At Bear Track Gulch
Plot
Set in a bustling gold mining camp at Bear Track Gulch, this comedic western follows the romantic and humorous adventures of prospectors and townspeople during the gold rush era. The story recycles many familiar elements from David Belasco's acclaimed play 'The Girl of the Golden West,' featuring love triangles, mistaken identities, and the colorful characters typical of mining camp life. As miners strike it rich and lose their fortunes, the comedy unfolds through various misunderstandings and romantic entanglements among the camp's residents. The film captures the spirit of the American West during its gold rush period, blending humor with the dramatic elements of frontier life.
About the Production
This was one of many short westerns produced by Edison Studios during the early 1910s, taking advantage of the popular western genre. The film was likely shot on studio sets rather than on location, which was common practice for the era. The recycling of plot elements from 'The Girl of the Golden West' was typical of early cinema, which often adapted successful stage plays for the screen.
Historical Background
1913 was a significant year in American cinema, marking the period when the industry was transitioning from short films to feature-length productions. The Edison Manufacturing Company, though still a major player, was facing increasing competition from newer studios. Western films were enormously popular during this time, reflecting America's ongoing fascination with the frontier and the recent closing of the American West. The film's release came just before the major shift in American cinema that would see Hollywood become the center of film production and the rise of the studio system. This was also the year that feature films like 'The Squaw Man' would begin to change the industry, though shorts like 'At Bear Track Gulch' still dominated the market.
Why This Film Matters
While 'At Bear Track Gulch' itself was a modest production typical of its era, it represents the important role that western films played in early American cinema. The adaptation of successful stage plays like 'The Girl of the Golden West' demonstrates how early cinema borrowed from established theatrical traditions while developing its own visual language. These early westerns helped establish many of the genre conventions that would define Hollywood westerns for decades to come. The film also reflects the American fascination with gold rush history and frontier mythology that was central to national identity during the early 20th century.
Making Of
The production of 'At Bear Track Gulch' took place during the transitional period when American cinema was moving from simple actualities to more complex narrative films. Director Harold M. Shaw, who was originally from England, brought a theatrical sensibility to his film work, which explains the adaptation of stage play elements. The cast were all regular players in the Edison stock company, which meant they had established chemistry from working together on numerous productions. The film was likely shot quickly over a few days, as was typical for Edison shorts of this era, with minimal sets and props reused from other western productions.
Visual Style
The cinematography would have been typical of Edison Studios productions in 1913, using stationary cameras with basic movement techniques. The film was likely shot in black and white on 35mm film using Edison's own equipment. Visual storytelling would have relied on wide shots to establish the mining camp setting and medium shots for character interactions, with close-ups used sparingly for dramatic emphasis. The lighting would have been natural or basic artificial lighting, reflecting the technical limitations of the period.
Music
As a silent film, 'At Bear Track Gulch' would have been accompanied by live music during theatrical exhibitions. The score would typically have been provided by a house pianist or small theater orchestra, using popular melodies of the era or classical pieces appropriate to the western setting. The music would have been cued to the on-screen action, with faster tempos for comedic moments and more dramatic music for romantic scenes.
Famous Quotes
No specific recorded quotes are available from this lost film, as intertitles and dialogue from early shorts were rarely preserved in documentation
Memorable Scenes
- While specific scenes are not documented due to the film's obscurity, typical memorable moments would have included comedic gold mining sequences, romantic encounters in the mining camp setting, and mistaken identity situations common to western comedies of the era
Did You Know?
- Director Harold M. Shaw was a prolific filmmaker who directed over 200 films between 1910 and 1920
- The film was part of Edison Studios' extensive catalog of western shorts, which were extremely popular in the early 1910s
- William West, one of the stars, was a regular character actor in Edison productions and appeared in dozens of their westerns
- The influence of David Belasco's 'The Girl of the Golden West' was significant in early western cinema, with many films borrowing its plot elements
- Edison Studios was one of the earliest film production companies in America, founded by Thomas Edison
- 1913 was a pivotal year in cinema, with feature-length films beginning to emerge while shorts like this were still the norm
- The film likely used intertitles for dialogue, as was standard practice in the silent era
- Gold mining themes were extremely popular in early westerns, reflecting America's fascination with frontier history
What Critics Said
Contemporary reviews of short films like 'At Bear Track Gulch' were typically brief and appeared in trade papers rather than mainstream publications. The film would have been evaluated primarily on its entertainment value and technical execution within the context of other Edison shorts. Modern critical assessment is limited by the film's obscurity and likely loss, though it would be studied today as an example of early American genre filmmaking and the transitional period between short subjects and feature films.
What Audiences Thought
Audiences in 1913 would have viewed 'At Bear Track Gulch' as part of a varied program of short films shown at nickelodeons and early movie theaters. Western comedies were consistently popular with working-class audiences, and the familiar plot elements borrowed from 'The Girl of the Golden West' would have provided comfortable entertainment. The film's short length and straightforward story would have made it accessible to the diverse audiences of early cinema, many of whom were recent immigrants with limited English proficiency.
Film Connections
Influenced By
- The Girl of the Golden West (stage play by David Belasco)
- Popular western literature of the early 1900s
- Earlier Edison western shorts
This Film Influenced
- Later Edison western shorts
- Other western comedies of the 1910s
You Might Also Like
Film Restoration
The film is considered lost, as is the case with the majority of Edison Studios productions from this period. No known copies survive in film archives or private collections. Like approximately 75% of American silent films, 'At Bear Track Gulch' has likely been lost to time due to the unstable nature of early nitrate film stock and lack of preservation efforts in the early 20th century.