An Unwilling Cowboy (1911)

AN UNWILLING COWBOY (1911) postcard with Francis Ford and Edith Storey

G. Méliès Star Films
AN UNWILLING COWBOY -- No. 2
A horse runs away with Nellie, but Jim ropes it, saves her life, and wins her love.

Francis Ford and Edith Storey

(This film was produced in San Antonio, Texas.)

AN UNWILLING COWBOY (1911) postcard reverse

POST CARD
Cancelled: St. Louis, Missouri, July 26th, 7:30 p.m. 1911

Sent to: Miss Lizzie Wassal (?), 1724 North Grand, City

Message: "Please call for supper Friday. ON"


F. K. E. Los Angeles -- Your question is vaguely stated, but the "horseback dance" to which you refer is probably the "mounted quadrille" in Melies' "An Unwilling Cowboy".

-- Motion Picture Story Magazine, October, 1911, page 145


COMMENTS ON THE FILMS

"An Unwilling Cowboy" (Melies) -- This is a comedy built around Western characters and scenes. Papa didn't exactly like to have his daughter marry a cowboy. Still less did he like being one himself. But through the persuasions, all more of less vigorous, of the boys, he consents to both and discovers that the excercise on the ranch helps his rheumatism. So all ends happily and everybody has fun. The sport is so good that is is contagious and the satisfaction of those who see the film seems almost without limit.

-- Moving Picture World, May 6, 1911, page 1019


AN UNWILLING COWBOY -- Nellie and her father  are from Boston, but every winter they visit San Antonio for the old man's rheumatism. Nellie is very fond of ranch life and it is her custom to spend part of the time at the Bar X, which is close by, while her father is undergoing all the delights of being "boiled out" in the sulphur baths.

Nellie meets all "the boys" and is particulary impressed with Jim Edwards, who constitutes himself her guide at the ranch.

One day a horse runs away with her and Jim neatly ropes it and thereby saves her life and wins her love. A short courtship is followed by an engagement and nellie sends the news to her father.

In honor of the engagement, the cowboys give a jamboree, a part of the festivities being an interesting "square dance" on horseback.

The old man receives the letter and his temperature goes higher than the water he has been soaking in. He sets out at once for the ranch, but falls off his horse into the river. He is rescued by the cowboys, who supply him with some of their own clothes while his are drying.

They are all on Jim's side and make the old man think he is quite a sport. Although unwilling at first, his ideas undergo a change under the genial treatment, and he is finally willing to forgive his daughter and her rough-riding knight errant.

He finds that his short service as an unwilling cowboy agrees with his rheumatism, and his enthusiasm for ranch life increases with his health.

-- Moving Picture World, April 29, 1911, p. 964


with Francis Ford and Edith Storey. Directed by William F. Haddock. Star Film Company (Méliès)/General Film.

More Information on this film...

                       

            

Books

The Star Film Ranch: Texas' First Picture Show by Frank Thompson, pp. 178-180.

Last Modified December 15, 2015