The Ingenious Reporter story
Ambitious reporter Harry Langley pretends to be the murderer of unidentified woman, to boost sales with a special report from prison. But once arrested, the authorities seem to be convinced that he is indeed the killer - because the victim has been identified as his fiancée! Directed by: Carey Harrison. Story by: Carey Harrison, based on a story by Pontsevrez.
13 total · 1 choice · 7 major · 5 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| ironic twist of fate | choice | Langley thought he would be clever by impersonating a murderer. By an ironic twist of fate, the victim was shown to be his own fiancée and Langley was promptly tried for her murder and lynched before a justice could be served. By another ironic twist of fate, she soon after showed up alive and well, thus belatedly exonerating Langley from all villainy save the initial deceit. |
| coping with the death of a lover | major | Harry Langley was rocked by the shocking revelation that the murdered woman was none other than his fiancée. |
| journalism | major | The plot turns on the reporter Harry Langley's reckless scheme to boost newspaper sales by leading authorities to believe he had murdered an unidentified woman, thereby securing a series of sensational reports from prison. |
| law enforcement | major | The police arrested Langley on a murder charge. They also failed to keep him safe from an angry mob. |
| malicious hoaxes in society | major | The plot turns on the reporter Harry Langley's reckless scheme to boost newspaper sales by leading authorities to believe he had murdered an unidentified woman, thereby securing a series of sensational reports from prison. |
| murder of a lover | major | Harry Langley was brought to trial for the murder of his beloved fiancée, Henriette. Not only was he innocent, but moreover his fiancée was alive and well. |
| vigilante justice | major | In a dramatic turn of events, the accused murderer Langley was hanged by an angry mob before justice could be served. |
| what if I was accused of a crime that I didn't commit | major | The plot turns on the reporter Harry Langley's reckless scheme to boost newspaper sales by leading authorities to believe he had murdered an unidentified woman, thereby securing a series of sensational reports from prison. Langley's situation soon spiraled out of control when the prosecutor became convinced of Langley's guilt, largely on account of the alleged victim was none other that Langley's own fiancée. He was brought to trial for the murder, but was hanged in the street by an angry mob before justice could be served. In a strange twist of fate, it was later revealed that his fiancée was alive and well. |
| bribery | minor | Langley bribed his prison guard for preferential treatment. |
| engaged couple | minor | Harry Langley was brought to trial for the murder of his beloved fiancée, Henriette. Not only was he innocent, but moreover his fiancée was alive and well. They were never featured together in the story. |