Broncho Billy and the Schoolmistress(1912)

Broncho Billy and the Schoolmistress is a 1912 comedy-drama that subverts the frontier tale of the helpless Eastern woman. When a new schoolteacher arrives in the wild West, she proves more than capable of handling herself, while Broncho Billy finds himself sidelined—even taking a bullet meant for her when a jealous rival tries to remove him from the picture. Shot on location in Fairfax, California and at Essanay Studios in San Rafael, this 14-minute silent film captures the playful spirit of early Western cinema, where traditional gender roles get pleasantly upended.