Rex, le cheval démon

Though it's a relic when the might of major studios was all but total, there's a part of me that misses the days of singular animals earning stardom like their human cousins. It's one matter for dogs to be trained to play a character in a franchise; it's another to have a singular icon like Orangey the cat - or Rex the Wonder Horse. Furthermore, relatively few are those titles that specifically center animals in their own full-fledged roles; usually they're depicted in relation to human co-stars. Part of the innate charm of 'The king of wild horses' is that while there's a discrete narrative of human drama, Rex is allowed to be a character with a personality independent of the people populating his world. It's surely a credit to reputed producer and filmmaker Hal Roach to have developed a narrative that's memorable in this regard, and screenwriter Carl Himm also renders the two halves of this picture quite distinct from one another; the goings-on among humans are juxtaposed with sequences of Rex running free, and as they are eventually tied together, it is with admirable finesse. Even setting this aside, however, nearly 100 years later this is still rather special. It may not absolutely demand viewership, but it's highly enjoyable and well made, and is very much deserving on its own merits as an early western classic.

The filming locations are gorgeous, and director Fred Jackman and cinematographer Floyd Jackman do a fine job of emphatically making the landscapes a substantial element of the storytelling; if to a lesser extent than Swedish filmmaker Victor Sjöström, especially with regular collaborator Julius Jaenzon, no other comparison immediately comes to mind. To that point, let there be no doubt that Jack Lindell trained Rex very well, for the stunts and maneuvers that Rex pulls off, not least on such rough terrain, are pretty impressive. (And, yes, that goes for his equine and human co-stars, too.) 'The king' is very well done in all other regards, including excellent effects, production design, and costume design. Beyond the utilization of the setting, the direction and cinematography are both commendably strong in orchestrating and capturing shots and scenes. And by all means, kudos to Roach and Himm for adept storytelling, weaving these two parts into one complete saga. The tale of the titular sovereign and Billy Blair is most readily compelling, and unexpectedly touching, but as the plot on the Fielding homestead progresses, it also becomes more engrossing that it appeared at first blush. Deft scene writing and smart intertitles help to round out storytelling that's honestly a cut above what I anticipated, and as all blends together, I'd be lying if I said I weren't impressed by how subtly but surely the feature engages viewers and keeps us invested.

'The king of wild horses' isn't an outright revelation; unless one is supremely devoted to westerns, horses, or cinema at large, I wouldn't go so far as to say it's entirely a must-see. All the same, there's ultimately more to it than first meets the eye, and in all regards it's gratifyingly well done. Stunts and action are actually the primary movers here, with just enough story to serve as a foundation and fuel the course of events. I didn't assume much when I sat to watch, and I'm pleased to say that the end result is significantly more entertaining and absorbing than it seems from the outside looking in. Not all pictures are equal, even in the silent era, and not all age equally well. I'm very happy to say that this is one film that really does hold up after so many years, and delivers both solid fun and genuine excitement. I can appreciate why older movies don't appeal to all modern audiences, but I'm inclined to say this is one example that could possibly even help to bridge that gap. Don't completely go out of your way to watch 'The king of wild horses,' but if you do have the opportunity to check it out, this is well worth a mere hour of one's time.

The star of this film is Rex the Wonder Horse--a horse who folks today have most likely never heard of because the animal star era has long past. He and Rin-Tin-Tin were pretty big in their day--and Rex made 15 films--and got top billing. However, it's one of the lesser stars that interested me in this Hal Roach production. One of the co-stars is Charles Parrott--the real name of the comedian Charley Chase. Chase had a very successful career starting around 1925, though he had played bit parts for a decade earlier. So, you'll see him pop up in many, many different earlier silents--mostly using his non-stage name.

As far as the film goes, it's not bad by 1924's standards or if you see it today. Also, it's nice to see that the TeleVista DVD is in pretty good shape--something pretty rare for this company. They have brought many otherwise lost silents to DVD--but they also do nothing to restore them. Fortunately, the print for "King of the Wild Horses" is pretty good.

The film is set out west. A rich guy owns a ranch--and is having his horses stolen out from under him. What he doesn't know is that his no-account son (Chase) is actually helping the rustlers! There is another plot involving folks trying to capture a black horse who runs wild and who everyone is trying to capture. Our hero, however, is determined to capture the horse. How does the plot involving this dark horse (Rex) and the hero intersect with Chase and the baddies? Tune in and see.

Overall, if you love horses, you'll probably enjoy this silent film. However, it's not just a horse film but a decent western. Not especially deep but satisfying and well worth your time if you appreciate silent movies.