The Unknown Ranger (1920), directed by Harris Gordon. What amazes me about this early silent western is the extended chase across precipitous cliffs late in the film. The camera here and throughout the film does not move, and yet we have the impression of furious action and cliff hanger (literally) action. The film also boasts two flashbacks, one a fabrication by the villain and the other a truthful account by the hero, Buck Manning (Rex Ray). The plot has to do with a villain who disguises himself as a writer come west to research local colour. In reality, he is a nefarious opium smuggler. He is aided by two Mexican men and a part Native American woman. Of course, there is a young maiden involved, Jo Blair (Marie Newall). Not the most ground-breaking western ever, but an enjoyable example of just how clever movies could be way back before the technology we now take for granted.

 

Wolf Lowry (1917), Directed by William S. Hart. One of Hart’s early features, Wolf Lowry once again gives us the good bad man, or in this case a sheep in wolf’s clothing. The eponymous hero is something of a roustabout who enjoys pretending to hang his Chinese cook! This unfortunate scene occurs early in the film. He also dislikes nesters, until a pretty young woman, Mary Davis (Margery Wilson) comes to nest on Wolf’s property. Wolf is smitten. The print I saw on YouTube is excellent; I especially like the night scenes cast in blue. In terms of story, the film does not offer a great deal. After leaving his fiancée’s true love for the wolves, the Hart character (Wolf Lowry) has a change of heart and rides back to rescue the young man and bring him to marry the girl. The film does not have a lot of action, but it does have fisticuffs between Wolf and the villain of the piece, Buck Fanning (Aaron Edwards).