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Oil!!
(1912) United States of America
B&W : One reel
Directed by [?] Gaston Méliès and/or Robert Goodman?
Cast: Henry Stanley [Morton], Mildred Bracken [Morton’s daughter], William Clifford [John, Morton’s daughter’s sweetheart], Francis Ford [the oil man]
G. Méliès production; distributed by The General Film Company, Incorporated. / Produced by Gaston Méliès. / Released 29 February 1912. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama: Western.
Synopsis: [From Méliès promotional materials] On his way to town, Morton meets capitalists who are looking for surface indications of oil on the property thereabout. At the village store he hears that the strangers are buying up all oil-bearing land. A great idea comes to Morton. He will “salt” his land. He purchases a molasses jug, and, carefully evading the boys, has it filled with kerosene, and steals home. Morton sprinkles each rock and bush on his property with the liquid. Nest day the prospectors discover what they believe are signs of oil on Morton’s property and come to bargain with him. He rejects their offer of $5,000, demanding $10,000, which he gets. Then he is “some sport.” Meanwhile the strangers have set up a plant, and John, manager of the new company, falls in love with Morton’s daughter, Molly. She reciprocates the affection and gives her promise. Morton visits the local café and “sets ’em up” for the boys, displaying a roll of yellow backs that arouses the envy of all, especially, when after a bit too much to drink, he gleefully boasts how he fooled the easterners. But the words are barely out of his mouth, when a note arrives from John, reading: “Dear Father-in-law-to-be: We have struck oil, 200 barrels per day. The land you sold for $10,000 is worth half a million!”
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 25 May 2024.
References: Thompson-Star p. 231 : ClasIm-226 p. 55 : Website-IMDb.
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