Ranson's Folly's primary photo
  • Ranson's Folly (1910)
  • Short | Short, Western
Primary photo for Ranson's Folly
Ranson's Folly (1910)
Short | Short, Western
Lieut. Ranson has drifted into the American Army, not from patriotism nor from necessity, but entirely from the spirit of adventure. After many exciting episodes he finds himself quietly stationed in a frontier fort; things are far too ...See moreLieut. Ranson has drifted into the American Army, not from patriotism nor from necessity, but entirely from the spirit of adventure. After many exciting episodes he finds himself quietly stationed in a frontier fort; things are far too sedate to suit his "devil-may-care" nature. So one evening, midst falling in love with the post trader's daughter and listening to the stories of college pranks by the West Point officers, his eyes chance to fall upon the sign posted: "Reward! $500 for the capture dead or alive of 'Red Rider,' the Stage-Coach Robber!" Ranson laughingly jests that holding up a stagecoach is a very simple matter, and to prove the fact he lays a wager that upon this very night he himself will hold up the incoming stage with only a pair of shears as a weapon. Taking an oilskin coat to hide his uniform and a red handkerchief to cover his face, he starts on his lark, as he terms it. Scarcely has he gone before orders are received that Paymaster Patten will be aboard the coach, and a detachment of cavalry is to meet him and escort him in. Now the folly of Ranson takes a serious turn. There is a vast difference between holding up a stagecoach and one with a Government paymaster aboard who always shoots to kill. The officers go forth to do their duty regardless of consequences, but all this has been overheard by the post trader himself, who is no other than the real "Red Rider," the stagecoach robber. He sees his chance and, disguising himself identically the same as Ranson, starts out on his mission. Fate changes things around; the paymaster misses the stagecoach and follows shortly after in a private carriage. Lieut. Ranson carries out his threat, reaches the stagecoach first, holds it up with a pair of shears and is flirting with the ladies, when he is interrupted by the arrival of the detachment of cavalry, Ranson has succeeded in making his escape unidentified, when suddenly the cavalry hear firing down the road. They arrive just in time to find an overturned carriage, the driver dead and Paymaster Patten defending himself behind the vehicle. The robber is wounded in the hand, but escapes. That night Lieut. Ranson comes gallantly swinging into the officers' quarters, with a gleam of mirth sparkling in his eyes. A toast is proposed, but suddenly interrupted by the entrance of a detachment of soldiers and the sharp order, "You are under arrest, Lieut. Ranson, charged with stopping the stagecoach, holding up Paymaster Patten and killing the driver." Ranson is dumbfounded when in a few minutes he finds himself under guard in his own quarters, a prisoner. Needless to say that by chance it is discovered that two black-coated figures rode forth in the moonlight that night. And when "Red Rider," otherwise the post trader, finds that his daughter is in love with Ranson, the man whom he is trying to condemn, and realizes that his daughter's happiness lies in Ranson's vindication, he reveals the truth to Ranson. In the midst of the exciting scene the old post trader steals from the room. A pistol shot rings out and a tiny curl of smoke steals from above the curtain of the door. Then a moment later the tragedy of "Ranson's Folly" is revealed. Written by Moving Picture World synopsis See less
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Director
Edwin S. Porter
Writers
Richard Harding Davis (novel) | Edwin S. Porter (scenario)
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Status
Edit Released
Updated Mar 1, 1910
Release date
Mar 1, 1910 (United States)

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