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The Desert Breed
(1915) United States of America
B&W : Two reels
Directed by Joseph de Grasse
Cast: Pauline Bush [Jessie], Lon Chaney [Fred], William C. Dowlan [Jack, Fred’s partner]
Rex Film Company production; distributed by The Universal Film Manufacturing Company, Incorporated. / Scenario by Tom Forman. / Released 28 March 1915. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama: Western.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? The little cow-camp of Rawhide is slumbering under the desert stars. Suddenly the doors of one of the saloons bursts open and Fred and Jack back out of the saloon shooting. They leap upon their waiting horses and dash away, a body of citizens in pursuit. Out on the desert’s edge stands the lonely little cabin of Pauline, “The Girl of the Desert.” On the night in question, she has retired for the night when she becomes aware of a pounding on the door and a man’s voice asking her to open it. She takes her revolver from under her pillow and waits. Slowly the door is forced open. Pauline draws herself back into the shadow and when one of the intruders lights a match, he finds himself looking into the muzzle of a revolver. Pauline orders them out. The two men are Fred and Jack, who have sought refuge from the pursuing cowboys. They leave the cabin good naturedly but camp nearby for the night. The pursuers, baffled and thrown off the track, divide into several small bands and start scouring the country for the fugitives. One of these stumbles upon Pauline’s cabin and demands entry. Pauline, thinking that they are the two refugees who first broke into her cabin, warns they away and when they persist in trying to force an entry, opens fire and slightly wounds one of them. They return the fire through the door and when one of the bullets from their guns shatters a lamp chimney near Pauline’s head, her feminine nature asserts itself and she dives under the covers. Frank and Jack, startled out of a sound sleep by the shots, investigate and find that their would-be captors have broken into the cabin and are subjecting the girl to insult. They immediately champion her cause and succeed in taking their pursuers captives. Out of gratitude, Pauline offers to show the two fugitives the trail across the desert to the border. They set out early next morning, leaving the three members of the posse tied up in the cabin. Owing to a wound which Fred has sustained in the encounter, he becomes delirious and they finally lose the trail. But after many hardships, the border is reached. Pauline says good-bye to the boys, sets out on the back trail across the desert to her little cabin and the incident closes.
Reviews: [The Moving Picture World, 3 April 1915, page ?] A two-reel offering, written by Tom Foreman and staged by Jos. Degrasse. Pauline Bush appears as a girl of the desert country, living in a cabin alone. The two young adventurers are portrayed by Lon Chaney and Wm. Dowlin. This picture is full of a strange charm and both acting and settings combine to produce the fascinating desert atmosphere. It is artistically handled and makes an unusual appeal to the observer. A strong offering.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Keywords: Law: Enforcement: Police: Sheriffs - Weapons: Guns
Listing updated: 3 November 2022.
References: Edmonds-BigU pp. 72-73; Spehr-American p. 100; Weaver-Twenty p. 76 : Website-IMDb.
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