The Taunt's primary photo
  • The Taunt (1915)
  • Short | Short, Drama
Primary photo for The Taunt
The Taunt (1915)
Short | Short, Drama
William Kelcey, ex-bank cashier, who has served three years for burglary and is down and out, comes begging to the house of Fred Mack, a broker. He is greatly startled when he sees Florence, Mack's wife. She gives him a coat of her ...See moreWilliam Kelcey, ex-bank cashier, who has served three years for burglary and is down and out, comes begging to the house of Fred Mack, a broker. He is greatly startled when he sees Florence, Mack's wife. She gives him a coat of her husband's, after admonishing the maid never to admit beggars to the house again. Kelcey finds an important paper in the coat pocket proving that Mack was a former workman in the factory which made the safe Kelcey was accused of robbing, and that Mack knew a combination to open the safe at all times. Kelcey goes to Mack and tells him he can prove that he (Mack) was the real criminal, and demands $100,000 for silence. Mack pleads that he hasn't that much money, but Kelcey tells him he can get it by robbing the safe, as he did before. Kelcey then fixes a meeting place for that night, and leaves. Mack's mind goes back to the past. As Alfred McCormack, a skillful workman, he longed for riches, and so he fixed the safe, and went to the town where it was installed. He met Florence, who was then Kelcey's sweetheart, and fell in love with her. After he robbed the safe, he carefully placed evidence against Kelcey, and the latter was convicted. Afterward Mack courted her ardently, and they were married. Mack comes back to the present. He takes a revolver, ready to kill Kelcey that night in some dark place. But this plan is disposed of when Kelcey shows him a copy of a letter he mailed to a friend that afternoon. The letter reads: "I have good reason to believe that an attempt will be made upon my life, so if I do not appear within three days to claim the enclosed sealed envelope, kindly turn it over to the proper authorities. It contains the name and history of the man I fear." Mack, chagrined, can do nothing but carry out Kelcey's plan. He overcomes the watchman at the bank, and with Kelcey standing by, opens the safe. Then he turns, to face the bank officials and detectives. Kelcey says: "You see, gentlemen, who robbed the safe three years ago." Mack has fallen very neatly into the trap laid by Kelcey, for the latter has never forgotten how Florence denounced him when he (Kelcey) was convicted, and this is his revenge. And when Florence apologizes or her hasty action in the past, Kelcey is fully satisfied. Written by Moving Picture World synopsis See less
Read more: Plot summary
Director
Edward Sloman
Writer
Julian La Mothe (story)
Producer
Siegmund Lubin
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Status
Edit Released
Updated Aug 2, 1915
Release date
Aug 2, 1915 (United States)

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Cast

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4 cast members
Name Known for
C.C. Miller
William Kelsey William Kelsey   See fewer
The Discontented Man (1915)
Blanche Light
Mrs. Florence Mack - Fred's Wife Mrs. Florence Mack - Fred's Wife   See fewer
The Secretary of Frivolous Affairs (1915)
Jay Morley
Fred Mack Fred Mack   See fewer
The Little Boss (1919)
Melvin Mayo
Actor Actor   See fewer
The Death Warrant (1914)
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