Hands Up (1918)

Hands Up ​​is a lost 1918 serial film starring Ruth Roland, George Cheseboro, and George Larkin that was written by Pathe's Chief of Serial Production, Wilson Gilletts.

The Plot
An American female reporter gets more of a story than she bargained for when she is mistaken for the lost princess of a tribe of Native South Americans. Abducted by their shaman, the villain of the piece, she is taken to South America and then to the village where the tribe lives, to be enthroned as their leader. Her fiance, "Hands Up," follows her trail to the South American village, enduring a series of perils along the way that culminate in his receiving an injury to his face in or around Chapter Seven or Eight. Once his face has been healed, "Hands Up" finally makes it to the Indian village, rescues his fiancee and defeats the evi high priest in hand to hand combat for a spectacular finale to this Pathe Production.

The Comments
This was the serial that elevated the actress Ruth Roland, who portrayed the female reporter, to serial stardom. The original "Hands Up," George Cheseboro, joined the army and so another actor named George Larkin took his place. I only wish I knew how the filmmakers explained the change in lead actor from Cheseboro to Larkin, though!