Oliver Hardy was a far cry from his "Ollie" character of the Laurel and Hardy comedies in the 1927 high Adventure drama "No Man's Law".
Here he plays escaped con-man and murderer Sharkey Nye, who along with his partner in crime, Spider O'Day (Theodore Von Eltz) outruns the Navada police and cross the California line to freedom from the law.
Here, they discover a partially dug gold mine belonging to prospector, Jack Belcher (James Finlayson) who lives in a wooden hut with his gorgeous, innocent daughter Toby (Barbara Kent).
She is molested by Sharkey (Hardy) whilst swimming nude in a creek but her horse (Rex) manages to run him off.
The two criminals convince Toby and her Dad that they will help excavate the gold mine with honest intentions and are invited to stay.
Frictions grow high when Spider softens and falls for Toby, whilst Sharkey has more sinister intentions which result in an attempt to rape her as well as murder his partner and her father.
The tension grows fiercely in a great finale.
Hardy is absolutely superb in a rare straight role - oozing pure hatred with no comic undertones.
Finlayson provides some mild amusement but generally, the film is a serious affair.
This rare film MUST be viewed in its full restored 74 minute version with synchronised soundtrack to be fully appreciated. One of the most exciting silent adventures I have seen and testament to the wonderful versatility of Oliver Norvell Hardy.
Here he plays escaped con-man and murderer Sharkey Nye, who along with his partner in crime, Spider O'Day (Theodore Von Eltz) outruns the Navada police and cross the California line to freedom from the law.
Here, they discover a partially dug gold mine belonging to prospector, Jack Belcher (James Finlayson) who lives in a wooden hut with his gorgeous, innocent daughter Toby (Barbara Kent).
She is molested by Sharkey (Hardy) whilst swimming nude in a creek but her horse (Rex) manages to run him off.
The two criminals convince Toby and her Dad that they will help excavate the gold mine with honest intentions and are invited to stay.
Frictions grow high when Spider softens and falls for Toby, whilst Sharkey has more sinister intentions which result in an attempt to rape her as well as murder his partner and her father.
The tension grows fiercely in a great finale.
Hardy is absolutely superb in a rare straight role - oozing pure hatred with no comic undertones.
Finlayson provides some mild amusement but generally, the film is a serious affair.
This rare film MUST be viewed in its full restored 74 minute version with synchronised soundtrack to be fully appreciated. One of the most exciting silent adventures I have seen and testament to the wonderful versatility of Oliver Norvell Hardy.