by Chester Bennett and starring Earle Williams, Vola Vale and Ernest Shields. Shot by Vitagraph at the company's Brooklyn studios, it was based on the short story The Purple Hieroglyph by Murray Leinster. The story was adapted twice more in the sound era as Murder Will Out (1930) and Torchy Blane in Chinatown (1939).