Louise Glaum may have been renowned for being Theda Bara's nearest rival but her career was much more than that. She seemed to be there at the beginning of every genre - initially doing comedies at Nestor and was a regular in the "Universal Ike" series. She then joined Inceville Studios and was memorable for her vamping roles in William S. Hart's "Hell's Hinges" and "The Return of Draw Egan". She then signed with Paralto, a new but prestigious film company, in January 1918 - who knew that in May it was to be taken over and the studio disbanded?? Glaum was considered a real feather in their cap and they were going all out in their effort to give her worthy photo-plays. Even though it was probably the shortest build up in cinema history once Louise left Paralta she then found glory as a vamp. With a title like "Sex" the back stage movie was hard to ignore and "The Leopard Woman" found her once again in exotic locales, even though the "vamp" as a character was becoming a bit passé!!!
Cairo - where "East meets West" and where John Culbertson meets "Madame" (Glaum) - woman of mystery. House Peters was a popular matinée idol from the pre 1920s and apparently dubbed the "Star of a Thousand Emotions" - only one was evident in this movie - steely determination!! Madame is having a party but Culbertson has rained on her parade by saying he has no interest in such trivial things. It is a pretty amazing do and as one reviewer comments, it is a pity this movie is missing the original tints - the exotic dancing girls, the place decked out like a harem and "Madame" sitting on an ornate throne would have looked glorious, as it is, it is just washed out grey.
Culbertson is on a mission to gain the allegiance of M'tela, a tiny African kingdom but "Madame", who goes by the moniker of "The Leopard Woman" is the rival power's top spy and is given the job to see that Culbertson doesn't reach his destination. The most exciting part happens before they set off: Madame sends a fiery native girl (an uncredited actress but she plays her role with gusto!!) with a knife to his room but after a tussle he emerges shaken and stirred!! She then puts together her own safari with the aim to derail his quest! So she purposely avoids a watering hole and John finds her and her natives half dead with thirst, she then feigns illness but gradually falls in love with him. When he succumbs to glaucoma she sends her trusted servant Chake (Noble Johnson) through the jungle to bring back an eminent doctor.
Unusual for the time and with full credit to the short lived independent film company Associated Producers Inc., Noble Johnson, a distinguished black actor played a leading role - this was still in the times when if a black actor was needed it was easier to find a white actor to "black up"!!!
Cairo - where "East meets West" and where John Culbertson meets "Madame" (Glaum) - woman of mystery. House Peters was a popular matinée idol from the pre 1920s and apparently dubbed the "Star of a Thousand Emotions" - only one was evident in this movie - steely determination!! Madame is having a party but Culbertson has rained on her parade by saying he has no interest in such trivial things. It is a pretty amazing do and as one reviewer comments, it is a pity this movie is missing the original tints - the exotic dancing girls, the place decked out like a harem and "Madame" sitting on an ornate throne would have looked glorious, as it is, it is just washed out grey.
Culbertson is on a mission to gain the allegiance of M'tela, a tiny African kingdom but "Madame", who goes by the moniker of "The Leopard Woman" is the rival power's top spy and is given the job to see that Culbertson doesn't reach his destination. The most exciting part happens before they set off: Madame sends a fiery native girl (an uncredited actress but she plays her role with gusto!!) with a knife to his room but after a tussle he emerges shaken and stirred!! She then puts together her own safari with the aim to derail his quest! So she purposely avoids a watering hole and John finds her and her natives half dead with thirst, she then feigns illness but gradually falls in love with him. When he succumbs to glaucoma she sends her trusted servant Chake (Noble Johnson) through the jungle to bring back an eminent doctor.
Unusual for the time and with full credit to the short lived independent film company Associated Producers Inc., Noble Johnson, a distinguished black actor played a leading role - this was still in the times when if a black actor was needed it was easier to find a white actor to "black up"!!!