McQuade of the Traffic Squad

1915 Directed by Eugene Nowland

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About McQuade of the Traffic Squad

Traffic policeman Patrick McQuade is courting Nora Leary. Officer Flynn, his rival, sends him on a false call to the station so he can stay with her. Nora's brother Mike plans a burglary with two crooks and uses a drive in his employer's car, with Nora along, as the getaway. McQuade follows on a motorcycle, sees Nora, and will not shoot. He is suspended for neglect of duty, and Mike is arrested. McQuade later hears of another break, jumps from his motorcycle onto the car's running board, and fights the men inside. The driver loses control and the car goes off a pier into the river. The men are arrested and McQuade is praised. At the station he learns Nora had not known she was part of the plot.

Cast & crew

More about McQuade of the Traffic Squad

Eugene Nowland wrote and directed the one-reel drama. Edison produced it and the General Film Company released it on 12 June 1915. Pat O'Malley plays Pat McQuade. Bessie Learn plays Nora Leary. Yale Benner plays Officer Flynn. Denis Ward plays Captain Cole. Jessie Stevens plays Nora's mother. Billy Ruge plays Mike Leary.

Themes

  • Two policemen after the same girl
  • A sister used as cover for a burglary
  • A motorcycle leap onto a running board
  • Patrick McQuade
  • Nora Leary
  • Officer Flynn
  • Mike Leary
  • burglary
  • motorcycle
  • pier

Making

Nowland stages both jobs as car chases, the second one ending in the river, with Nora's ignorance saved for the station-house last scene.

Music

Silent.

Preservation

A print exists.

Notes

  • Flynn's fake station-house call is how he steals an evening with Nora. She stops the fight when McQuade comes back.
  • Mike tells the crooks he will stop the car in front of the mansion and drive them off with his sister still in it.
  • McQuade gives up the first chase because he will not fire at a car Nora is in.
  • The second chase ends when the car leaves a pier at speed with the men still fighting.
  • A print exists. It is in the public domain in the United States.
  • Silent Era notes a DVD without naming the edition.

Scenes

  • Flynn tells McQuade he is wanted at the station. The desk has no such call.
  • McQuade follows the getaway car, sees Nora, and lets it go.
  • He jumps to the running board. The driver sends the car off a pier.

Also available

  • Internet Archive (silent-mcquade-of-the-traffic-squad)