Jack Hoxie was one of the biggest silent western stars. He was born and grew up in the west, working as a real cowboy, before becoming a rodeo champion and wild west show performer. He had the physical skills needed to impress in the action sequences and enough pantomime talent to get by in silent movies, but sound exposed his limitations. Hoxie had a good speaking voice but was untrained as an actor, and could not read, which made learning lines all but impossible. Still, off the evidence of this film, he had much to offer.
I bought the DVD of GOLD to see Hoxie and I understand why he was a star in his day. A big, bluff man, moon-faced but handsome, he reminded me of a slimmer, handsome version of Babe Ruth. He had an engaging smile and manner. He was 47 when he made this movie, but could have passed in the black and white photography for 20 years younger. He seems a good match for the youthful heroine. His riding skills were still impressive in some well-photographed scenes.
GOLD is a low budget B western, made by the small Majestic Pictures, but they managed to back Hoxie with a professional cast. Alice Day is attractive as the somewhat trigger-happy heroine who takes three separate shots at the innocent Hoxie after she jumps to the conclusion that he shot her father. Lafe McKee enacts his usual old codger, father role, but with more depth than usual, including an excellent drunk scene. Old pro Tom London is on hand as the sheriff. Hooper Atchley is the urbane boss of the bad guys, with Matthew Betz, Robert Kortman, and Jack Byron his henchmen. Jack Clifford is Hoxie's pal, fishing for laughs with a now politically incorrect stutter. The plot has the bad guy claim-jumpers murdering McKee and framing Hoxie, but there is an ironic twist at the end for the evil Atchley. All ends well for a final fadeout with Hoxie and Day together and his horse apparently confused.
All in all, nothing exceptional, but for film buffs who might want to see a Hoxie movie, this is a good choice.
I bought the DVD of GOLD to see Hoxie and I understand why he was a star in his day. A big, bluff man, moon-faced but handsome, he reminded me of a slimmer, handsome version of Babe Ruth. He had an engaging smile and manner. He was 47 when he made this movie, but could have passed in the black and white photography for 20 years younger. He seems a good match for the youthful heroine. His riding skills were still impressive in some well-photographed scenes.
GOLD is a low budget B western, made by the small Majestic Pictures, but they managed to back Hoxie with a professional cast. Alice Day is attractive as the somewhat trigger-happy heroine who takes three separate shots at the innocent Hoxie after she jumps to the conclusion that he shot her father. Lafe McKee enacts his usual old codger, father role, but with more depth than usual, including an excellent drunk scene. Old pro Tom London is on hand as the sheriff. Hooper Atchley is the urbane boss of the bad guys, with Matthew Betz, Robert Kortman, and Jack Byron his henchmen. Jack Clifford is Hoxie's pal, fishing for laughs with a now politically incorrect stutter. The plot has the bad guy claim-jumpers murdering McKee and framing Hoxie, but there is an ironic twist at the end for the evil Atchley. All ends well for a final fadeout with Hoxie and Day together and his horse apparently confused.
All in all, nothing exceptional, but for film buffs who might want to see a Hoxie movie, this is a good choice.
