We’re back with a new theme and this month, we will be examining unwise wagers in silent films.
The ill-advised bet is a movie staple that is still popular for one simple reason: it works. Need to get your characters to spend a night at the Mansion of Murder? They made a bet! Want to have your shy character pluck up the nerve to pursue their love? They took a wager! Need a character to lose money instantly? There are many ways but a big poker loss, a horse coming in second or a disappointing ball game all do the trick.
We will be looking at films in a variety of genres, from comedy to horror, and with some of the biggest names of the silent era. What they will all have in common will be some very poor gambling decisions indeed.
In the meantime, here are a few wager-based films that I have already covered:
Luck (1923) is a Johnny Hines comedy about a man who wagers he can earn his own fortune within a year.
The Cheat (1915) is about a society woman who gambles the milk funds on the stock market and must get the money back any way she can.
An Evil of the Slums (1914) tackles the horror that is… the neighborhood pool hall! Where all manner of gambling takes place!
Hawthorne of the U.S.A. (1919) is about the man who broke the bank at Monte Carlo and whose bet pays off when he saves a tiny kingdom from ruin.
I hope you will enjoy the upcoming selections!
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Movies Silently 