The Hidden Message

Wealthy rancher Bronson is targeted by a group of Mexicans who hate him. In an act of revenge, they kidnap his daughter, May, and demand a large ransom for her safe return. The abductors force May to write a letter to her father stating that she will be killed if he does not meet them at a specific location by midnight with a considerable sum of money. While her captors are momentarily off guard, May manages to secretly add a hidden message to the letter. Bronson and his allies then decipher the hidden message and rescue May in time to prevent her murder and avoid the ransom payment.

Directed by —, The Hidden Message leans on a strong ensemble — William Lowery, Florence Crawford, Walter Long — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 1914.