When Frank Borzage speaks slightingly in a saloon of Rhea Mitchell, the Parson's daughter, William S. Hart fights him. Borzage is injured and Miss Mitchell thinks that Hart has broken his promise not to get in senseless fights. She breaks off their engagement. Hart is about to leave town when he sees Borzage trying have his way with Miss Mitchell.
The modern viewer may find this example of the Strong Silent Type a trifle confusing. Nowadays, everyone seems to spend all their time talking about their feelings. However, Hart's screen character was a successful attempt to bring a more complicated character to the screen. To a nickelodeon audience used to the stereotypes of the melodrama, villains were villains who never did anything but for a bad reason, and heroes were good people who never did anything until the final scene, and then only under the greatest of provocation. Hart's character of the Good Bad Man, ready for violence and capable of redemption, was very appealing and Hart was very adept at playing the character.
The modern viewer may find this example of the Strong Silent Type a trifle confusing. Nowadays, everyone seems to spend all their time talking about their feelings. However, Hart's screen character was a successful attempt to bring a more complicated character to the screen. To a nickelodeon audience used to the stereotypes of the melodrama, villains were villains who never did anything but for a bad reason, and heroes were good people who never did anything until the final scene, and then only under the greatest of provocation. Hart's character of the Good Bad Man, ready for violence and capable of redemption, was very appealing and Hart was very adept at playing the character.
