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An Oil Country Romance
Also known as {The Oil Country Romance}
(1911) United States of America
B&W : One reel
Directed by [?] Gaston Méliès and/or Robert Goodman?
Cast: William Clifford [Tom], Mildred Bracken [Doris Newhouse], Francis Ford [the foreman], Henry Stanley [Mr. Newhouse, Doris’s father]
G. Méliès production; distributed by The General Film Company, Incorporated. / Produced by Gaston Méliès. / Released 23 November 1911. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama: Western.
Synopsis: [From Méliès promotional materials] The foreman at the oil wells is very much in love with Doris, the proprietor’s daughter. The latter, however, shows an interest in Tom, one of the workmen, who has just completed an invention which he proudly demonstrates. The foreman, seeing a chance to get “in soft” with the boss and win Doris, steals the plans and claims the invention as his own. How the girl herself frustrates his villainous plot, and how she and her papa rewards Tom forms a thrilling, true-to-nature story. // [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? Mr. Newhouse and his daughter, Doris, visit the oil wells of which Mr. Newhouse is proprietor. The father inspects the works while Doris remains in the carriage to read. Her attention is drawn to one of the workmen who is neater than the rest and who is evidently very much elated over something before him. Doris becomes interested and approaches the man. Tom, for such is his name, is very much flattered and proudly describes a new device he has just invented. But Doris fails to understand, as he draws a sketch for her. The foreman arrives and pays much attention to Doris, which she evidently dislikes. She leaves with her father. Tom shows the invention to the foreman, who says it does not amount to much, but who secretly knows it is wonderful. He sends Tom away on some errand, and copies the sketch. The foreman applies for a patent and tells Mr. Newhouse of his invention. The latter is pleased and helps the foreman along. The foreman meanwhile discharges Tom, who on his way from the wells meets Doris and her father in their automobile which has broken down. Doris at once recognizes him as the workman who showed her the invention and tells her father of the incident. All go back to the wells, where the foreman is faced with the truth. After a great struggle he is forced from the place and Tom comes into his own. And all this time Doris looks upon Tom with favor. She is the last to congratulate him, but not the least, for her hand lingers and her eyes speak volumes.
Reviews: [The Moving Picture World, 9 December 1911, page ?] A melodrama along well-known lines and with an oil country, with derricks and mountains in the distance, as its setting. The hero is an inventor and fortunately he described his new pump to the oil magnate’s daughter, Doris, before showing it to the foreman. So when this foreman, coveting the invention, fired the inventor and applied himself for the patent, Doris was able to convince her father as to its rightful owner. The picture is not exciting. The scenes in the early part were drawn out too much and made the story drag. The reason for showing a photograph of the inventor’s widowed mother was not clear and it gave a touch of sickly sentimentality which added nothing to the picture’s value.
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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