The ten-minute cutdown version of this movie that is available at Harpodeon.com is the skeleton of most of William S. Hart's westerns of the era. It's the story of the Good Bad Man and his redemption through the ineluctable ramblings of fate and the smile of a good woman.
In this one, Hart plays an out-and-out gang leader. He's led into that redemption by the offer to make him sheriff so he can kill a rival under the guise of law -- the man who makes the offer figures realizes that at least one will wind up dead, which is all to the good. At least, so I imagine.
This was originally released at 50 minutes, so the meat of the movie is not gone. What you do have is Joe August's beautiful photography. It's more than enough for me.
In this one, Hart plays an out-and-out gang leader. He's led into that redemption by the offer to make him sheriff so he can kill a rival under the guise of law -- the man who makes the offer figures realizes that at least one will wind up dead, which is all to the good. At least, so I imagine.
This was originally released at 50 minutes, so the meat of the movie is not gone. What you do have is Joe August's beautiful photography. It's more than enough for me.