Lure of Drink, The

Date: 1915
Director: A.E. Coleby
Production Company: Will Barker

Stars: Blanche Forsythe, Roy Travers, A.E. Coleby, Maude Yates
Location(s): London

Storyline:

A married man’s mistress has her revenge by making him an insane dipsomaniac

Additional Information:

Screen captures uploaded by Richard Lovejoy, mindful of our late friend and contributor Roland-François Lack who had done useful research with regard to this silent film. All uncredited locations and information are those of Roland-François.

Re Captures 15 and 16: Historic England have a photograph of The Queen Victoria as it was circa 1880-1899 that can be viewed by clicking here.

This film is viewable on BFI Player for free at The Lure of Drink

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If you have any information regarding this production, the locations or, even better, some comparison shots please contact us. Images submitted must be in Landscape orientation, as would be seen on the cinema screen, not Portrait.

We are aware that there are films on the site that were added when the criteria for the inclusion of locations was very different from today and, as a result, there may be scenes missing from some productions. Please do not forward additional screen captures to us but bring the detail to our attention, for we do, and are, 're-addressing' these older entries as time allows.

Capture 1
25 Mar 2022

Peggy (Blanche Forsythe) works in a factory and the ‘one ray of sunshine’ in her life is her daughter. St. Mary's Girl's School, Ealing Green, London W5 that was next door to the Studio's. It is now a Kingdom Hall for Jehovah's Witnesses. The location also features in 'Heart of a Coster'.

Antony Blair returned to the location 107 years later.

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As she leaves work at the end of the day, Mike Harlon (Who may have been played by the film's Director A.E.Coleby) annoys her……..

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…….. with his unwanted attentions

Capture 4
25 Mar 2022

Peggy’s daughter has a friend Ned Painter (Roy Travers), who meets her from school….. The side of St. Mary's Girl's School, Ealing Green (See Capture 1) nearest to the Studio's.

The building survives as Antony Blair proves.

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….and one day, they see Mike forcing himself on Peggy, Ned sets upon him in the street, a crowd soon gathers. I stand to be corrected, confirmed as correct, or look forward to a meaningful discussion but I believe this to be 4 and 5 Charles Street, Ealing.

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Once split up Ned walks Peggy home. I stand to be corrected, confirmed as correct, or look forward to a meaningful discussion but I believe this to be 7 and 8 Charles Street, Ealing.

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Flash Kate (Maud Yates) accosts Ned as he passes her on a street corner trying to persuade him to marry her, he walks on and she storms off.

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Peggy and her daughter leave a shop just as Ned is passing and he agrees to carry her shopping back, he is invited to tea on Sunday. Later that day he proposes to Peggy.

Capture 9
25 Mar 2022

Ned’s friends insist on drinking to the success of their forthcoming marriage, but Ned has ‘sworn off drink’ knowing what it did for him before and leaves. Flash Kate heard all that! The 'New Inn', St. Mary's Road, Ealing, London W5. Built in its present form in 1897 and still open.

Antony Blair replicates the view.

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She catches up with him but once again they part with an argument.

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Finding that there is no money at home Mike decides that he must get a job and goes to the local wharf.

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Walking along the wharf side Mike confronts Ned and a fight ensues…….

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……with the result that Ned falls into the water

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Flash Kate overhears the story being told and seeing her chance to get revenge buys a drink to share with Ned, his ‘Dormant Demon’. Good timing, Peggy is about to leave the house. I stand to be corrected, confirmed as correct, or look forward to a meaningful discussion but I believe this to be 8 and 9 Charles Street, Ealing.

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‘The lure of drink claims its victim’ and Ned spends time with Flash Kate in the pub. 'The Queen Victoria' at the junction of The Grove and Ealing Green, Ealing, London W5. A photo of the premises circa 1880-1899, courtesy 'Historic England' can be seen via a link in the Header Section. The premises were later demolished and replaced with a larger building that remains today, but now known as 'The Grove'.

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Peggy loses her job at the factory and Ned is refused entry to the pub, times are about to get even harder. 'The Queen Victoria' at the junction of The Grove and Ealing Green, Ealing, London W5 which appears in 'The Heart of a Coster' and its later form in 'Hue and Cry'.

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Peggy and her daughter go to the shops to beg. 'Gapp's Stores' were at 52 Ealing Broadway, London W5 and next door, the 'London & South Western Bank Limited', later to become part of 'Barclays Bank' who remain in modernised premises to this day.

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We see Flash Kate leaving her home and chatting to the neighbours. An interesting door in the background.

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Peggy and her daughter walk the streets, distraught that they could not reform Ned. 24 High Street/The Green, Ealing, London W5

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Their miserable journey continues, they meet Flash Kate and naturally a dispute results

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During their dispute Flash Kate is fatally knocked down by a car but is initially able to tell Peggy that Ned is at ‘Dawson Rents’, where she lives.

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Much the worse for all the alcohol, Ned attacks Peggy but her daughter manages to escape to tell the neighbours, who call the police. Despite the difficulties of restraining him, he pleads for Peggy’s forgiveness and vows never to drink again……..

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........and goes off to the War.