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One of Nature’s Noblemen
(1911) United States of America
B&W : Short film
Directed by Francis Boggs
Cast: Hobart Bosworth [John Henley], W.T. Santschi (Tom Santschi) [Clay Brown], Frank Richardson [the town marshal], Eugenie Besserer [Minnie Brown], Baby Lillian Wade [Clay’s baby]
The Selig Polyscope Company, Incorporated, production; distributed by The General Film Company, Incorporated. / Scenario by Francis Boggs. / Released 30 May 1911. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format. / Wade’s film debut (at the age of two).
Drama.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? A country dance is interrupted by two cowboys who dash in fighting. A girl is the cause, and she rushes between them to break up the hostilities. They are then hurried out by the boys, who endeavor to effect a reconciliation, but they fail and Clay goes away. A month later the girl and Clay are married. Four years elapse and we are introduced to Clay’s little girl. They live in an isolated place, and Clay has gone to the settlement for supplies. The baby watches her father until he is out of sight, then wanders on alone in search of him. Even the four years have not served to make Clay and his old-time rival friends, and this morning as they meet upon the trail, Clay, as usual, refuses to speak. Riding along, Clay runs into a band of Apaches, and he beats a hasty retreat, followed by the Indians. He overtakes John, and warns him of their danger. A stray shot hits Clay, causing him to fall from his horse unnoticed by John who, when he discovers the riderless horse beside him, rushes back to rescue Clay. And he is not a second too soon, for the Indians are fording the river. They circle around the white men, but the lucky aim of John gets one of them, and they hesitate to tempt fate against such sure aim. Assisting Clay to mount, John leads the horse. Of course, the mother has missed the baby and is distracted. The little thing has been discovered and carried away by the Indians, and when Clay is brought home badly wounded, it adds to the terror of the mother, who tells them of the lost child. John immediately goes forth in search and sees the Indians with her. He hides his horse behind a rock and creeps nearer to watch the Indians, who have now stopped. His vigil is rewarded, for leaving but four of their party to guard the child and wounded man, the rest sally forth to make another raid. Feeling perfectly safe, the guards become careless, allowing the child freedom. The opportunity arrives, for the one who goes for the child is shot by the waiting John, and his wonderful aim gets the remaining three. Then grabbing the child he reached his horse unnoticed. Arriving at the Clay abode he restores the baby to its mother and father, the barrier between the two men breaks and they become friends.
Reviews: [The Moving Picture World, 15 July 1911, page ?] A picture worthy of special mention from the fact that it is a presentation of the strength of character possible in many a person and which the usual dramatist seems to ignore. Weakness, pitiable weakness, seems to be the ordinary characteristic of the average persons usually portrayed. This weakness is too often drawn into a sinful setting with painful consequence, the writers flattering themselves that they have taught a moral lesson if they present the direful effects of wrongdoing. Negative lessons of that kind are always poor. In “One of Nature’s Noblemen,” the positive nature with a strong character is vigorously presented, a man strong enough to congratulate his more successful rival in love, with an admirable scorn of jealousy and revenge, is a noble yet surely not an uncommon type. In later years, delivering his former rival from great danger and single-handed rescuing his stolen child from a band of Indians, this “nobleman” proves himself animated by principles above the average, and which ought not to be uncommon. The applause which the play receives shows how people generally admire such a strong, positive and noble character. In its particular line, this is one of the best presented for some time; it is educational in its teaching of true human nature, and will do much to show the value of sterling character and manliness; may it find many others of a similar nature following it to the exclusion of those of a contrary idea.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 21 May 2024.
References: Lahue-Selig p. 14 : Website-IMDb.
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