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Lon Chaney as The Man in the Beaver Hat, appearing in London After Midnight (1927)

Professor Edward C. Burke

Prof. Edward C. Burke, or The Man in the Beaver Hat is a central character appearing in the lost 1927 mystery horror silent film London After Midnight. Edward Burke is a Scotland Yard Inspector with an alter-ego that takes shape as The Man in the Beaver Hat; an individual of a jarringly ghostly appearance, bearing a beaver felt hat, sharp teeth, sunken eyes, an Inverness cloak, and a hunched back. A master of disguise employing an expertise in hypnosis and theatrical makeup, Burke is able to resourcefully intimidate criminals into confessing crimes: After the death of Roger Balfour by alleged suicide, the Man appears, and stalks the derelict Balfour Manor, terrorising the friends and family of the former resident. The occurrences - including the identity of the Man - drive the cast to superstition, but are all revealed to be parts of an elaborate trick by Burke to encourage them to resolve the cold case, and uncover the true nature of the murder plot therein.

The character in both roles was portrayed by American actor Lon Chaney.

History

Introduction

Five years before the events of London After Midnight, Roger Balfour is found dead in his home. Professor Edward Burke of Scotland Yard - despite objection from the account of James Hamlin; Balfour's neighbour - rules his death a suicide after examining the note and pistol by his side.

The audience is first introduced to The Man in the Beaver Hat, accompanied by an equally ghostly Woman; venturing down the Grand Staircase of the Balfour Manor, a place that has been left abandoned ever since the perceived suicide of its owner; Roger Balfour. He hands her a lantern with no words exchanged, and he takes a slow saunter to the front door to greet the arrivals - Miss Smithson the Maid, and The Gardener, who've just arrived on a cart. When the Man opens up the door of the otherwise unoccupied residence, the Gardener driving the cart whips up his horse, and they immediately turn to leave for the rear entrance.

Two portly gentlemen who are waiting underneath a tree nearby are approached by the Man. They pass him a legal paper - A lease. The Man points a finger to it, and they inform him that the owner of the house won't pay for any repairs. Only ever grinning, the Man takes their pen in his hand, and provides his signature. Miss Smithson leaves the Balfour Estate in stunned, horrified prayer.

Investigation

In the Hamlin Residence, Miss Smithson claims to James that Balfour's Manor has been seized by malevolent spirits. She believes that the Man and Woman may be ghosts connected to Roger's death, as Roger was found with a note in his writing, and a pistol on the carpet next to his corpse. James finds the lease, and upon examining it, discovers that it is Balfour's name that signed it. Having noted his signature much too often, he brings the document to Burke, who - although skeptical at first - reopens Balfour's case after witnessing James' awe at the signage's accuracy. Lucille - Daughter of the late Balfour - is revealed to be living with him; claiming to have heard her father's voice calling out to her from the garden, of a night.

Burke and James travel to the Cemetery where Balfour is interred, after James claims that he will never see rest until he knows that Balfour is truly dead. Upon exhuming the casket from his grave, they are shocked to find the coffin empty. Arthur Hibbs - James' nephew - was lent a book by Smithson regarding the Undead, and after consideration over the events of the previous night, concludes that the strange Man is Balfour; returned to his estate as a ghastly reanimated being. Balfour - however - continues his skepticism.

Miss Smithson recounts the same figure appearing to her in one of Balfour's bedrooms, and having frightened it away. These are all supplemented by the group witnessing yet more signs of the supernatural taking hold, including the eventual discovery of Balfour within his Estate. Finally, Burke pulls Hibbs aside to detain him. Whilst nobody else is with them in the room, he enacts a hypnogogic control over Hibbs, and asks for his alibi. Learning the truth - that James murdered Balfour over jealousy with his will - he seeks to prove it through further hypnosis.

Conclusion

James encounters the Man in the Beaver Hat one final time. It is here that the Man is shown to be Burke. Hypnotising James into believing that he is presently within the night of Balfour's murder, the group secretly watches as James takes his pistol, and puts it to the head of the man perceived by him to be Balfour. His speech indicates everything - that James ordered Balfour to write his own suicide note before shooting him dead.

The script resolves with Burke - coupled with a group of Scotland Yard Police - arresting the disheveled James as he emerges from his trance. All the aspects of the supernatural are revealed as fictitious.