Motion Picture News (Jan - Feb 1926)

February 27, 1926 1015 Flashing Steeds (Chesterfield M. P. Corp.— 5000 Feet) (Reviewed by George T. Pardy) THIS is a good average Westerner, with a plot which has some spice of originality, although its principal appeal lies in the combat thrills, daring horsemanship and generally melodramatic action which are the leading characteristics of this type of picture. It's a new departure to introduce a couple of international crooks searching for a fabulously valuable black pearl into a feature with Western settings, but the idea works out all right in the present instance, with the hero, a Government agent disguised as a cow-hand, keeping an eye on the lightfingered gentry and eventually running them to earth. A romance between the detective chap and ranch-owner's daughter is smoothly developed and slips the lovers together in the customary clinch at the close; Bill Patton shows to very good advantage in the leading role, is a gallant figure on horseback and an appealing lover. Dorothy Donald a winsome heroine, support satisfactory. THEME. Westerner. Government agent, disguised as cow hand, thwarts plot of international crooks to steal valuable black pearl and wins rancher's daughter. PRODUCTION HIGHLIGHTS. Arrival of fake titled pair at ranch. Scene where attempt is made to get pearl under cover of phony rustling raid. Numerous chases and fights. Patton's riding feats. Bill's thrashing of "Lord" Algernon. The windup. EXPLOITATION ANGLES. Play up the black pearl mystery. Bill as Westerner that has odd crook situations, big romantic appeal, startling developments. Feature star. DRAWING POWER. Suitable for any house that has strong demand for Westerners. SUMMARY. Brings international thieves in quest of valuable black pearl into Western ranch settings, which gives plot original flavor. Picture snaps across some sensational punches, moves swiftly, star registers well. Good Western card. THE CAST BUI Swift BiU Patton Girlie Dorothy Donald Lord Rathburne Merrill McCormick Lady Rathburne Ethel Childers Shorty Alfred Hewston Captain Randall Dick Lareno Joe Stern Harry O'Connor .Author Not Credited. Director, Horace B. Carpenter. SYNOPSIS. Bill Patton goes to work on Randall's ranch, is in love with employer's daughter Helen. Captain Randall, formerly a sailor possesses a valuable black pearl. Lord and Lady Rathburne visit the ranch. They are really international thieves, working with confederates to obtain Randall's pearl. Bill gains the crooks' confidence and is enabled to thwart their schemes. He finally rounds up the gang, reveals himself as a Government agent and marries Helen. BUI Patton, star of "Flashing Steeds" a Chesterfield M. P. prodMction. Flashing Steeds (Chesterfield Prod.) PRESS NOTICE A CROOK melodrama with a •*^ Western setting, starring Bill Patton, is the big screen attraction at the Theatre on . It is entitled "Flashing Steeds" and offers a plot refreshingly different from the average film dealing with ranch and cowboy life. Patton is seen as a Government agent, working as a cowhand on a ranch, whose owner, Randall possesses a lovely daughter, Helen, and a valuable black pearl. International thieves are after the pearl. Bill is after the daughter, and the thieves as well. In the end he gets both. A wonderfully exciting feature, with Dorothy Donald scoring as the charming heroine CATCH LINES An intringuing plot, a great cast, romance, melodrama, snappy comedy Bill Patton at his best! International crooks, a black pearl of fabulous value, a Secret Service man who loved a rancher's daughter! The Tough Guy (F. B. O.— 5455 Feet) (Reviewed by George T. Pardy) FRED THOMSON and his famous horse Silver King are all to the good in this pictiu-e which is made to order for master and steed, giving both due prominence in a story that gets out of the usual rut, sparkles with snappy comedy, is loaded with melodramatic energy and winds up a very pretty love affair happily. Silver King's presence and marvelously intelligent work would alone suffice to lift this film above the level of the ordinary Western production, but in addition we have the athletic prowess and vigorous, clean-cut acting of the star, and the combination is a winning one for the box office. Lola Todd is a pleasing attractive heroine. Bob McKim a fine swaggering villain and the support is adequate. Horse tricks on the screen are quite familiar nowadays, but Silver King's recovery of the lost boy and clever evasion of his pursuers is a specimen of equine sagacity and byplay as amusing as it is surprisingly original. THEME. Western. With the aid of his intelligent horse Cowboy Fred Saunders recovers little lost brother of girl he loves, defeats her enemies and weds her. PRODUCTION HIGHLIGHTS. The smart action. Silver King's wonderful tricks, Thomson's splendid riding, energetic stunts and acting. The bright comedy and love interest. EXPLOITATION ANGLES. Play up the star and Silver King. You can go the limit praising work of both in this film. Bill as combination of laughs and thrills, stress love story. Boost as first-class Westerner. DRAWING POWER. Should win wherever they want snappy Western comedy melodrama. SUMMARY. Fred Thomson and his celebrated horse Silver King make a pronounced hit in this well directed, breezy Westerner, which is strong in both comedy and melo values. Excellent entertainment of its kind. THE CAST Fred Saunders Fred Thomson June Hardy Lola Todd Con Carney Robert McKim Padre William Courtwright Buddy Hardy Billy Butts Sam Jacks Leo Willis Silver Silver King Author, Howard Clifton. Director Dave Kirkland. SYNOPSIS. Fred Saunders, ranch foreman, loves June Hardy who is in search of her little lost brother. Buddy. Fred saves the child's life when he is being taken to an orphan asylum. Later he kidnaps Buddy from the place, but his rival, Carney and the latter's men get the boy. Silver, Fred's wonder horse releases Buddy and leads his pursuers under a tree where his master is in ambush. Fred disposes of the gang one by one as they chase Silver. He brings Buddy to June and she weds him. The Tough Guy (F. B. O.) PRESS NOTICE C ILVER KING, the wonder ^ Horse of the screen, and his well-known master Fred Thomson, in another great laugh and thrill Western picture entitled "The Tough Guy," which wUl be shown at the Theatre on ! Those already acquainted with this star and marvelous steed know what to expect of the pair and will find their new vehicle a hummer of interest, both romantic and humorous. Those who have yet to meet Silver King and his rider have a real treat in view, as the new film shows both man and horse at their best, with Fred a gallant lover who wins a pretty girl in the face of tremendous obstacles. CATCH LINES Thomson and his famous white horse, Silver King, an inseparable and unbeatable film combination 1 1 A rollicking tale of love and adventure under Western skies, alive with action and breathless suspense! Fred Thompson, star of "The Tough Guy" an F. B. O. production.