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Playing with Fire
(1913) United States of America
B&W : One reel
Directed by Bertram Bracken
Cast: Raymond Gallagher (Ray Gallagher) [Jim Black], Velma Whitman [Nell Black], Bertram Bracken [John Dexter], Henry King
Lubin Manufacturing Company production; distributed by The General Film Company, Incorporated. / Produced by Siegmund Lubin. Scenario by Wilbert Melville. / Released 9 September 1913. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama: Western.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? Jim Black, while in the east, marries Nell, a pleasure-loving girl. He brings her back to his rough ranch house, where they are boisterously welcomed. The wife is disappointed at her surroundings, but tries to make the best of it. Some months later John Dexter, a stock scheme swindler from the east, opens an office in the village near the ranch, and floats an investment company. Dexter learns that Jim is one of the most trusted men in the community, goes to his house and offers him $1,000 for the use of his name as president of the investment company. Jim refuses to listen to the proposition, and orders Dexter out. Nell overhears the conversation between her husband and the slicker. The girl’s longing for pretty clothes have reached a point where she is desperate. She begs Jim to accept the slicker’s offer. The latter steadily refuses until Nell places his love for her in the balance. Then Jim reluctantly gives in. He impresses upon Dexter that the company must be run on the square, accepts $100 on account, and gives the money to Nell, who immediately orders a lot of pretty clothes through the express company. The cowboys, assured by the use of Jim’s name as president, invest their savings with Dexter. The latter prepares to make his getaway. As Nell’s express packages arrive, the slicker tacks a “company busted” sign in front of his office and clears out. The cowboys are enraged and falling to find Dexter, start out after Jim, whom they hold directly responsible. They meet Jim on the road and refuse to listen to explanations. Jim turns in flight. The cowboys follow and wound him. Around a curve Jim falls off and crawls into the bushes, his riderless horse galloping on. The cowboys follow Jim’s horse for some time, while the man himself crawls to his house and explains his predicament to the terrified Nell. The girl realizes her folly and determines to right matters if possible. She mounts her horse and overtakes the slicker, makes him disgorge and returns to the house just as the cowboys come back from their chase, and are trying to break into the house and get Jim. Nell gives them their money and makes them believe that they did not give him a chance to explain that he saved it for them.
Reviews: [The Moving Picture World, 27 September 1913, page ?] A melodrama in which the girl from the East, who has married the rancher, is unhappy, being poor. She persuades her husband, an honest man (since he is a hero), to becomes president of a company he knows is not “on the square.” It will get him money for her. Soon he is brought to book by cowboys whom the slick stranger who started the company has defrauded. The woman finds the sharper making for the train and forces him to disgorge. It is naturally acted and is more artistically done than most pictures dealing with this theme; but the morals of it and its kind leave a good deal to be desired. The author and producer is Wilbert Melville. Velma Whitman plays the leading woman’s role with Raymond Gallagher opposite, and both of them deserve a better scenario.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 21 November 2022.
References: Website-IMDb.
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