The Burning Rivet - Cast

The Burning Rivet (1913)
Short | 22 min | Drama, Short

The Burning Rivet (1913)

Short | 22 min | Drama, Short

Mayor Weltman has taken his first false step under the guidance of a political boss, Dan Sullivan, but refuses to be a further party to the crooked deals of the Sullivan crowd. Sullivan holds papers concerning Weltman's misstep over the ...See moreMayor Weltman has taken his first false step under the guidance of a political boss, Dan Sullivan, but refuses to be a further party to the crooked deals of the Sullivan crowd. Sullivan holds papers concerning Weltman's misstep over the letter's head. Weltman takes a stand in the matter. Weltman's son, Harry, is in love with Sullivan's daughter, Margaret, and Sullivan tells Weltman that he will wreck his son's romance. Weltman makes a clean breast of the matter and Harry stands by his father. Sullivan prepares to make good his threat and calls up the city editor of the "Transept" and bids him send a reporter for the story exposing the mayor. The editor, scenting a big story, sends his star man, Tom Gaynor, not knowing Gaynor to be a friend of the mayor's son. Gaynor learns of the details from Sullivan and does his best to dissuade him. Sullivan, who is half drunk, grows abusive and in order to help his friends, Gaynor decides to handle the story and do what he can to avert its publication. In giving his editor the facts he tries to get him not to make public the matter, but the editor refuses. Margaret is greatly agitated by the news, but tells Harry he is doing right and that she will stand by him. Sullivan enters and Margaret tries to appeal to him, but he won't listen. He turns on Harry, telling him be will send his father to jail. Sullivan and his crowd drink in preparation of their victory. Harry tells his father there is but one way left and before his father can interfere he leaves for Sullivan's office bent on getting the papers if he has to steal them. Sullivan at his office opens his office window for air. It is high above the ground and he half drunkenly watches some rivet workers on a big structural building nearby who are throwing red hot rivets from one floor to the other. Harry is seen to enter Sullivan's office by the janitor, but deciding it is none of his business, goes on with his work. Sullivan surmises what Harry is there for and points to the safe as he opens it, telling him the papers are there. Harry fearing his drunken abuse will be heard by others, leaves. Sullivan locks the door, takes another drink and placing his feet on the desk, doses off. Harry meanwhile has walked off down the street. A red hot rivet thrown by the riveters misses its mark, hits a structural beam and falls through Sullivan's open window beside a waste paper basket. Fire soon envelops the room and consumes the papers in the safe. When Sullivan stupidly awakens he is cut off. Harry returning meets a crowd at the office door on the street and from Gaynor learns of Sullivan's tragic death. He makes the statement that he was with him but a short while before. That is overheard by Sullivan's henchmen and they decide to make an accusation against the mayor by accusing his son of Sullivan's murder, and forcing an immediate trial. Gaynor stops the article accusing the mayor when the gang would force the editor to run an article accusing Harry of Sullivan's murder. Gaynor refuses to write it and is fired. Margaret, now becoming owner of the paper through her father's death, tells Gaynor she will make him editor if he will find evidence to clear Harry. Gaynor discovers the rivet, and at the coroner's inquest clears Harry. The new editor's first copy is the marriage notice of Harry and Margaret. Written by Moving Picture World synopsis See less

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Cast	+ Add Cast
5 cast members

Name	Known for
Harry Myers Tom Gaynor - Reporter Tom Gaynor - Reporter See fewer	City Lights (1931)
Ethel Clayton Margaret Sullivan - Dan's Daughter Margaret Sullivan - Dan's Daughter See fewer	Pettigrew's Girl (1919)
William Stowell The Water Rat The Water Rat See fewer	Fighting Mad (1917)
Martin Faust Harry Weltman Harry Weltman See fewer	Lena Rivers (II) (1914)
Bartley McCullum Dan Sullivan Dan Sullivan See fewer	The Third Degree (1913)