The Lash of the Law (Silent)

Cowboy Jim Stanley is asked by the local sheriff to look into crooked rancher Bill Bright. In the course of his investigation, Jim befriends Bright's stepchildren, Mona and her amputee brother Phil. Both of them know that Bright had his forman Ed Markham kill their real father and cripple Phil years ago, but cannot convince anyone of the truth. When Markham is found murdered, blame falls upon Phil, who had ample motive to see him dead. Jim discovers that Bright killed the siblings' father to gain control of his ranch, and now has had Markham eliminated as well. Armed with this information, he clears Phil's name and has Bright arrested, retiring to live happily ever after with Mona.

A rare silent Western never before on DVD, The Lash of the Law stars Bill Bailey, a former Broadway star who became a prolific actor in Hollywood oaters, though usually just in supporting roles. His only turns as a leading man were in a short-lived series from low-budget studio Goodwill Pictures, of which Lash of the Law appears to be the only one extant. Director Paul Hurst is better known as an actor, best remembered for giving John Wayne water in Angel and the Badman (1947) and being shot dead by Vivien Leigh in Gone with the Wind (1939). Lash of the Law is based on a Vaudeville playlet by real-life outlaw Al Jennings, adapted for the screen by Joseph Kane in one of his first credits. He went on to become a prolific director of Westerns himself, helming many features starring Gene Autry and Roy Rogers. Actor Marcel Perez really did only have one leg, and was not faking it - working on crutches, he had come from Europe to do silent comedies in the United States.