Richard Barthelmess enjoyed enormous success and creative control throughout the 1920s but everybody has misses now and again. This cavalry yarn is not one of his better pictures, unfortunately.
How do you make a film about an adrenaline junkie dull? Director Sidney Olcott found a way. Barthelmess is charming, as is costar Dorothy Mackaill but their romance is sidelined in favor of an ill-conceived courtroom finale. I also enjoyed character actor Brooks Benedict’s campy contribution. Frustrating because there were so many good ingredients that went into this very bland picture.
How does it end? Hover or tap below for a spoiler.
Ranson is found innocent, gets the girl, etc.Read my full-length review here.
If it were a dessert it would be: So-so Store-bought Chocolate Chip Cookies (when you were promised home-baked ones). Good enough but could have been so much better.
Availability: Released on DVD.
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