He added, “The triumph of Algie, the Miner is not that Guy-Blaché made a Western with an evidently gay protagonist.

Instead, Algie's character is defined as gay through certain visual indicators of behavior and dress.”

This was 1912 and, even in the most forward-thinking film, some sexual orientations dared not speak their names. He becomes a wealthy miner and later returns home, taking Big Jim with him, to stake his claim to the girl he wants to marry.įilmmaker Bret Wood has claimed that, given the female love interest, Algie is “Technically not a homosexual. Once he’s adapted to Wild West culture, he carries a six-shooter and interacts other cowboys in a traditionally masculine manner.Īlgie develops a bond with his bunkmate, Big Jim-a bond that modern critics have interpreted as a romantic attachment. He carries a dainty silver pistol and prefers to greet his fellow man with kisses on the lips, rather than the usual slaps on the back. So he travels to the Wild West, where he learns how to shoot a pistol, ride a horse, and mine for gold.Īt first, Algie is mocked by cowboys for his flamboyant clothing and foppish mannerisms. He wishes to marry a rich man’s daughter, and is given one year to prove his worth as a man. This ten-minute comedy directed by Alice Guy-Blaché centers on an effeminate city boy named Algie Allmore.