Summary
From the gilded cages of Bostonian high society, where the pursuit of entomology is deemed a scandalous aberration, emerges Orlando Winthrop, a scion whose intellectual curiosities clash with his father's expectations. Propelled by a cryptic maxim advising strategic advantage, he journeys to the family's remote Wyoming sheep ranch, a landscape far removed from his refined world, to scrutinize the dubious dealings of foreman William Cogney. Initially a figure of sartorial absurdity—golf clubs incongruously clutched amidst the rugged West—Orlando is subjected to the ranch hands' derision, only to systematically dismantle their assumptions. He masterfully bluffs them at poker, out-drinks their seasoned palates, and tames a bucking bronco with an unexpected prowess. The narrative escalates into a darkly comedic hunting expedition where the cowboys' attempt to terrorize him with a taxidermied bear is hilariously undercut by Orlando's casual appearance from the wilderness, accompanied by a live, meticulously trained ursine companion. This audacious display of control foreshadows his decisive intervention in Cogney's treacherous scheme to sabotage the flock, culminating in a climactic physical confrontation. The arrival of his disapproving father and a prim fiancée from the East provides the final stroke of character emancipation: the fiancée recoils at Orlando's newly acquired, rugged habit of chewing tobacco, freeing him to embrace a heartfelt connection with the local schoolteacher, a woman who appreciates the authentic, multi-faceted man he has become.
Synopsis
Orlando Winthrop, the studious son of a wealthy Bostonian, distresses his father by pursuing an interest in insects. Inspired by a book advising one to "get the drop on the other fellow," Orlando travels to the family sheep ranch in Wyoming to investigate negative rumors concerning foreman William Cogney. Inappropriately dressed and carrying golf clubs, Orlando is paraded through the town by the ranch cowboys. To their chagrin, Orlando bluffs them in poker, out-drinks them, and rides a bucking bronco. During a hunting expedition, the cowboys attempt to scare Orlando with a stuffed bear. Orlando nonchalantly emerges from the woods followed by a live bear, neglecting to inform them that it is trained. Orlando then frustrates William's plan to destroy a portion of the flock and defeats him in a fight. Mr. Winthrop arrives from the East with Orlando's fiancée, who breaks the engagement upon seeing her betrothed chew tobacco. Orlando is delighted, as he and the town's schoolteacher have fallen in love.
Review Excerpt
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Unleashing the Wild: A Deep Dive into the Delightful Anarchy of 'It's a Bear' (1919)
Stepping back into the nascent days of cinema, we encounter films that, despite their age, possess a vibrant spirit and an uncanny ability to subvert expectations. One such gem is the 1919 silent feature, 'It's a Bear'. Far from a mere historical curiosity, this picture, penned by Norman Jacobsen and Nina Wilcox Putnam, with its captivating blend of comedic fish-out-of-water tropes and burgeoning Weste..."
