The Argonauts of California--Xxx 1849
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Henry Kabierske
Grant Churchill
Gertrude Kaby
Dorothy Barrett
Emma Kost
Ethel Smith
Film Details
Synopsis
Following the discovery of gold at John Sutter's mill, a number of New Englanders travel to California to claim their share of the wealth. On their way, the settlers are menaced by Indians and Mexican bandits, and once they arrive in Hangtown, they are terrorized by desperadoes. After San Francisco Bulletin editor James King and United States Marshal Richardson are killed by outlaws, the outraged citizens organize vigilance committees, and on August 12, 1856, the vigilantes disband, law and order having been restored. In the interim, James Brandon, one of the New England settlers, discovers gold on his property, thus enabling him to propose to the woman he has always loved, Marian Stilwell. James's frustrated rival, the lecherous Bob Fox, abducts Marian, but James rescues her and they marry. Another of Bob's victims, Anna Maria Pope, sadly buries her illegitimate child, but her grief is assuaged by the love of Whalen Tressel, a physician's son.
Director
Henry Kabierske
Cast
Grant Churchill
Gertrude Kaby
Dorothy Barrett
Emma Kost
Ethel Smith
Vera Lewis
Gale Brooks
William Reiffel
Crew
Film Details
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The picture was filmed in Monrovia, CA. Although it had its premiere on June 18, 1916 in San Francisco, the film's general release was in October 1916. Its working title was The Argonauts. Contemporary sources generally agree that Hogaboom wrote the scenario; one trade article also credits him with the story, and another states that he "novelized the play," though no evidence of the existence of a novel based on the film has been discovered. Bohan's credit comes from a trade article that states that she was hired to "lay out the love plot." McGroarty, the author of the book on which the film was based, was a long-time business partner of producer Grafton and May have been involved in the film's production. Though contemporary articles on Monrovia's The Daughter of the Don (see below) claim that Monrovia produced The Argonauts of California-1849, and though Kabierske, Hogaboom, and Grafton were all among the business leadership of Monrovia, the name of the company is not mentioned in any of the ads or trade articles surrounding the release of the film.
