Volume II: Filmography

THE PURSE AND THE GIRL

a.k.a. THE LOSER WINS

(Princess)

January 30, 1914 (Friday)

Length: 1 reel (1,003 feet)

Character: Drama

Director: Carl Louis Gregory

Scenario: John William Kellette

Cameraman: Carl Louis Gregory

Cast: Muriel Ostriche (Nell), Boyd Marshall (Jim), Marie Eline (Tommy, an errand boy), Fan Bourke (Nettie Muggs), Arthur Bauer

Notes: 1. The title of this film was confused in the trade press and, for example, The Moving Picture World in various schedules and in a synopsis (issue of January 13, 1914) gives the title as The Loser Wins, but the review in the issue of February 14, 1914 gives the title as The Purse and the Girl. 2. At one time this film, under the title of The Loser Wins, apparently was intended to be a release under the Reliance label. An article in The Chicago Tribune, April 11, 1914, attributed this film to Reliance. Some confusion may have arisen because of somewhat similarly-titled Reliance-Majestic film, The Winner Loses, also with a scenario by Kellette, released in February 1913.

SYNOPSIS, Reel Life, January 24, 1914:

"Jim is going into the bank, when he drops his billfold - and it is picked up by a very attractive young woman, named Nell. Just then, a friend of Nell's comes along in an automobile and absorbs her in conversation so that Jim, retracing his steps, looking for his billfold, does not speak to her, nor does she notice him. She enters the bank to inquire about her find - but no loss has been reported. Taking the money home, she lays it on the table - and is suddenly off again in great excitement to see a fire which has broken out in a nearby house, when Tommy, a milliner's errand boy, comes in, and finding no one, looks over the premises, spying the billfold. Then he hears steps - and hides behind a curtain just in time to see a thief slink in and pocket the money. He runs to give notice to the police. His story is not believed, and he is arrested and taken to the police station. Thither comes Jim seeking some clue to the billfold. He believes in Tommy's innocence, and bails him out. Later, Tommy stumbles upon the thief, Muggs, and his confederate, Nettie. His budding detective instincts assure him that they have Jim's property. Meanwhile, Jim has met Nell at the police station, come there on the trail of the same billfold. Love springs up between them. Tommy leads the police to Muggs. The money is restored to Jim - and though recently a loser, he is a winner now, doubly rejoicing that his money is found and that he has discovered Nell."

REVIEW, The Moving Picture World, February 14, 1914:

"A love story with crooks in the background. The latter serve as a means of drawing the young people together. The plot is without novelty, and the business is not convincing. However, the characters are lively and incite interest. Produced in a simple forthright way, it makes a pleasing release."

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