The Desert's Price

1925 film

December 13, 1925 (1925-12-13)

Running time

60 minutesCountryUnited StatesLanguagesSilent
English intertitles

The Desert's Price is a lost 1925 American silent Western film directed by W. S. Van Dyke and written by Charles Darnton. It is based on the 1924 novel The Desert's Price by William MacLeod Raine. The film stars Buck Jones, Florence Gilbert, Edna Marion, Ernest Butterworth, Arthur Housman and Montagu Love. The film was released on December 13, 1925, by Fox Film Corporation.^[1]^[2]^[3]

Plot

As described in a review in a film magazine,^[4] while Wils McCann is away, Julia Starke's father is shot and many of their sheep killed. Knowing of the land war between shepherds and ranchers, she blames the McCann outfit. Not knowing that Wils is McCann, Julia accepts his help when an unruly ram chases her. Wils, learning of her suspicions, discovers that a shady bunch, the Martin Brothers, are the real culprits. The Martin Brothers attempt to win over the Starke sisters but are refused. Sam Martin attempts to kiss Nora and she falls and is badly hurt. Julia goes after Sam and shoots at him, and her brother Phil later has a fight with Sam who is shot. On a tip from Jim Martin, the sheriff comes to arrest Julia and makes Wils his deputy. He offers her a chance to escape but she insists on giving herself up. Sam incites the mob to attack the sheriff's home. Wils inveigles him there while Julia rides for Wils' men, who arrive in time to disperse the mob. Sam's henchman accuses him of killing Julia's father and her sheep. Sam tries to escape but is subdued by Wils. Phil is freed by the jury and Julia acknowledges her love for Wils.

Cast

Buck Jones as Wils McCann
Florence Gilbert as Julia
Edna Marion as Nora
Ernest Butterworth as Phil
Arthur Housman as Tom Martin
Montagu Love as Jim Martin
Carl Stockdale as Gitner
Harry Dunkinson as Sheriff
Henry Armetta as Shepherd

References

^ "The Desert's Price (1925) - Overview". TCM.com. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
^ Hans J. Wollstein. "The Desert's Price (1926) - W.S. Van Dyke". AllMovie. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
^ "The Desert's Price". