Volume II: Filmography

SAMMY'S SEMI-SUICIDE

(Falstaff)

May 27, 1916 (Saturday)

Length: 1 reel

Character: Comedy

Director: William A. Howell

Scenario: Lloyd F. Lonergan

Cast: Walter Hiers (Sammy), Frances Keyes (his sweetheart)

Location: Jacksonville, Florida

SYNOPSIS, Exhibitors Herald, June 3, 1916:

"Sammy has a bad habit of deciding to kill himself every time May, his sweetheart, sends a frown in his direction. In a dream, however, he imagines he is dead and sees everybody glad of the fact. On the following morning he hastens to the office where May works and slips an engagement ring on her finger, ashamed of himself for his jealous suspicions."

SYNOPSIS, Reel Life, May 20, 1916:

"Sammy and May are sweethearts. Whenever anything goes against him he decides to kill himself. But something always happens to set his design at naught. May gives a birthday party and devotes too much attention to another gentleman. Sammy decides to die, but as he is about to shoot, thinks of his dear one and repents. At this moment the guests fire their pistols and cast pebbles at him. Sammy is convinced that he has committed suicide and he faints with fright. His subsequent experiences shock him. He awakes and finds the girl he loves in another's arms. Nobody believes that he is alive and everybody appears glad at his death, particularly his rival. Next morning he is awakened by his mother. At the sound of the familiar voice he is convinced that he is alive. He hastens to the office and when he finds her there - working away as usual - he feels ashamed of himself. He merely gets hold of May's hand and slips an engagement ring on her finger."

REVIEW, The Moving Picture World, June 3, 1916:

"An amusing office comedy, featuring the corpulent Walter Hiers as the young man in love. He threatens suicide when things do not go right, and makes one or two unsuccessful efforts in that direction. In spite of the grimness of subject this is treated in good burlesque style and is quite successful."

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