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A Mail Order Hypnotist
(1912) United States of America
B&W : Split-reel
Directed by Chauncy D. Herbert
Cast: Adrienne Kroell [Mary Johnson], Tommy Flynn [Lucius Milker], Edgar G. Wynn [Jim Hudson], John Lancaster [Jim Hudson’s father]
The Selig Polyscope Company, Incorporated, production; distributed by The General Film Company, Incorporated. / Produced by William N. Selig. / Released 12 July 1912; in a split-reel with The Los Angeles Police Department (1912). / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Comedy.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? Mary Johnson is the center of attraction for the Rubeville farmers’ sons, and is especially sought after by Jim Hudson and Lucius Miller. Lucius has the best of it in Mary’s affections, and Jim casts about for something to make his stock stronger. He reads in one of the weekly papers the ad of a correspondence school, which guarantees to teach the wonderful art of hypnotism in thirty lessons. Jim pictures to himself the added advantage he would possess over his rival by the knowledge of this power, and starts to save up his money for this course. Meanwhile he is steadily loosing ground with Mary, while Lucius gains. At last Jim has money enough to buy the course in hypnotism and he does so. He studies the lessons in his own room and his efforts to hypnotize himself are most amusing. Finally, feeling that he has mastered the subject he starts out to sway his new-found power over everyone he comes in contact with. Cows, horses, and chickens are cautiously approached by Jim and on all he attempts to practice his new art. The barnyard inhabitants, however, prove poor subjects, and his experiences in this direction afford many a laugh for the crowd that eagerly follows him. When he finally meets and tries to hypnotize Mary, his rival, Lucius, thinks it time to interfere, and he does so in rather a rough way. Jim, realizing that he has made a fool of himself, gives up all hope of winning Mary, and, tossing his mail order course aside, he turns to his chores on the farm.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 13 December 2024.
References: Lahue-Selig p. 100 : Website-IMDb.
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