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Branding a Thief
Also known as {Branding the Thief}, {Branding the Chief}
(1910) United States of America
B&W : One reel
Directed by Hector Dion
Cast: Francis Ford, Charles Anderson, Harry Knowles, Eleanor Blanchard
G. Méliès production; distributed [?] on State Rights basis by G. Méliès? / Produced by Gaston Méliès. Cinematography by [?] William Paley? / Released 14 April 1910. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format. / The film was originally announced for release on 2 April 1910.
Drama: Western.
Synopsis: [The Film Index, 16 April 1010, page ?] Two ranchmen, Col. Dale and Henry Mortimer, are enemies. Col. Dale’s son, Jack, is in love with Mortimer’s daughter. Juan, a Mexican vaquero, is also in love with the daughter, and forces his attention on her whenever opportunity presents itself. Upon one of these occasions Jack catches him trying to embrace her; he knocks the fellow down, and when the “greaser” attacks him with a knife, takes it away from him, and the Mexican is glad to escape further punishment. Jack sees the girl home and her father is provoked at her for allowing Jack to accompany her. She tells him about the Mexican’s attack and Jack’s protection. The father goes out to invoke the aid of the cowboys, who are assembled at the sheds participating in “horse-play” and other amusements. Among them is Juan, the Mexican. When Helen’s father accuses him and attempts to strike him, Juan attempts to kill him. The cowboys seize Juan, and are about to hang him when Helen comes to his rescue and gets the cowboys to let him go, and he is ordered never to show his face again in the neighborhood. With treachery in his heart, he awaits his chance for revenge and succeeds in “running” some of Mortimer’s cattle into Col. Dale’s corrals, hoping to renew the quarrel between the Dales and the Mortimers. An old ranch house in the employ of Mortimer, a faithful friend of Jack and Nellie, sees the Mexican’s little game and reports the matter to his employer. Mortimer and his men mount and hastily leave their ranch for the Dale’s place, where everybody, including Juan, is busy branding the stock. Mortimer tells Dale that he has some of his cattle. Dale denies it. Mortimer explains to Dale the doings of Juan, the Mexican, and accuses him of theft. They all seize the Mexican, and after a struggle brand him with a branding iron as a punishment for his crime, make a dash for the river, into which they throw their captive, and then run him out of the county. Col. Dale and Henry Mortimer become friends and the fathers seal their friendship with the betrothal of their children.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Keywords: USA: Texas
Listing updated: 27 May 2024.
References: Thompson-Star pp. 30, 78-79, 228 : ClasIm-226 p. 54 : Website-AFI; Website-IMDb.
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