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Old Norris’ Gal
(1910) United States of America
B&W : One reel / 980 feet
Directed by William F. Haddock
Cast: [?] Edith Storey? [Mary Norris], [?] Francis Ford? [Frank Gray]
G. Méliès production; distributed [?] on State Rights basis? by G. Méliès. / Produced by Gaston Méliès. Cinematography by William Paley. / Released 15 December 1910. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama: Northwoods.
Synopsis: [The Moving Picture World, 17 December 1910, page ?] Frank Gray, a young lawyer, fails to establish a practice in his native city and decides to go to Idaho and make a fresh start. After hanging out his shingle in his new field of operation, he hustles for a clientèle, which is not as responsive as he had hoped, and awaiting results he accidentally comes in touch with a case of a young girl, Mary Norris, who has served notice on a saloon-keeper not to sell her father, who is an habitual drunkard, any more liquor. The saloon man tears up the notice, snaps his fingers in her face, and asks her who would be fool enough to prosecute the case for her even if he did sell her “old man” more booze. Frank Gray jumps up and says, “I will prosecute the case.” The dispenser of liquid refreshment defies the law; the young attorney makes good and “puts it all over him.” Mary Norris induces her father to leave the place, and while escorting him home she accidentally fails over a cliff and is hurt very badly. Her father thinks it was all his fault and, after rushing to her aid, makes a pledge never to drink again, and he keeps his word. Mary and her father are very happy in the betterment of things, and the young lawyer who always thought her attractive does not hesitate to show it and Mary holds him in marked favor. The frequenters of the saloon and the proprietor, “Bud” Sykes, have a secret meeting and conspire to kidnap Gray and make him stop the prosecution of Sykes. An old squaw whom Gray befriended overhears their plan and tells Mary about it. She notifies the sheriff and he, with a posse of citizens, makes a hurried ride, followed by Mary, to the old quarry where the desperadoes have suspended young Gray over its rocky sides trying to induce him to consent to give up the case against Sykes. They start a fire under the rope attached to Gray and tell him if he does not agree to their demand before the fire burns through the rope, he will fall to his death. He refuses to quit the case and declares he will fight it, if he can, to the bitter end. The sheriff and his men arrive at this point, arrest the villains, and save young Gray. Mary cheers and encourages him with her words and presence. At last, “Bud” Sykes is convicted of his offenses through the prosecution of the attorney and everybody is happy. Frank Gray asks Mary to marry him and her father readily gives his consent. All hands give the young couple three hearty cheers and Gray not only wins fame but one of the best women in Idaho.
Reviews: [The Moving Picture World, 31 December 1910, page ?] A Western picture affording opportunities to depict the character of a plucky young attorney who defied the liquor power and brought offenders to justice, regardless of personal threats. A love story is interwoven which adds to the interest, but the best part is the scene where the young man hangs over a precipice at the end of a rope under which a fire is burning. Unless he retracts and promises not to prosecute further he will drop to the bottom. But he refuses and just before the catastrophe occurs the sheriff and his posse arrive. The evildoers are taken into custody, the young man wins his fight and the girl and the story ends happily. There is plenty of action and excitement and a disposition to develop the most the situations hold.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 25 May 2024.
References: Thompson-Star pp. 149-151, 229 : ClasIm-226 p. 54 : Website-AFI; Website-IMDb.
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