User Reviews

... and that's where the Americano comes in. He has to go to the Central American country of Paragonia along the cliffs of the Caribbean to teach the population how to use modern machines to mine whatever it is they mined there in 1910. The film was made in 1916 and hearkened back to those days before the great war made all the other wars squabbles... Douglas Fairbanks dances about and helps save the day when the Paragonian Presidente travels to New York to appeal to the mining company to send someone to help his economy flourish. Good thing he brought his daughter because Douglas would never have left Brooklyn were it not for the sight of her.

While in New York a military coup transforms his country into a military regime. Daughter rushes back with father, warning Douglas not to follow, which he does.

The film anticipates the HBO Pancho Villa film, "And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself."

"The Americano" was one from Douglas Fairbanks' pre-swashbuckling period. The film was supervised by no less than D.W. Griffith who was to be a partner with Doug, Mary Pickford and Charlie Chaplin in the formation of United Artists in 1919.

In this story Doug is billed as, now get this, Blaze Derringer but he is only referred to as "The Americano" in the story. The story takes place in 1910 in the small Caribbean country of Paragonia where the government under President de Valdez - wait for it, (Spotiswoode Aitkens) is preparing to approve a renewal of the agreement with The American Mining Company for the running of the country's mines. All of the cabinet except for General Salsa Espada, the War Minister approve. However the motionis carried and Prime Minister de Castille (Tote Du Crow) and Juana de Valdez, the President's daughter go to New York to sign the new agreement. General Espada and Colonel Garagas (Charlie Stevens), who has his eyes on Juana as well, plot to take over the country in their absence.

In New York young mining engineer Blaze Derringer (Fairbanks) is asked to go to Paragonia to run the mining operation. At first he refuses but when he spots the comely Juana in the office, changes his mind. Prime Minister de Castille receives an urgent message from home and is forced to leave. Derringer upon learning of Juana's sudden departure, books passage on the next ship.

When the Americano arrives in Paragonia, he learns that President de Valdez has been imprisoned in San Mateo prison and that Juana is being kept unwillingly in her home. The Americano is befriended by a beggar who turns out to be de Castille in disguise. He tells the Americano that Generasl Espada and Colonel Garagas have overthrown the government and have taken control of the country. The Americano tries to gain entrance to the de Valdez home but is turned away. He goes to his company's office and finds it ransacked. A lone employee "Whitey" (Tom Wilson) remains.

The Americano returns to the de Valdez home and climbs over the wall to visit Juana. She informs him that Gargaras is forcing her into a marriage by threatening her father's life. The Americano and Whitey plan to visit the prison to see what can be done. Later the imprisoned de Valdez discovers the location of a secret passage which has been sealed off. He writes the date 23 November, 1899 on slips of paper which are thrown from the window by the cleaner.

The American finds one of the slips and brings it to Juana who thinks that the date pertains to her father's diary. It did. The date refers to an escape from San Mateo prison through a secret tunnel. Meanwhile Espada tries to bribe the Americano into joining them so that the mines can be re-opened. He plays along.

When the American leaves Espada's office he is followed by one of Espada's men. The Americano sees him and subdues him. He along with Whitey attempt to break down the wall next to de Valdez' cell. In spite of the jail guard, they manage to break through and free the President.

Espada is addressing the crowd outside preparing to announce that the Americano has joined them and that the mines will be reopened. The Americano arrives but instead of announcing that he is with Espada, announces to the crowd that the popular President de Valdez has been freed.

The crowd rejoices and everything is hunky dorey again.

Fairbanks displays some of his athleticism that would be a integral part of his swashbucklers of the 1920s such as his scaling of the wall outside Juana's house. Charlie Stevens a Fairbanks regular, was only 23 at the time. I wasn't impressed with the "Whitey" character who was actually a white actor in black face make-up. I know that Griffith employed this in "The Birth of a Nation" (1915) but it didn't make it any more acceptable.

Where in the heck did they come up with the name Blaze Derringer anyhow?