Shootin' Square (1924)

Starring: Jack Perrin

Director: Robert J. Horner

Studio: Anchor Film Distributors

PLOT SUMMARY:

While out hunting, Dan Dawson (Jack Perrin) sees pretty Ruth Mason (Peggy O'Day) take a tumble down the hill and promptly rescues the damsel and returns her to the arms of her loving father (Horace B. Carpenter). Jealous ranch foreman Frank Macy (Bud Osborne) challenges Dawson to ride atop a bucking bronco and stay on the wild horse for five jumps. Dawson accepts and excels. This leads Dad Mason to fire the scoundrel and sends him packing. Months pass and Dawson and Ruth fall in love and arrange to be married. Unbeknownst to them Macy, now a wanted man, disguises himself as a phony parson and rides out to the ranch to wed the loving couple. Upon discovering Macy's ruse, Dawson and Macy fight it out and Macy is brought to justice.

FILM REVIEW:

In an article I wrote and published to Cinema Crazed (Click Here), I noted that the silent films of the notorious Robert J. Horner are well worth viewing and are markedly better than his later sound output. I still agree with most of what I originally said in that article however, Shootin' Square is a woefully misguided western from a modern sensibility.

The sequence at the ranch where it is discovered that the reverend Perrin has sent for is a black man and thus is judged to be unfit for the job of marrying Perrin and O'Day, makes for uncomfortable viewing in 2026. The many uncomfortable looks the players give each other when Reverend Snow, portrayed by Martin Turner, appears makes this sequence that more cringeworthy. Not helping matters is moments later when Perrin states to his lady love, "I didn't know he was black." The film was more or less enjoyable and one of the better silents I've seen in quite some time but this awkward sequence quickly averted those opinions. While it is sadly, a realistic depiction of what would have happened in the deep south at this time, Shootin' Square is a film aimed at the children's market and one should proceed with caution in these more enlightened times before allowing children to see this blatant racism on display. 

As I said before, aside from the atrocious racism, Shootin' Square is one of the better produced silent westerns I've seen from this time period. Horner is generally not remembered for producing quality work, but I still say his silent films are actually well made and can stand up to any of the low-budget westerns produced during this time. There are some great stunts performed by Perrin and some genuinely great fight scenes and Bud Osborne looks to be having the time of his life portraying the villain of the piece. It's quite a shame this film had to incorporate racism in an otherwise fun movie.

The print I viewed was missing its production information and the particular copy I have is a low-resolution, heavily pixilated one. However, the print was watchable and solid otherwise. 

As stated, if not for the racism, I would have recommended Shootin' Square, but it muddies the waters something fierce. 

Until next time, pardners!