|
Tommy’s Rocking Horse
(1911) United States of America
B&W : One reel
Directed by [?] Gaston Méliès and/or Robert Goodman?
Cast: Tommy Young [Tommy], [?] Francis Ford?
G. Méliès production; distributed by The General Film Company, Incorporated. / Produced by Gaston Méliès. / Released 12 October 1911. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama.
Synopsis: [From Méliès promotional materials] Little Tommy, Idol of the X-T Outfit, is taken critically ill. Refusing to take the doctor’s medicine, he gropes for something which the cowboys are unable to understand. The crisis is near. Nell, who adores her little brother, is suddenly inspired. Leaving the house hurriedly, she mounts the swiftest horse and risks life and limb in a mad ride wrought with many dangers to the nearest village, and returning triumphantly, places before the amazed group at Tommy’s bedside, the one remedy that restores the child to health. // [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? Little Tommy, idol of the X-T outfit, was left in charge of the boys while papa and mama took a holiday. Cook-house Charlie, leader of the cowboys, took it upon himself to see that the child had a rollicking good time. He played the bucking broncho and Tommy the rider. There was plenty of candy and other good things to eat. But the day proved too strenuous for the little fellow. The hot sun gave him a sudden stroke, and he fainted. Great excitement prevailed at the outfit. The doctor was called from ten miles distant and pronounced the case extremely serious. He endeavored to give the child medicine, but Tommy absolutely refused to take it. He groped for something other than medicine, and still groping, fell off into unconsciousness. Dejection was written upon the faces of all the boys. They were at the end of their resources. It took little sister Nell to fathom the child’s mind, to understand what it groped for, because Nell alone knew Tommy’s favorite plaything. The girl mounted a horse and galloped fifteen miles to the nearest store, to purchase Tommy’s rocking horse. It was an exciting ride, during which there were many narrow escapes from fatality, but it proved most fruitful for Tommy, for when all medicine had failed, the rocking horse brought the little favorite back to consciousness and through the crisis.
Reviews: [The Moving Picture World, 28 October 1911, page ?] Little curly-headed Tommy was plainly a prime favorite with the whole X Y outfit. He was left in their charge for a day and the boys gave him a good time, including a candy pull, which, with the heat, made him sick. No nurses could have been more attentive; they made the doctor ride like blazes, but nothing would make Tommy brace up save the rocking horse that he had long wanted. How Charlie, the cook who made the candy, in deep contrition did his level best to make things right, and how Nellie rode to the town for the rocking horse, make a story of human sentiment that is pleasing. The audience applauded it.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 24 May 2024.
References: Thompson-Star p. 230 : ClasIm-226 p. 55 : Website-IMDb.
|
