"A Natural Born Gambler" (1916)

Bert-Williams-in-A-Natural-Born-Gambler-1916-cinematographer-Billy-Bitzer-00

Bert Williams

Directed by                       Bert Williams
Produced by                   Biograph Company
Scenario by                       Bert Williams
Cinematography      Billy Bitzer
Starring                            Bert Williams
Distributed by                General Film Company
Release date                       July 24, 1916
Running time                     23 min.
Country                              United States
Language                            Silent, English intertitles

"A Natural Born Gambler" is a short comedy starring Bert Williams. This film illustrates the work of our star cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Bert Williams was a major Broadway comedian. He was invited by Biograph to write, direct and star in two films, with "A Natural Born Gambler" being the better one by all accounts.

Bert Williams loves poker and is on the verge of winning big (with the help of cheating) when the police intervenes and he is thrown in jail. There he has a dream of playing a poker hand, but will he win or will he lose?

Click to enlarge:

Bert Williams In A Natural Born Gambler 1916 Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 01

Bert Williams pours himself a hearty drink as the barman looks with concern in "A Natural Born Gambler" (1916), cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Bert Williams In A Natural Born Gambler 1916 Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 02

Bert Williams pours himself some more as the barman's eyebrows raise a notch in "A Natural Born Gambler" (1916), cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Bert Williams In A Natural Born Gambler 1916 Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 03

Bert Williams seems surprised as the barman asks to be paid in "A Natural Born Gambler" (1916), cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Bert Williams In A Natural Born Gambler 1916 Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 04

Bert Williams seems surprised as the chairman asks him to pay his dues in "A Natural Born Gambler" (1916), cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Bert Williams In A Natural Born Gambler 1916 Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 05

Bert Williams carries an associate suffering from gout in "A Natural Born Gambler" (1916), cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Bert Williams In A Natural Born Gambler 1916 Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 06

Bert Williams and his associate believe that they see the devil in "A Natural Born Gambler" (1916), cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Bert Williams In A Natural Born Gambler 1916 Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 07

Bert Williams asks an associate to watch for the cops before gambling starts in "A Natural Born Gambler" (1916), cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Bert Williams In A Natural Born Gambler 1916 Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 09

Bert Williams gets a couple extra aces in a high-stakes game of poker in "A Natural Born Gambler" (1916), cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Bert Williams In A Natural Born Gambler 1916 Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 10

Bert Williams has good chances in a high-stakes game of poker in "A Natural Born Gambler" (1916), cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Bert Williams In A Natural Born Gambler 1916 Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 11

Bert Williams gets arrested for gambling in "A Natural Born Gambler" (1916), cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Bert Williams In A Natural Born Gambler 1916 Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 12

Bert Williams listens to his lawyer talk to the judge in "A Natural Born Gambler" (1916), cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Bert Williams In A Natural Born Gambler 1916 Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 13

Bert Williams looks dejected as his lawyer gets the spoils of the poker game as an attorney's fee in "A Natural Born Gambler" (1916), cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Bert Williams In A Natural Born Gambler 1916 Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 14

Bert Williams lingers in jail and dreams about a game of poker in "A Natural Born Gambler" (1916), cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Bert Williams In A Natural Born Gambler 1916 Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 15

Bert Williams shuffles the cards in a pantomime for "A Natural Born Gambler" (1916), cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Bert Williams In A Natural Born Gambler 1916 Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 16

Bert Williams deals the cards in a pantomime for "A Natural Born Gambler" (1916), cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Bert Williams In A Natural Born Gambler 1916 Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 18

Bert Williams is not impressed with his hand in a pantomime for "A Natural Born Gambler" (1916), cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Bert Williams In A Natural Born Gambler 1916 Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 19

Bert Williams deals more cards in a pantomime for "A Natural Born Gambler" (1916), cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Bert Williams In A Natural Born Gambler 1916 Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 20

Bert Williams increases his bet in a pantomime for "A Natural Born Gambler" (1916), cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Bert Williams In A Natural Born Gambler 1916 Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 21

Bert Williams considers his final move in a pantomime for "A Natural Born Gambler" (1916), cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Bert Williams In A Natural Born Gambler 1916 Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 220

Bert Williams concedes in a pantomime for "A Natural Born Gambler" (1916), cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Bert-Williams-in-A-Natural-Born-Gambler-1916-cinematographer-Billy-Bitzer-06

Bert Williams carries an associate suffering from gout

Bert Williams, Billy Bitzer, silent film, silent movie stars, free classic film, old movies, silent film streaming, silent era, archive films, rare films, silent comedy, silent classics, classic images, classic comedy movies, classic films on line

"A Natural Born Gambler" (1916) - with film