The Better Man (1921)
Western | 26 November 1921
Cast:
Snowy Baker , Brownie Vernon , Charles Villiers [ More ]Director:
Wilfred LucasProduction Companies:
Selig-Rork Productions, Snowy Baker ProductionsAn item in the 25 March 1920 Wid’s Daily announced that director Wilfred Lucas and screenwriter Bess Meredyth were due to return on 1 April 1920 from Australia, after working on several films there with “Snowy” Baker, a former Olympian and Australian sportsman. Nearly a year later, an 8 January 1921 Motion Picture News item reported that Baker was establishing his own Snowy Baker Productions, with a starting capital of $300,000, organized by Sam E. Rork and William N. Selig. The company was slated to release four films shot in Australia, and another four to be filmed at the Selig studio in the coming year. According to the 12 February 1921 Motion Picture News, Baker’s Arabian horse, “Boomerang,” was being shipped from Australia, presumably to appear in the upcoming productions. The 19 March 1921 Motion Picture News stated that the first of the Snowy Baker Productions was scheduled to begin shooting in the next two weeks, although it is unclear if this film was The Better Man, or if The Better Man had already finished production in Australia.
A release date of 26 November 1921 was cited in the 3 December 1921 Moving Picture World. A review published in the 26 November 1921 Moving Picture World noted that the Selig-Rork production was released by Aywon Film Corp. on the states’ rights market. It also stated, “The story concerns Australian characters and was made on that continent.”
The National Film Preservation Board (NFPB) included this picture on its list of Lost U.S. Silent Feature Films as of February 2021. ...
An item in the 25 March 1920 Wid’s Daily announced that director Wilfred Lucas and screenwriter Bess Meredyth were due to return on 1 April 1920 from Australia, after working on several films there with “Snowy” Baker, a former Olympian and Australian sportsman. Nearly a year later, an 8 January 1921 Motion Picture News item reported that Baker was establishing his own Snowy Baker Productions, with a starting capital of $300,000, organized by Sam E. Rork and William N. Selig. The company was slated to release four films shot in Australia, and another four to be filmed at the Selig studio in the coming year. According to the 12 February 1921 Motion Picture News, Baker’s Arabian horse, “Boomerang,” was being shipped from Australia, presumably to appear in the upcoming productions. The 19 March 1921 Motion Picture News stated that the first of the Snowy Baker Productions was scheduled to begin shooting in the next two weeks, although it is unclear if this film was The Better Man, or if The Better Man had already finished production in Australia.
A release date of 26 November 1921 was cited in the 3 December 1921 Moving Picture World. A review published in the 26 November 1921 Moving Picture World noted that the Selig-Rork production was released by Aywon Film Corp. on the states’ rights market. It also stated, “The story concerns Australian characters and was made on that continent.”
The National Film Preservation Board (NFPB) included this picture on its list of Lost U.S. Silent Feature Films as of February 2021.
For his modern tendencies and methods, Rev. John Harland, an ex-prizefighter, receives the disapproval of his congregation in Australia and a transfer by his bishop. John resolves to protect Muriel Hammond--whose ranch, Worangi, is near his new parish--from the fraud and the wooing of her manager, Martin Giles; but Muriel considers John a coward for his refusal to stand up to Red Jack Braggan, who threatens to shoot John if he holds services. John discovers that Braggan is a cattle thief and goes to Muriel's ranch in time to rescue her from Giles's forceful marriage ...
For his modern tendencies and methods, Rev. John Harland, an ex-prizefighter, receives the disapproval of his congregation in Australia and a transfer by his bishop. John resolves to protect Muriel Hammond--whose ranch, Worangi, is near his new parish--from the fraud and the wooing of her manager, Martin Giles; but Muriel considers John a coward for his refusal to stand up to Red Jack Braggan, who threatens to shoot John if he holds services. John discovers that Braggan is a cattle thief and goes to Muriel's ranch in time to rescue her from Giles's forceful marriage proposal.
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