Broncho Billy and the Schoolmistress (1912) User Reviews (5)

The Cowboy and the Pretty Schoolmarm

[boblipton · 6/10 · 10 April 2012]

The first all-American cowboy star of the cinema was a guy named.... Max Aronson. After playing three or four roles in Edwin Porter's landmark THE GREAT TRAIN ROBERRY - including the guy who shoots at the audience at the film's end -- he recognized the commercial possibilities. In 1907 he formed Essannay Films with George Spoor and prospered for a dozen years as producer, director, writer and star of the Broncho Billy comedies.

Billy's character and story changed from film to film. In this one, he has wandered into Snakeville, the setting of Essannay's comedy-western series. The pretty schoolmarm has been warned about wandering around and has brandished a derringer, so the usual suspects decide to play a practical joke by faking a holdup, casting Billy as the bandit. As your mother would tell you, it's all fun and games until Billy gets shot. Don't worry. There's more story ahead.

This may be pretty hard to follow. Later in the year Mack Sennett would set up Keystone and his editing was impeccable -- and still chaotic to the modern eye. Even so, there's a decent story, decent acting and while the humor is very rough, it's short and performed with good humor and some interesting camera-work.

Wow...Jack is an idiot!

[planktonrules · 6/10 · 29 July 2012]

Gilbert M. 'Broncho Billy' Anderson (no relation to the character in the Clint Eastwood film "Broncho Billy") was a very early film pioneer. He directed and starred in some very successful films and was one of the first stars of the genre--though today he's pretty much forgotten.

Billy and Jack both are enamored with the new school teacher. It seems that this town doesn't have any women (yet they have kids) and you see lots of men milling about--trying to get a look at the lady. Broncho Billy seems to get the upper hand with the lady and the evil Jack decides to get his revenge. How this dumb plan plays out is something you'll just have to see for yourself, but, as I said it's pretty dumb and Jack CAN'T succeed as Billy is the hero in these films! While the film is pretty simple, for 1912 it's quite good and helped lead to MANY more Broncho Billy films. Worth a peek.

Broncho Billy and the Schoolmistress review

[JoeytheBrit · 6/10 · 25 June 2020]

Broncho Billy (Gilbert M. Anderson) vies with shady cowboy Brinsley Shaw for the favours of Snakeville's new schoolmistress in this fair entry in the series. The story's a bit daft, but it has plenty of characters, with Shaw standing out as a suitably underhand villain

Astonishingly good short early western from Broncho Billy

[morrisonhimself · 9/10 · 20 December 2015]

There is only a little bit of a story in "Broncho Billy and the Schoolmistress," but it is so well acted, I consider it a must-see.

"Must-see" for several reasons, including the example of early western, the example of early Broncho Billy, and the example of excellent ensemble acting.

Strangely, even here at IMDb, the actress who plays the heroine, the Schoolmistress of the title, is not identified. She was an amazingly well-built and beautiful woman, with a smile a foot wide, so her name really ought to be prominent.

Some of the other players are part of what might be called Broncho Billy's stock company, and all are superb atmosphere and bit actors. Each performs without over-acting.

Watch them as the beautiful new schoolmistress comes into town on the stage and gets a room at the hotel.

And of course watch her as she is so obviously happy in her new surroundings, and see that magnificent smile. (Who is she?!?)

Unfortunately there is one actor who is not up to par: The villain, Jack, is badly played by Brinsley Shaw, a great name for an actor, and an actor I would bet was from the stage.

It's a cute story, beautifully acted for the most part, and such a fascinating look at early film-making, I urge you to watch it.

There are several versions at YouTube, including at least one with no sound track. I hope you like it as much as I do.

Decent Entry in the Long Series of Films

[Michael_Elliott · 6 January 2013]

Broncho Billy and the Schoolmistress (1912)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Rather far-fetched Western has a new school mistress coming to town, which gets all the guys excited. To have some fun with her they decide to play a prank via a fake robbery since they don't think she'll have the guts to use the gun she has. They get Broncho Billy (Gilbert M. Anderson) to play the role of the bandit but when he's shot everyone at first thinks it was the woman but something more sinister happened. There's quite a bit of plot for just a 14-minute movie and the majority of the time it never makes too much sense. I mean, why scare the woman to welcome her to town if you're wanting to impress her? Okay, it's a joke. But then why would you stage a hold-up knowing that she's carrying a gun and could possibly do something? Either way, I think this film was meant to be part serious and part comedy but neither side works all that well. There are a few amusing moments dealing with Broncho Billy and the mistress but that's about it.