Broncho Billy's Fatal Joke
About Broncho Billy's Fatal Joke
Broncho Billy, a prospector, is offered one hundred thousand dollars for his claim. Rundell, another prospector, overhears and decides to sell his own ground too. Billy's joke is to plant gold in the hole Rundell is about to blast. The blast convinces Rundell he is rich, and he drops dead of heart failure. Billy writes to Rundell's daughter Marguerite, switches the claim signs so she will think his ground was her father's, and tells the Consolidated Mining Company he will not sell. When he sees her face, he falls in love with her.
Cast & crew
More about Broncho Billy's Fatal Joke
Essanay made the one-reeler and the General Film Company distributed it. Silent Era dates the release 8 August 1914 and takes the plot from Moving Picture World. Gilbert M. Anderson plays Billy. Carl Stockdale plays the old prospector Rundell. Marguerite Clayton plays his daughter. True Boardman, Bill Cato, Victor Potel (the doctor), Lee Willard, and Fred Windemere are also listed. Wikidata credits Anderson as director. Silent Era leaves the director line blank.
Themes
Making
Anderson stars and, on Wikidata, directs. The General Film Company, not Essanay's own exchanges alone, put the reel out on 8 August 1914.
Preservation
Silent Era records a 16mm reduction positive. The short is public domain in the United States. A file is on Wikimedia Commons.
Notes
- The offer Billy receives is $100,000. He refuses it after the joke kills Rundell, and he gives the girl the valuable claim by swapping the signs.
- Silent Era lists a surviving 16mm reduction positive and calls the film public domain in the United States.
- Victor Potel is billed as the doctor.
Scenes
- Billy hides gold where Rundell will set off the blast.
- Rundell sees the strike and dies on the spot.
- Billy changes the claim signs so Marguerite inherits the ground he would not sell.
Also available
- Wikimedia Commons (Broncho Billy's Fatal Joke (1914).webm)
