Versus Sledge Hammers
About Versus Sledge Hammers
A count (Victor Potel) arrives in Snakeville with news that Sophie Clutts (Margaret Joslin) is heir to a fortune, and he courts her at her father's hotel. Mustang Pete (Harry Todd), the local blacksmith who wants Sophie himself, takes offense. The count offers a duel. Pete picks sledgehammers. Ben Turpin, as the count's valet, pours fuel on the count's stuck top hat and sets it alight.
Cast & crew
More about Versus Sledge Hammers
Roy Clements directed this Snakeville one-reeler. Essanay released it on 2 September 1915 through V-L-S-E. Robert McKenzie plays the hotel proprietor, Lloyd Bacon a man giving directions, and Arthur Jasmine Pete's assistant. Silent Era notes the Niles shoot.
Themes
Making
Snakeville was Essanay's Western-town comedy series at Niles. Clements used the standing street, the hotel, and the blacksmith shop for a duel that never gets as far as pistols.
Preservation
Restored from a 16mm print found by Chris Snowden and a partial 35mm print from George Eastman House. Silent Era lists the short as extant.
Notes
- One published synopsis says the inheritance is a million dollars. A later viewing note says two million. The letter is what starts the courtship.
- Turpin plays the valet, not the count. Potel is the count.
- A viewer describes Turpin pouring kerosene on the hat while the count is still wearing it.
- Few Snakeville comedies survive. This one was put back together from a 16mm print found by Chris Snowden and a partial 35mm print at George Eastman House.
- Silent Era lists a DVD and a surviving print, public domain in the United States.
Scenes
- The count reads Sophie the letter about her inheritance and starts courting her in the hotel.
- Pete, a blacksmith, chooses sledgehammers when the count calls for a duel.
- Turpin soaks the count's top hat in fuel and lights it.
