The Scourge of the Desert

1915
20m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

Pastor Holt of Arizona has a daughter, Ellen, and a son, John. John is inclined to be a trifle restless under the home discipline. The pastor gives John a sum of money to deposit in a bank a... Read allPastor Holt of Arizona has a daughter, Ellen, and a son, John. John is inclined to be a trifle restless under the home discipline. The pastor gives John a sum of money to deposit in a bank at Grey Rock. This money is for the erection of a new mission. Ellen meanwhile has sold her... Read allPastor Holt of Arizona has a daughter, Ellen, and a son, John. John is inclined to be a trifle restless under the home discipline. The pastor gives John a sum of money to deposit in a bank at Grey Rock. This money is for the erection of a new mission. Ellen meanwhile has sold her horse, Jim, to complete the sum necessary for the erection of same. Bill Evers, a gamblin... Read all

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IMDb RATING

6.2/10

YOUR RATING

2User reviews

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User reviews2

6.211

Featured reviews

deickemeyer

Forcefully presented

A two-reel Western number, with Wm. S. Hart and Rhea Mitchell in the leading roles. Hart plays the part of a bandit whose depredations have struck terror to the hearts of the Western country folk. He later demonstrates that he has a better side. This is forcefully presented and contains many scenes of interest. The story is somewhat conventional in tone, but is given strong, convincing treatment. The photography is good. - The Moving Picture World, January 9, 1915

6boblipton

The Redemption of the Good Bad Man

Gordon Mullen has lost the money for his father's new church at the roulette table. He decides to dress up as the stage-coach bandit, the Scourge of the Desert .... who, unknown to anyone is William S. Hart, the boyfriend of Mullen's sister, Rhea Mitchell.

This story of how Mr. Hart is redeemed by the love of a Good Woman was a favorite subject for Hart's westerns, and its presence here in brief form allows us to admire the elegance of its form. Unfortunately, the reissue print that the Museum of Modern Art offered this afternoon is fairly battered and heavily edited; it's not always clear what is going on and the presence of only two titles indicates it was not a careful editing job. Nonetheless, watching Hart at the beginning of his career is a pleasant occupation.