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Jim Bludso
(1917) United States of America
B&W : Five reels
Directed by Tod Browning and Wilfred Lucas
Cast: Wilfred Lucas [Jim Bludso], Olga Grey [Gabrielle Bludso], George Stone [‘Little Breeches’], Charles Lee [Tom Taggart], Winifred Westover [Kate Taggart], Sam de Grasse [Ben Merrill], James O’Shea [Banty Tim], Monte Blue [Joe Bowers], Al Joy [a gambler]
The Fine Arts Film Company production; distributed by Triangle Distributing Corporation. / Scenario by Tod Browning, from the poems “Jim Bludso of the Prairie Belle” and “Little Breeches” by John Hay, and the play adaptation Jim Bludso of the Prairie Belle by I.N. Morris. Cinematography by A.G. Gosden (Alfred G. Gosden). / Released 4 February 1917. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format. / Browning’s first feature film as director; Lucas’ directing credit may have been a contractual fulfillment and may not reflect any actual film direction. Some location photography was taken near San Francisco, at Rio Vista, and near Los Angeles, California.
Drama: Historical.
Reviews: [Motion Picture News, 10 February 1917, page ?] With many thrills and a plot of the heart interest variety, “Jim Bludso,” a picture based on the poem by John Hay, makes an excellent release . . . . The production given it by Tod Browning is quite without the bounds of averse criticism . . . . // [Variety, 2 February 1917, page ?] The screen retains the Mississippi River scenes and for a climax brings forward the episode of the race, the fire, and the heroism of the engineer who held the boat’s nose against the bank “Till the last galoot’s ashore.”
Survival status: The film is presumed lost.
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Keywords: Gamblers - Riverboats - USA: California: Los Angeles, Sacramento River, San Francisco
Listing updated: 6 January 2009.
References: Skal-Browning pp. 269-270 : Website-AFI : with additional information provided by Dave Lewis.
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