Staking His Life
Cast & Crew
William S. Hart
Louise Glaum
Charles Ray
J. G. Hawks
Film Details
Synopsis
Bud Randall, the son of an invalid widow, takes a liking to gambling, and after her death he is raised by gambler Jim Carew. Carew's premature death, for which Randall holds a member of the clergy responsible, turns the boy against religion. Years later, Randall runs a casino in a tough Western town. Frank Hamilton, an ailing minister, arrives in Randall's town but finds that Randall's opposition to religion prevents the townspeople from attending his services. In a suicidal gesture, the sick Hamilton slaps Randall's face, but Bubbles, a dance hall girl and Randall's sweetheart, intervenes to save Hamilton's life. Bubbles nurses Hamilton back to health, and Randall permits Hamilton to hold a Sunday service at the casino. During a gunfight between Randall and a ruffian called The Horned Toad, Hamilton steps in front of a bullet aimed at Randall, who then allows Hamilton to conduct, with his dying breath, the marriage ceremony for him and Bubbles. Converted to religion, Randall closes his casino.
Crew
Film Details
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
This film is a re-edited version of the two-reeler The Conversion of Frosty Blake, made by the New York Motion Picture Corp. and released on June 2, 1915 by the Mutual Film Corp. under the Broncho brand name. According to William S. Hart, the two reel version was expanded to five reels by the addition of outtakes. Plot descriptions of the two reel film do not include events in the early life of the casino owner. Some time after the W. H. Productions Co. release of the five reel film, Hart initiated legal action to prevent the film's exhibition in its new form and under a new title. In the two reel film, the Hart character was named Frosty Blake rather than Bud Randall, and the Charles Ray character was named Horace Brightray rather than Frank Hamilton. Modern sources give the following additional credits for The Conversion of Frosty Blake: Thomas H. Ince as producer, supervisor, and co-author of both the scenario and story; Hart as director; and J. G. Hawks as co-author of both the scenario and the story. One modern source states that the film was also known as The Convert at some point in time. The copyright listing for Staking His Life gives A. P. Younger as the author of the film; it is probable that Younger worked on Staking His Life and not on The Conversion of Frosty Blake.
