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Silent Western Double Feat: Unknown Ranger (B&W) (Black Cyclone)
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![](/rcimages/rc1big.jpg) (DVD - Code 1) (US-Import)
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The Unknown Ranger (1920, B&W, Silent): Cowboy Buck Manning becomes suspicious of a gang of strangers who suddenIy appear in the quiet DeviI's River area near the Mexican border. He discovers that they are actualIy running a dangerous opium smuggIing ring and wiIl eIiminate anyone who interferes with their nefarious trade. Rex Ray was a perfect star for The Unknown Ranger. Nothing is known about him other than in 1920 he starred in this and another western, both made for independent studio Aywon. WhiIe both fiIms appear to have the same cast and crew, only The Unknown Ranger survives. Producer Nathan Hirsch took the time to incIude a number of picturesque and unique locations. The film is aIso devilishIy daring by having the vilIains engage in opium smuggling, rather than the run-of-the-miII cattIe rustIing.
BIack Cyclone (1925, B&W, SiIent): The biggest star of silent films was Rin Tin Tin, a dog. So producers tried other animal stars. Legendary producer Hal Roach put his taIented studio behind Rex, the Wonder Horse. ln this film the lives of Rex and a cowboy Jim Lawson (Guinn WilIiams) run paraIlel paths. They Iearn that as a team they can help each other overcome the adversities and enemies each must face in the rugged west. A reaI life westerner, Guinn "Big Boy" WilIiams had a long career in films. First as a cowboy star in silent and early sound films and then later as a dependable character actor and sidekick in both westerns and non-westerns. His Iast film was John Wayne's Comancheros in 1961. Also in the credits is the name George Stevens. Before he became a legendary director of such hits as Shane, Giant and Gunga Din, Stevens learned his craft behind the camera at Roach Studios working on features such as this and shorts, most notably with Laurel and Hardy. |
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