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The Sheriff Pro Tem
(1912) United States of America
B&W : One reel
Directed by [?] Robert Goodman?
Cast: Ray Gallagher [Forbes, the sheriff pro tem], Mildred Bracken [Rachel Sheldon, the moonshiner’s daughter]
G. Méliès production; distributed by The General Film Company, Incorporated. / Produced by Gaston Méliès. / Released 5 December 1912. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama: Western.
Synopsis: [From Méliès promotional materials] A reward is offered for knowledge of the whereabouts of Noel Sheldon, an old moonshiner who lives secluded with his pretty daughter, Rachel. Joe Tracy, who alone knows their abode, uses his knowledge as a weapon to force his love upon Rachel. Repulsed, he informs the Sheriff’s office and young Forbes is appointed Sheriff “Pro Tem,” and ordered to make the arrest. In the conflict Rachel is wounded, and Forbes, through his heart bleeds in pity for old Sheldon, is forced to jail him. The onerous duty completely break Forbes up and he resigns. // [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? Joel Sheldon, an old moonshiner, and his daughter Rachel, live in a secluded shack among the mountains, where, in spite of sheriff’s searches and raids, he continues to make and dispose of his moonshine whiskey. Finding all attempts of affection wasted upon Rachel, Tracy, a nondescript young mountaineer, threatens to betray her father for the reward which is offered for information leading to his capture, and with this threat on his tongue, he leaves the shack, Fearing for her father, Rachel tells Sheldon the truth and the old moonshiner lies in ambush awaiting the arrival of the sheriff and the man who betrayed him. Meanwhile, Tracy, still revengeful and remembering the reward offered by the sheriff for any information leading to the capture of Sheldon, betrays the old moonshiner to the sheriff, who, on account of a wounded arm, is unable to act, but persuades and details his deputy, Forbes, to serve as Sheriff pro-tem. Guided by Tracy, Forbes makes his way into the mountains, and upon approaching the shack, is tired upon by Sheldon and left for dead. Rachel hearing the report of her father’s rifle, and fearing for him, rushes out down the trail and stumbles over the senseless body of Forbes. She supports him back to the hut, where she bandages his wounds and then discovers the warrant for the arrest of her father in Forbes's pocket. In an instant all her attention turns to anger and taking her father’s old loaded rifle, she sits down before him, and with the rifle across her lap guards her guest while she waits the arrival of “Dad.” Meanwhile, Tracy reaches the shack, and, looking in through the window, sees the situation. He enters and Rachel, forgetting Forbes, arises and angrily accuses him of his treachery, and, driven to desperation by her taunts, he seizes the rifle and in the struggle for possession there is a report and a scream from Rachel as she staggers and sinks to the floor. Frightened, Tracy turns to the open door about to flee, when he is shot down by Sheldon from the outside as he rushes up, thinking as he saw the struggle through the open door, that Tracy had shot Rachel. Forbes now regaining consciousness, kneels beside the dying girl. Sheldon rushes into the shack, and, thrusting him aside, kneels beside the body. Realizing that his only child is dead, the old man’s spirits are suddenly broken and he surrenders peacefully to Forbes. The old moonshiner is marched off to the sheriff’s shack, where Forbes delivers up his man and in disgust with his duty done, he surrenders his shield and refuses to serve either the sheriff or the state longer.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 23 May 2024.
References: Thompson-Star p. 232 : ClasIm-226 p. 55 : Website-IMDb.
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