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The Heart of a Race Tout
(1909) United States of America
B&W : Short film
Directed by Francis Boggs
Cast: Charles Dean [Tom], Thomas Santschi (Tom Santschi) [Tim, the race tout], James L. McGee [the horse owner], Maggie Clancy [the helplful neighbor], Jean Ward [Tom’s wife]
The Selig Polyscope Company, Incorporated, production; distributed by The Selig Polyscope Company, Incorporated. / Produced by William N. Selig. From a screen story by Francis Boggs. Cinematography by James A. Crosby. / Released 29 July 1909. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format. / The production was shot in a vacant lot next to a Chinese laundry located at Seventh and Olive Streets in Los Angeles, California, with some location photography was shot at the old Santa Anita racetrack. Thought to be the first fiction film to be entirely shot in California, or it is, instead, the case with In the Power of the Sultan (1909).
Drama.
Synopsis: [The Moving Picture World, 24 July 1909, page ?] Tom Martin had for some time been out of employment, and, although he had repeatedly applied for his old position as telegraph operator, the fact that he had taken part in a recent labor strike was held as a bar against his re-employment by the company. Now, Tom was a willing worker and only too anxious to do anything to earn a living for himself and his young wife. But the fates seemed against him, and, outside of a few odd jobs he was unsuccessful. To add to his burden and worry, his wife fell ill and was obliged to take to her bed. The few dollars he bad been able to save rapidly disappeared, and, as she was too ill to be left alone, Tom found it almost impossible to absent himself long enough to seek for work. The opening scene of the picture shows a plain but neat bedroom in a cheap lodging house. Tom is sitting by the bedside of his sick wife, waiting anxiously for the arrival of the doctor, who had promised to come and minister to his loved one’s needs. A knock is heard at the door, but on opening it, instead of seeing the doctor, the sour face of his landlady greets his eye. Brushing past him into the room, she demands in a loud voice to know whether or not he was in a position to make her an immediate payment on his rent. Telling her that he had not a cent at present, he turns to pacify her with the promise to raise some money as soon as his wife is well enough to be left alone. That does not satisfy the landlady, and she gives him twenty-four hours to vacate the premises, and the same time placing a “To Rent” sign in the bedroom window while she is venting her anger in loud terms. The doctor arrives, and, taking in the situation at a glance, tells Tom to get rid of her, as her presence was trying to the invalid’s nerves. She is finally ejected from the room, and the doctor, after examining the sick wife, writes out a prescription and tells Tom to have it filled immediately. Fearing to confess his inability to pay for the medicine, the poor fellow rushes out, determined to find some way in which he might make the necessary raise. Meeting a neighbor (Miss Maggie Clancy) on his way out, he asks her to remain with his wife until he can return. The goodhearted girl promises not to leave her alone, and so Tom starts out on his mission. We next see him at a drug store, where he accosts the druggist in the hopes of obtaining credit for a few days. But that gentleman is hardened by many similar requests, and so turns a deaf ear to the anxious husband. From one to another the poor fellow goes, and always the same answer, “nothing doing.” At last, worn out and discouraged, we see him enter the city park, where with a heart-broken sob he flings himself down on a garden bench and gives way to his grief. Coming through the park with rapid strides, whistling the last popular air, is Tim Bradley, a race tout. Tim also has been unfortunate lately in picking winners at the track, and consequently is, as he expresses it, “on the blink” himself. Now, Tim had known Tom in his prosperous days, and the operator had staked him to many a meal when he was in sore need. The tout never forgot a favor, and seeing his old friend in seeming distress, asks what the trouble is, and Tom is not long in informing him. Diving into his pockets, he finds them empty. But Tim is nothing if not optimistic, and telling Tom to come with him, starts out determined to raise the money. He is not long in forming a plan, which his fertile brain rapidly conceives. He will work a stunt that is risky, but apt to succeed, and, being a chance his gaming instincts make it relishable. Hastening down an alley, the two soon come to a back yard. A large washing is hanging out. Over the fence goes Tim, procures one of the clothes lines, and, returning, began to fashion a hangmans noose on one end of it. Then back to the park, where a suitable tree is found, a bench is procured and placed beneath