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Hard to Beat
(1909) United States of America
B&W : Split-reel / 445 feet
Directed by [?] Edwin S. Porter?
Cast: (unknown)
Edison Manufacturing Company production; distributed by Edison Manufacturing Company. / © 25 March 1909 by Edison Manufacturing Company [H124847, H124848, H124849, H124850, H124851]. Released [?] 30 March or 3 April? 1909; in a split-reel with Oh! Rats! (1909). / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Comedy.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? Moses Finkelstein idolizes his son Ikey, with good reason, for Ikey’s handling of prospective customers usually brings substantial returns. Ikey enters the store with a customer, who is finally “prevailed” upon to purchase a pair of trousers, and when paying for them displays a mammoth roll of bills. Noticing Ikey’s covetous interest, the customer, who is a gambler, explains the large sums of money won at the gaming table by his secret methods, and generously offers to “let Ikey in” whenever he can furnish sufficient capital. Mr. and Mrs. Finkelstein praise Ikey for his business capacity, and Moses, in leaving the store, drops his wallet. Ikey finds it. The temptation of “chance” conquers. He decides to speculate. Ikey enters the gambling house, is quickly fleeced and thrown into the street. Moses discovers his loss and rushes back to the store and tells his wife, and both are frantic. Heartsick, Ikey wends his way back to the store. He sees a policeman talking with his father. Conscience-stricken, he hides in a packing case outside the door. Meanwhile the police raid the gambling house. The money and chips are shoved into a grip and given to Sambo, the waiter. Sambo escapes, Passing Moses’ store he espies a policeman, and drops the bag into the packing ease where Ikey is hiding. Moses, disheartened, rolls the packing case into the store. Presently Ikey forces his leg through the case. With visions of burglars, Moses calls loudly for help. Suddenly a handful of greenbacks are thrust from the case. Ikey is finally released and tells his parents of the robbery, his brilliant detective work, and the recovery of the money. A happy family reunion follows.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 3 June 2024.
References: Website-AFI; Website-IMDb.
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