Suspense

In a remote location, a young mother calls her husband to warn him that their home is being burgled. Fearing for the safety of his wife and child, the man steals a car and races to their rescue. Suspense is a prime example of how cinema has used the telephone as a dramatic narrative device since its earliest days. The invention of the telephone—which enabled real-time communication across distances—was quickly linked to the technique of parallel editing. This film showcases that connection, and is also notable for being one of the first to experiment with the innovative use of split screen.