This film is part of Free
A Bid for Fortune
Master criminal Dr Nikola seeks a Chinese curio that promises eternal life and world domination
Drama 1917 84 mins Silent
Overview
An Australian lawyer is entrusted with a curious Tibetan object known as the Rod of Knowledge, but soon discovers that dangerous occultist and evil mastermind Dr Nikola wants it for his own nefarious ends. A Bid For Fortune was an early British adventure serial which was packed together into this standalone feature that played in British cinemas during April 1917.
Producer Sidney Morgan adapted Guy Boothby's tale from the hugely popular Doctor Nikola series. Boothby, an Australian immigrant to the UK, was mentored by Rudyard Kipling and his evil occultist Dr Nikola was a forerunner of Fu Manchu, appearing in a string of novels between 1895 and 1901.
Subjects
Related
Thriller
Birthday For Peter Birthday For Peter
Amateur film 1958 9 mins Silent Location: Sevenoaks
Peter’s birthday is one his suffering parents would rather forget in this harrowing film from the Sevenoaks Cine Society
Falsely Murdered Falsely Murdered
Amateur film 1960 22 mins Location: Harrow
Nail-biting amateur thriller in Pinner tells the story of a suspicious husband who may not have got the right man.
Pink Shirts Pink Shirts
Amateur film 1936 16 mins Silent Location: Plas Newydd
Catapult-wielding democrats take on wader-wearing fascists in this ‘Plas Newydd’ drama filmed by the Marquis of Anglesey.
.. And Other Stories .. And Other Stories
Amateur film 1979 7 mins Location: Eastbourne
A sophisticated bookish blonde proves to be a murderer’s nemesis in this atmospheric thriller-with-a-twist from the Eastbourne Cine Group
A Pocketful of Fear A Pocketful of Fear
Amateur film 1963 11 mins Silent Location: West Boldon
Buckle up for some asphalt angst on a tense 1960s road trip on and off the A19.
It Happened Thus It Happened Thus
Amateur film 1937 13 mins Silent Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
A valuable necklace is stolen – but where is the thief?
New
Saab: New Delivery Saab: New Delivery
Advert 1985 2 mins
Take a fighter jet, a Top Gun pilot with sunglasses and a brand new SAAB 900 and you have a sure-fire vehicle to launch a Hollywood career.
The Lost Highway The Lost Highway
Promotional 2019 10 mins
A wandering warrior dreams of a new form of expression, in this promo for UNKLE’s album The Road: Part II / Lost Highway Pt. II directed by Warren Du Preez and Nick Thornton Jones.
Colour on the Thames Colour on the Thames
1935 16 mins
A rare glimpse of 1930s London in colour: the Thames has never looked lovelier.
What's Missing from this Picture? What's Missing from this Picture?
Advert 1946 1 mins Silent
Life is looking up! The war is over and the “Corona” Man can visit his “Corona” families once more, door-to-door.
Fun at Rhyl Fun at Rhyl
Advert 1962 0 mins Location: Rhyl
Cinema advertisement for Marine Lake & Ocean Beach, Rhyl, a popular destination for crowds set on a day's fun on free rides.
Local Cinema Advertisements - Blaenau Ffestiniog and Merthyr Local Cinema Advertisements - Blaenau Ffestiniog and Merthyr
Advert 1942 7 mins Silent Location: Blaenau Ffestiniog
Who could deny these advertising claims: "Attractive hair is the ambition of every woman", and "Your family will enjoy Lincoln potatoes"?