Silent: Two Classic Westerns
Silent Man released 1917
Blue Blazes Rawden released 1918
William S. Hart
From our Purveyor of Films:
How honored I am to be a member of the Board of Director of the Friends of Hart Park! After an extraordinary stage and film career, international silent film star Bill Hart retired to the Santa Clarita Valley making his home right here in Newhall. Come visit the William S. Hart Ranch and Museum, take a guided tour of his home, and stroll down the nearby Walk of Western Stars.
The William S. Harts image on the cover of this DVD case reminds me of the image of him on the mural in Heritage Court at the Autry National Center. Gene Autry always credited Hart for setting the stage for the modern Western. William S. Hart's Westerns set the stage for all that followed. He set that bar high.

The image of William S. Hart featured in this stamp set is based on the lobby card art of the movie Tumbleweeds. This stamp set was released April 17, 2010.
The Silent Man (1917, B&W, Silent): "Silent" Bud Marr, after years of suffering and hardship in the desert wasteland, discovers a rich vein of pure gold. But in the nearby hell-hole town of Bakeoven, he learns that his discovery has been stolen by "Handsome" Jack Pressley, corrupt saloon owner, bigamist and claim- jumper. With loaded six-guns in tow, "Silent" Bud rides off determined to take back the gold that is rightfully his!
Starring William S. Hart, Vola Vale, Robert McKim; Original music score by Marc Kaplan; Directed by William S. Hart.
Blue Blazes Rawden (1918, B&W, Silent): Rugged lumberjack "Blue Blazes" Rawden gets into a poker game gone wrong with corrupt saloon owner and town boss, "Ladyfingers" Hilgard. The stakes escalate to a winner-take-all fight to the the death - for control of the town and the affections of Hilgard's luscious girlfriend, Babette DuFresne. Rawden kills Hilgard in a brutal fight, and is riding high with his new found wealth and girlfriend. When Hilgard's mother arrives from England seeking her son, Rawden takes pity on the woman. He creates the fiction that "Ladyfingers" was a kind and respected man, and that her son's death was courageous and accidental. But when Eric Hilgard learns who really killed his brother, he comes looking for Rawden, hell-bent on revenge.
Starring William S. Hart, Maude George, Robert McKim; Original music score by Marc Kaplan; Directed by William S. Hart.
William S. Hart began as a highly acclaimed Shakespearean actor on Broadway who entertained no aspiration for movie acting prior to age 49. A major western buff, he purchased Billy The Kid's pistols and boasted friendships with both Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson. Teaming with producer Thomas Ince in 1915, Hart went on to star in and direct a series of excellent westerns, this twin bill being a fine example. These films have great style and quality, from the beautifully designed intercards, to the magnificent location shots, to the realistic costumes and sets. Excellent stories that compliment Hart's outstanding performances and direction grace these gritty and faithful depictions of the old west.
Aproximate shipping weight is 6 oz.