an overhanging limb. With instructions for Tom to make a round-about detour of the park, and at a certain signal attract attention to him, the tout proceeds to arrange for a fake attempt at suicide. The plan works beautifully. People walking along enjoying the flowers and sunshine are suddenly startled by a cry of, “Look, there is a man hanging himself!” In an instant a great commotion arises. Men rush wildly toward the tree where the tout is preparing to spring into space with the end of a rope about his neck. Tom is in the lead and arrives just in time to catch Tim in his arms as he leaves the bench. The rope is cut and the struggling tout finally subdued. “Why did you do this?” blurts out an excitable old gentleman who has just rushed up out of breath. Then Tim, with tears in his eyes and a broken voice, relates a tale of woe about a sick wife and starving children that melts the hearts of the bystanders and causes a sudden diving for handkerchiefs and pocketbooks. Tom is dumbfounded at the acting of the clever tout and can hardly keep a straight face as he sees its effect on the crowd. “There, my poor man, take that,” says the blubbering old gentleman as he drops a dollar into his hat and passes it around for further contributions. Many of the bystanders follow the old gentleman’s example, with the result that a goodly sum is turned over to Tim and he is sent away stammering out his thanks to the kind hearts that have helped him so generously. “You are a brick, Tim,” cries the grateful Tom as the tout hands him a handful of money when they are out of sight of the still excited crowd. “That’s all right, old fellow, you have helped me many a time when I needed it. Take it home, give it to the little woman, then come with me to the track and we will see if we can’t pick up some more.” The medicine is quickly procured, and, kissing his fond wife good-bye for a few hours, leaves her in charge of the good hearted-neighbor and accompanies Tim out to the race track. After paying their admission the two boys have very little left as most of the money was turned over to the sick wife. But the tout was resourceful, as most men who live by their wits are, and not easily discouraged. So he sets out to see what he can learn about the horses and peddle his information to whoever he could. He was not long in spotting John McGee, the owner of a string of thoroughbreds and a clever plunger. Unknown to him, Tim follows him about the stables till finally he sees him stop, and pulling a telegraph blank from his pocket, begins to write a message. It doesn’t suit him, so tearing it up he walks away. Tim watches him out of sight, then procures the torn pieces of the dispatch and, putting them together, reads it. “Lady Fay, a 50-to-1 shot, looks good to me,” signed Jack. That was enough for Tim. Now, then, to raise some money. A farmer standing nearby looking at some of the racing stock attracts the tout’s attention, and straightway for Ruben makes the irrepressible Tim. At first the farmer is suspicious of being done, but so convincing is Tim’s argument, and so tempting is the chance to make a winning, that the bucolic gentleman loosens up for a twenty, and away goes the tout for the betting ring, where the bill is placed on “Lady Fay” with odds of 50 to 1. At last the eventful race is run, and the little mare gallops home a winner by a length. “Jumping beeswax!” shouts the excited farmer as Tim thrusts $500.00 into his hands (being one-half of the amount the clever tout drew from the chagrined bookmaker). “Never knew there was so much money in the world.” Dividing his share with Tom, the two boys hasten back to the sick wife to bear her the cheering news of their good fortune. The landlady receives her rent. Maggie Clancy decides she needs a husband and picks Tim as the favorite, and the characters of our drama are left rejoicing over their unexpected turn of luck, which all goes to show that much good may he found “In the Heart of a Race Tout.”
Reviews: [The Moving Picture World, 7 August 1909, page ?] A Selig which has the dash and movement of the Selig dramas, and brings out in strong relief the oft repeated assertion that among sporting men, even among race touts, there may be good hearts. Anyhow, the numerous interesting developments in this picture, which go to prove that there is good in all men, are emphasized by the good acting and the excellent photographic quality of the film. The picture is rather long, but there is so much interest in it that no one tires. The picture with a heart interest, no matter how it may be developed, wins approval from any audience. And in this there is illness, but no death, and some interesting, because novel, situations are developed.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 9 September 2023.
References: Lahue-Selig pp. 13, 27; Robinson-Palace p. 115 : Website-AFI; Website-IMDb.
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