AustLit

While little is known about the narrative and production aspects of this short silent comedy film, Melbourne’s Newsletter confirms that the scenario had been written by Percy (27 April 1912, p2). This is not surprising given the comedian’s authorship of numerous theatrical sketches around this period and his scenario for Franklyn Barrett’s 1911 feature film All for Gold.

Produced and distributed by Universal, Percy Gets a Job was given its premiere at the Victoria Theatre, Sydney on 29 April 1912. It is known to have been still been screening in regional centres as late as December that same year.

[Source: Australian Variety Theatre Archive]

When Jack Cardigan strikes gold, he writes to his girlfriend Nora in Sydney to give her the good news. But he entrusts the letter to an untrustworthy friend, Ralph Blackstone, who poisons Jack in order to jump his claim. Nora catches wind of Ralph's villainy, and pursues him back to the mine, first by a speedboat across Sydney Harbour and then by racing his train in a fast car. In the goldfields, she finds Jack alive, and the two are reconciled both with one another and with Jack's gold.