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Making Good
(1912) United States of America
B&W : One reel
Directed by [?] Robert Goodman?
Cast: William Clifford [Tom], Mildred Bracken [Betty], Henry Stanley [Betty’s father], [?] Francis Ford?
G. Méliès production; distributed by The General Film Company, Incorporated. / Produced by Gaston Méliès. / Released 6 June 1912. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama: Western.
Synopsis: [From Méliès promotional materials] An educational picture as well as a thrilling drama of unusual interest, showing the operations at the oil wells and the career of a wayward son, who ordered from his home, starts for the West to “make good”. After meeting with mishaps in jumping freights, he finally locates in the oil fields. He falls in love with the foreman’s daughter and in spite at first of her father’s objection he wins him over to give his consent to the marriage. // [From Moving Picture World] Tom, a wayward son turned out of his home and gambling away his money, tries to pawn his jewelry in order to go west. He refuses to part with his mother’s ring, given him on her death bed, without which he cannot raise enough, and so jumping a passing freight, hopes to reach his destination. Almost there, the train taking a sudden curve throws him off. Mary, the foreman’s daughter, witnessing the accident, hurries to his aid; unable to lift him, she drags him to her home on a gate. After recovering Tom starts to work in the oil wells, and, infatuated with Mary, gives her his mother’s ring. The foreman, returning to work, catches the engaged lovers and orders his daughter home. Tom offers to explain the situation, but her father refuses to listen. After a fistic battle the lover becomes unconscious, and, losing his balance, falls on the moving belt. Mary, rushing to his rescue, catches him just in time to save his life. Her father, finding out his mistake, apologizes and gives his consent to the marriage. A year later Tom writes home, saying that he has struck luck and made good at last.
Reviews: [The Moving Picture World, 22 June 1912, page ?] As entertainment, this picture distinctly makes good. It is a love story of a youth who, at first, is drinking far too much. His father tells him to shift for himself until he can make good. The larger part of the story is set among the oil wells in California, where he gets his job. Many very interesting glimpses of the queer oil pumping machinery find place in the story as naturally convincing backgrounds. The dainty heroine, daughter of the foreman, is the well-known Melies leading lady, and fills these romantic parts more than acceptably well. The picture, a first-class romantic melodrama, will be liked. The camera work is good.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 17 November 2022.
References: Thompson-Star p. 231 : ClasIm-226 p. 55 : Website-IMDb.
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