The Mysterious Contragrav - Production & Contact Info

The Mysterious Contragrav (1915)
Short | 26 min | Short, Drama, Sci-Fi

Primary photo for The Mysterious Contragrav

The Mysterious Contragrav (1915)

Short | 26 min | Short, Drama, Sci-Fi

After many years of hard labor and deep study, Coxheim, an inventor of renown and master of negative electricity, succeeds in inventing an electrical device that resists gravitation. His son Willard and daughter Laline, both expert ...See moreAfter many years of hard labor and deep study, Coxheim, an inventor of renown and master of negative electricity, succeeds in inventing an electrical device that resists gravitation. His son Willard and daughter Laline, both expert aviators, have rendered their father valuable assistance in perfecting his invention through their knowledge of air currents. Laline suggests to her father that it be called the contragrav, that is, contrary to gravitation. Among the invited guests at the demonstration for government officials is a person named Laloud, who, unknown to the officials and the inventor, increases his income by selling government secrets to the highest bidder Laloud visits the agent of a foreign government and, for a consideration, informs him of the existence of the contragrav. Realizing the possibilities and value of such a device, the foreign agent loses no time in laying plans to obtain possession of the contragrav. Conferring with his confederate, it is decided to have Olga Belgram obtain the device. She contrives to get into the inventor's home by sending her machine over an embankment into the water below and by deftly leaping from the machine just as it is about to plunge over the precipice. Fortunately, she lands right at the feet of Laline, who, thinking her seriously injured, takes her into her mother's house. Olga's clever ruse enables her to ascertain the hiding place of the coveted invention more quickly and easily than she had hoped. She assures Laline that she feels no ill effects from her fall, and not long thereafter reaches the foreign agent's office with the desired information. Equipped with this information, the agent's confederates manage to steal the contragrav. With the prized invention in their possession, they hurry to a suburban villa to study its construction and duplicate it if possible. Upon discovering the theft, not wishing to make known to the public the loss of so valuable an invention, Coxheim engages private detectives. Upon questioning the inventor and his household, the detectives learn of Olga's visit. Laline, feeling that she is partly responsible for the disappearance of the invention, determines to do all she can to restore it to her father. By adroit maneuvering, she learns of Olga's visit to the suburban villa, and with her brother makes a flight in their aeroplane. They land almost at the door of the villa, offering as an excuse that they have run out of gas. A servant admits them to the house, where they meet. Olga, believing Olga and the servant are alone in the house, Laline straightway accuses her of the theft of the contragrav and demands to know its whereabouts. Olga presses a button, which summons the aid of the servant and a confederate. A light ensues in which Willard and his sister overpower Olga and her confederates, secure the contragrav and succeeds in reaching their aeroplane. Just as they begin to make their flight. Olga's confederate, also an aviator, hastens to his machine, places some bombs in it and starts after Willard and Laline. A lively chase through the air ensues. Realizing that he is being overtaken, Willard advises his sister to buckle on the contragrav and jump from the aeroplane, which she does and by manipulating the different currents of negative electricity, she floats through the air, landing safely on a hilltop. The foreigner pursues Willard, and just as he sails immediately over him, he drops a bomb which explodes near Willard's machine, completely destroying it, and killing Willard. Laline succeeds in reaching her home with the contragrav, and hurriedly explains her experiences to the detectives, who return with him to the villa. The villa is almost completely destroyed before Olga and her confederate are overpowered and made to suffer for their crime. Written by Moving Picture World synopsis See less

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Cast	+ Add Cast
4 cast members

Name	Known for
William Clifford Professor Coxheim Professor Coxheim See fewer	The Hidden Law (1916)
Marie Walcamp Laline Coxheim Laline Coxheim See fewer	Tongues of Flame (1918)
Lule Warrenton Olga Belgram Olga Belgram See fewer	The College Orphan (1915)
Frank M. Stites The Aviator The Aviator See fewer	A Girl of Yesterday (1915)