Leo Maloney (Gene Miller, a ranger), Fred Burns (Captain Jarvis, ranger captain), Fred Burns (the captain's brother, Neil Jarvis, a ranch owner), Bud Osborne (Tom Barnes, the ranch foreman), Pauline Curley (Margery Jarvis, the rancher's attractively perky daughter).
Written and directed by FORD BEEBE and LEO MALONEY. Photography: Vernon Walker. 2 reels.
Malobee Productions. Copyright 27 February 1923 by Pathé Exchange. Available on a good Alpha DVD.
COMMENT: A mere 23 prints of this little opus were put into circulation back in February, 1923, so it's really amazing that this 2-reel cheepie survives today when so many far more expensive productions made that very same year have disappeared. Even acclaimed films which scored full marks from both critics and filmgoers like "Within the Law", which is supposedly held by the Library of Congress, have not yet surfaced. Anyway, this two-reeler from Leo Maloney and Ford Beebe does hold the attention, though I must admit that it coasts along far more on its curiosity value rather than any high points in storytelling or movie- making. From memory, it has only one small, sparsely furnished indoor set right at the beginning. The rest was all made on location in the dull old Hollywood hills. But it must be admitted that Leo Maloney does make an appealing hero. He's certainly not handsome nor particularly dashing, but he does radiate sufficient charisma. I like the way he stands up to an aggressive Fred Burns in his rancher role. "My name is Miller." – "I don't care what your name is!" – "GENE Miller!" The penny drops!
Written and directed by FORD BEEBE and LEO MALONEY. Photography: Vernon Walker. 2 reels.
Malobee Productions. Copyright 27 February 1923 by Pathé Exchange. Available on a good Alpha DVD.
COMMENT: A mere 23 prints of this little opus were put into circulation back in February, 1923, so it's really amazing that this 2-reel cheepie survives today when so many far more expensive productions made that very same year have disappeared. Even acclaimed films which scored full marks from both critics and filmgoers like "Within the Law", which is supposedly held by the Library of Congress, have not yet surfaced. Anyway, this two-reeler from Leo Maloney and Ford Beebe does hold the attention, though I must admit that it coasts along far more on its curiosity value rather than any high points in storytelling or movie- making. From memory, it has only one small, sparsely furnished indoor set right at the beginning. The rest was all made on location in the dull old Hollywood hills. But it must be admitted that Leo Maloney does make an appealing hero. He's certainly not handsome nor particularly dashing, but he does radiate sufficient charisma. I like the way he stands up to an aggressive Fred Burns in his rancher role. "My name is Miller." – "I don't care what your name is!" – "GENE Miller!" The penny drops!
