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The Ghost of Sulphur Mountain
(1912) United States of America
B&W : One reel
Directed by [?] Gaston Méliès and/or Robert Goodman?
Cast: Francis Ford [Joe]
G. Méliès production; distributed by The General Film Company, Incorporated. / Produced by Gaston Méliès. / Released 18 April 1912. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama: Western.
Synopsis: [From Méliès promotional materials] Bob, a young Easterner, injured upon his arrival in the West, is befriended by Joe, a miner, and taken to the latter’s home to recuperate. Joe’s wife, Mary, is sympathetic and Joe, realizing Bob’s attractiveness, mistakes his wife’s tenderness for love for the Easterner, and decides to put himself out of their way. He causes an explosion that makes it appear that he has been killed, then hermits himself. Mary is heartbroken. Six months later miners see him and flee fearing him a ghost. A search party, headed by the Easterner, finds him and persuades him to return home, where he finds, besides a true wife, the greatest of all surprises awaiting him. // [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? When Bob Stanley from New York arrives in Sulphur Mountain he gets mixed up in a fight with Jose, a Mexican, and is injured. Joe, a miner, takes Bob home where his wife dresses the wound, and offers him shelter until he shall become well. Joe mistakes Mary’s sympathy for Bob for love and decides to put himself out of their way. He causes an explosion, at the mine, leaves his hat and coat and makes it appear as though he has been killed. But Mary loves Joe, and her grief at his apparent loss is great. Six months later Joe, in rags and with beard, comes back to the scene of the explosion. But his mind does not recall everything perfectly, for in his brooding he has become mentally deranged. Miners see him, and believing him a ghost, flee in fear. Bob heads a party to investigate the place of the reported apparition and in a most unexpected manner comes face to face with his old benefactor. The man’s mind slowly regains balance and he remembers that he has a wife. Bob persuades him to come back, but as they approach the house they discover a doctor just leaving. Joe enters to find his wife still longing for him, and to share with her the joy that has just come to them both, an offspring.
Reviews: [The Moving Picture World, 4 May 1912, page ?] A well constructed story set in a mountainous mining country. It runs smoothly, doesn’t drag and the acting is natural and very convincing. The early scenes show the coming of a pleasant-mannered stranger who is received in a friendly spirit by the miners; but who excites the hatred of a villainous Mexican. By this man he is wantonly stabbed. Being cared for by a young miner and his wife, he becomes very friendly with the family, and the miner’s jealousy is awakened. The villain also has a hand in this. The miner pretends to kill himself and lives as a hermit in the hills. His home is an interesting cave, with an entrance through a hollow tree. He is the “ghost,” and the picture continues, showing us how the stranger discovers him, having seen his face peering in through a window one night, and brings him home to his loving wife. It was after a baby had come. The closing scene is very poetic, showing the reunited father and mother and the little new arrival. The camera work is excellent.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Keywords: USA: California: Santa Paula: Sulphur Mountain Springs Resort
Listing updated: 26 May 2024.
References: Thompson-Star pp. 64, 231 : ClasIm-226 p. 55 : Website-IMDb.
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