Unclaimed Goods is a 1918 American silent Western comedy film directed by Rollin S. Sturgeon and written by Gardner Hunting and Johnston McCulley. The film stars Vivian Martin, Harrison Ford, Casson Ferguson, George A. McDaniel, Dick La Reno, and George Kunkel. The film was released on April 14, 1918, by Paramount Pictures.[1][2] It is not known whether the film currently survives.[3][4]

Unclaimed Goods
Theatrical poster
Directed byRollin S. Sturgeon
Screenplay byGardner Hunting
Johnston McCulley
Produced byJesse L. Lasky
StarringVivian Martin
Harrison Ford
Casson Ferguson
George A. McDaniel
Dick La Reno
George Kunkel
CinematographyJames Van Trees
Production
company
Distributed byParamount Pictures
Release date
  • April 14, 1918 (1918-04-14)
Running time
50 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguagesSilent
English intertitles

Plot

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A Wells Fargo & Co. express agent has to determine what to do with an unusual shipment (Vivian Martin) that has arrived at his office. The girl's father is being held prisoner by the villain, who is making a claim for the girl. The agent saves the day and claims the "goods" for himself.[5]

Cast

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Reception

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Like many American films of the time, Unclaimed Goods was subject to cuts by city and state film censorship boards. For example, the Chicago Board of Censors conducted two reviews and required cuts, in Reel 1, of the first train scene showing the "Cocopah Kid" robbing the express messenger with gun, Reel 2, two scenes in saloon showing young woman plying Cocopah Kid with drink, the intertitle "Go on back — you got him hooked", two scenes of Slade in saloon threatening Burke with gun, first long and three gambling scenes to include cheating, Slade shooting Cocopah Kid, two scenes of Slade and gang forcing Murphy towards saloon at point of gun, Slade's men searching man's pocket for gun, three scenes of young women at bar in saloon, scene of young woman in foreground with slit skirt, Reel 4, the intertitle "So the auction thing goes and the maverick will belong to me", flash scene of young woman in low cut gown standing near men, Cocopah Kid threatening and shooting messenger, express agent slugging guard, Reel 5, five saloon scenes with women at bar, woman in background drinking, saloon scene of Slade holding up Cocopah Kid and shooting him, Slade falling outside saloon door after being shot, entire scene of Burke on road shooting guard and guard falling, and three scenes of gang shooting at Burke.[6]

References

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  1. ^ Hal Erickson (2015). "Unclaimed-Goods - Trailer - Cast - Showtimes - NYTimes.com". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 28, 2015. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
  2. ^ "Unclaimed Goods (1918) - Overview - TCM.com". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
  3. ^ Progressive Silent Film List: Unclaimed Goods at silentera.com
  4. ^ The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: Unclaimed Goods
  5. ^ Wells Fargo Messenger magazine
  6. ^ "Official Cut-Outs by the Chicago Board of Censors". Exhibitors Herald. 6 (21). New York City: Exhibitors Herald Company: 31. May 18, 1918.
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