The Golden Beetle's primary photo
  • The Golden Beetle (1914)
  • Short | Short, Drama
The Golden Beetle (1914)
Short | Short, Drama
A band of European renegades, calling themselves the "Golden Beetle Clan," infest the province of Alinangoor in British India. One day their leader, Raymond, is informed by Singhar, one of the band's Hindoo spies, that an Englishman by the...See moreA band of European renegades, calling themselves the "Golden Beetle Clan," infest the province of Alinangoor in British India. One day their leader, Raymond, is informed by Singhar, one of the band's Hindoo spies, that an Englishman by the name of Norton, by whom Singhar has been engaged as body servant, is scouring the country in search of George Surrey, son of a wealth Englishman, who has disappeared some time before. Both the elder Surrey and the lad's sweetheart, Nellie, are nearly frantic over the absence of any word from him, and the father has offered a cash reward of $100,000 for the return of his son. Norton, so Singhar reports to Raymond, recently shot an eagle which carries, tied to its foot, a desperate appeal written in blood upon a piece of cloth. The note reads: "I am held a prisoner in the Temple of Kali and facing death. Come quick," and is signed "George Surrey," Raymond immediately understands the importance of this bit of information. To make the acquaintance of Norton, to discover the prison in which George Surrey is held by the fanatical worshipers of the Hindoo goddess, to rescue him, to take him back to England and secure $100,000 reward; that is the program. Singhar introduces Raymond to Norton as a guide who will lead them to the ruined temple. This he does, but as soon as it is definitely established that George is indeed a prisoner in the ancient structure, Norton is attacked and overpowered by the members of the clan, buried alive waist deep in the desert sand and left a prey to the ferocious beasts and birds of the region. After he has left Norton to his fate and rescued Surrey from the hands of the fanatics, Raymond notices that the young fellow almost exactly resembles one of the most reckless of his own followers, a chap by the name of Lang. He immediately conceives a plan even more daring than the first, to hold George a prisoner in his command and go to England with Lang and present him as the son of the wealthy Mr. Surrey. In this way he hopes to gain possession, not only of $100,000 but the entire inheritance of the heir to the Surrey millions. So George once more finds himself a prisoner, this time in the hands of the famous "Golden Beetles." Raymond and Lang arrive in England. The elder Surrey and even the beautiful Nellie are deceived by the remarkable resemblance of Lang to the long-lost son and fiancé. In the meantime, Norton is discovered and rescued by some native hunters, just as he is about to be attacked in his defenseless position by a number of vultures. After a time he learns what has happened to Surrey and succeeds in rescuing him. They are pursued by clansmen, and after a long running fight elude their enemies and reach the coast, where they take to the sea in an open boat. A storm comes up and they are cast upon the rocky coast of a barren island inhabited only by ferocious wild beasts. Many times their lives are threatened by lions, but by husbanding their ammunition, they are able to fight them off until a sail is sighted and they are rescued from the island by the boat crew of a liner bound for England. Arriving in the mother country they are again set upon by the agents of the clan, but after a series of adventures succeed in reaching Surrey's home just in time to prevent the marriage of Nellie to Lang, whom she believes to be George. After a sharp battle between the "Golden Beetles" and the police, the renegades are captured and brought to justice. Written by Moving Picture World synopsis See less
Read more: Plot summary
Writer
Edgar Allan Poe (story The Gold Bug)
See all filmmakers & crew (2)
Trending

Become a member to see MOVIEmeter and news information about Le scarabée d'or.
Status
Edit Released
Updated Oct 31, 1914
Release date
Oct 1914 (United States)

Contacts

+ Add

Become a member to see contact information for Le scarabée d'or.

Cast

 + Add Cast
3 cast members
Name Known for
Denis d'Inès's primary photo
Denis d'Inès
Actor Actor   See fewer
Véronique (1950)
Claude Benedict's primary photo
Claude Benedict
Actor Actor   See fewer
La maison du mystère (1923)
Colonna Romano's primary photo
Colonna Romano
Actress (as Gabrielle-Colonna Romano) Actress (as Gabrielle-Colonna Romano)   See fewer
Hamlet (1908)
There was an issue loading this tab.
There was an issue loading this tab.
There was an issue loading this tab.
There was an issue loading this tab.
There was an issue loading this tab.
There was an issue loading this tab.
There was an issue loading this tab.
There was an issue loading this tab.

MOVIEmeter

Members only

Become a member to access additional data

Ratings Breakdown

+ Add external reviews