A Montana Love Story AND Lovers’ Trials (Powers)

100 years ago today, Powers Picture Plays, a production company named for Pat Powers, released A Montana Love Story and Lovers’ Trials together on one reel.

Synopsis of A Montana Romance, published in The Moving Picture World 8, no. 3 (21 January,  1911): 151.

Susan Perkins runs the best and only restaurant In Gould Valley, Montana. She has money but pines for a lover. At last he comes in the person of Tompkins, a prospector. After this Susan neglects her boarders for Tompkins. Thereupon the enraged boarders give Tompkins the choice between being hung or leaving town. He leaves in a hurry but their plot is foiled. Susan declares she will not cook another meal until they bring back her sweetheart. A funny chase for Tompkins follows. He is captured and brought back to his yearning, Susan. For reward Susan elopes with Tompkins, leaving a note in which she tells the miners they can cook their own meals hereafter.

Synopsis of Lovers’ Trials, published in The Moving Picture World 8, no. 3 (21 January,  1911): 151.

As the result of a game of filopena, Fred wins beautiful Mabel, whose Pa is willing they should marry until he finds Fred being dragged into a ginmill by two friends who are “soused to the gills.” Pa breaks the engagement and locks Mabel in her room, but love laughs at Papa. With the aid of a ladder Mabel escapes. A passing policeman chases the couple but they escape in an automobile, are married and then captured by the policeman, who thinks they are robbers. Meanwhile, two real burglars have ascended the ladder to Mabel’s room and are helping themselves to her jewels. Pa enters with Mabel’s supper, is captured by the burglars and tied up. Enter Mabel, Fred and the policeman. The tramps are captured, Pa is untied and there is nothing left for him to do but give the couple his blessings.

*Note* I have no idea what a game of “filopena” is. For all I know it could be a typo (of which there were many in MPW).

*Another Note* David Hullfish, in his Motion-Picture Work of 1915 warns his readers not to confuse Powers Picture Plays with the Nicholas Power Company, whose Cameragraph projection machines graced the cover of every issue of the Moving Picture World in 1911)