Black Gold
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Russell Hopton
Frankie Darro
Roy Mason
Gloria Shea
Berton Churchill
Stanley Fields
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Dan O'Reilly, who has spent forty years working in oil fields, is about to strike oil when his land lease nears its end. J. C. Anderson of the Anderson Producing and Refining Corp. discovers that Dan's well is the richest in the history of Anderson's oil field, but because Dan's contract insures him a ten year additional lease if he strikes oil, Anderson tries to pay Dan to abandon his well. When Dan refuses, Anderson's men sabotage his drill. Penniless, Dan resigns himself to take the money, until his son Clifford, called "Fishtail," meets geologist Henry Langford, who promises to help. Henry then convinces Fishtail to go to school at night so that Henry can spend time with pretty schoolteacher Cynthia, who wants Fishtail to be the first O'Reilly to get an education. Then, when Henry discovers Anderson cheating the local independent contractors of a fair price for their oil, while unjustly foreclosing other leaseholders, he calls a town meeting. The townspeople confront Anderson, who appeases them, but the next day, while Dan rides the oil-drilling rig, the cables snap and he is killed. Henry is convinced Anderson is behind the murder. With two days left on the lease, Fishtail is nearly at oil sand when Anderson's thugs abduct Henry and Anderson tries to bribe Fishtail off the land. Fishtail refuses, so Anderson's men shut down the drill and knock him out. Henry, who has escaped, arrives in time to save Fishtail before Anderson's men dynamite the rig and the long-awaited oil is released. Cynthia, who has since fallen in love with Henry, then sends Fishtail to military school, and he returns a gentleman.
Director
Russell Hopton
Cast
Frankie Darro
Roy Mason
Gloria Shea
Berton Churchill
Stanley Fields
Frank Shannon
George Cleveland
Snowflake
Dewey Robinson
Crew
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The title card on the viewed print read "Peter B. Kyne's Black Gold." Although a 1936 copyright statement appears on the viewed print, the title is not listed in U.S. copyright records. Hollywood Reporter announced on November 26, 1935 that Frank Melford would be supervising this film, working with the writer on the script and handling production, however, he does not receive screen credit. According to a January 22, 1936 Hollywood Reporter news item, Abe Meyer was hired to write the musical backgrounds for this film, although he receives no credit on the viewed print.
