User Reviews

William S. Hart is Yates, proprietor of "My Place", who never does anything for anyone else and never tells anyone else what to do -- the perfect Libertarian gentleman. However, when Jane Novak and her sister pull up, he feels the stirrings of love and the strange desire to do things for her in this well turned out story of redemption.

The redemption of the good bad man was a story that Hart turned to often. Here it's in the form of a comedy drama, and it's very nicely balanced. As Hart wrestles with these unaccustomed feelings, he clumsily tries to do good, with disastrous results...and to his surprise, is forgiven. The denouement is melodramatic in script and acting, but it was just the sort of thing that Hart excelled at; note his stance as he holds off a couple of dozen men in a pose aped by Keaton and Lloyd in western spoofs.

As is usual with Hart's westerns, cameraman Joseph August offers some lovely compositions. It's not a film to introduce Hart to newcomers, but once you have learned the pleasures of his westerns, you'll find this a very enjoyable film.

The photography is the thing in this magnificently photographed, short and satisfying silent film. From the beauty of the desert vista where two young sisters (Jane Novak and teen era child actress Thelma Salter) watch their father die on the desert floor, then trek via covered wagon to the nearest town alone, a frontier town and saloon, threadbare and stark against the prairie sky, to the smoke from a cigar wafting around the face of William S. Hart as it fills the screen - this film is a real visual experience more than compelling story, you can really feel the Old West here - it's a real treat to see on a big screen.

Hart plays "Selfish" Yates, a man with a motto "Me first, me second, me to the end", and "Never do for anyone but yourself". He has a young protégée named Hotfoot, abandoned son of a dance hall girl, who is being taught the ropes by Yates, but with the two pretty sisters in town, it just may be only a matter of time before Yates and Hotfoot get tamed of their selfish ways!

I found this film to be quite good, I always enjoy the performances of William S. Hart, his face and eyes are so expressive, perfect for the silent screen. Jane Novak's appeal in this is more visual than any great acting quality - her big-eyed, pretty young face standing in contrast next to the sun-worn face of Hart. The print I saw of this looked gorgeous, mostly tinted a bright yellow/sepia tone. Well worth seeing.