Every Man Has His Price's primary photo
  • Every Man Has His Price (1914)
  • Short | Short, Drama
Primary photo for Every Man Has His Price
Every Man Has His Price (1914)
Short | Short, Drama
Ralph Pelton, wealthy, arrogant New Yorker, has just won a suit for title to a large tract of land in the west. On the land in question are settled a number of small ranchers who had believed themselves owners, but Pelton had taken ...See moreRalph Pelton, wealthy, arrogant New Yorker, has just won a suit for title to a large tract of land in the west. On the land in question are settled a number of small ranchers who had believed themselves owners, but Pelton had taken advantage of a sharp technicality. Pauperized by the legal struggle, the ranchers are desperate. Al Carter, as sheriff, is forced to serve ejectment papers on the ranchers, although his sympathies are with his fellow westerners. Scornful of any danger, Pelton travels west alone to inspect his new holdings. His arrival causes mutterings from the ranchers and townspeople. Arrogantly impressing the unwilling sheriff as a guide, Pelton starts on a horseback tour of his lands. Otto Walsh, one of the ranchers, follows Pelton and asks permission to move the house on his former ranch, which building he considers rightfully belongs to him. Pelton, without provocation, knocks Walsh down and starts to heat him cruelly. Carter at once arrests Pelton on a charge of assault. Walsh, painfully injured, reaches town first and his story arouses the ranchers, cowboys and townsmen. The sheriff takes his indignant, sneering prisoner through a threatening mob and lodges him in jail. The mob determines on revenge. Carter's deputies desert him, and the sheriff alone remains to protect Pelton. The mob kindles fire in the street and suspends a pot of tar over the flames. Pelton witnesses the preparations from the jail window. His nerve deserts him and he offers the sheriff $1,000, then $10,000 to spirit him away. The sheriff refuses. Pelton's fright becomes terror. "What's your price? I'll give you anything," he cries to the sheriff. Carter weakens and tells Pelton his price. The Easterner hesitates, then consents. Pelton signs a paper and hands Carter $10,000 in banknotes. The sheriff smuggles Pelton out the rear, gives him a horse and the Easterner gallops for the next railroad station. As the sheriff reenters his locked and barricaded office, one of the ranchers, coming into town, recognizes Pelton as he gallops by. The rancher reports the escape, and the maddened mob, just ready to apply the tar and feathers, breaks into the sheriff's office. Carter holds back the mob with his revolver, then hands over the paper and the $10,000 to one of the leaders with the remark, "My resignation as sheriff goes with this bribe." The paper is in the form of a deed, attested by the sheriff as a notary, and signed by Pelton. transferring to the former owners all the land involved in the court decision. Pelton also writes that the $10,000 is to reimburse the ranchers for their litigation expenses. The "bribe" is thankfully approved of by all. Written by Moving Picture World synopsis See less
Read more: Plot summary
Director
Arthur Mackley
See all filmmakers & crew (1)
Trending

Become a member to see MOVIEmeter and news information about Every Man Has His Price.
Status
Edit Released
Updated Sep 15, 1914
Release date
Sep 15, 1914 (United States)

Contacts

+ Add

Become a member to see contact information for Every Man Has His Price.

Cast

 + Add Cast
1 cast member
Name Known for
Arthur Mackley's primary photo
Arthur Mackley
Sheriff Al Carter Sheriff Al Carter   See fewer
Old Gorman's Gal (1913)
There was an issue loading this tab.
There was an issue loading this tab.
There was an issue loading this tab.
There was an issue loading this tab.
There was an issue loading this tab.
There was an issue loading this tab.
There was an issue loading this tab.
There was an issue loading this tab.

MOVIEmeter

Members only

Become a member to access additional data

Ratings Breakdown

+ Add external reviews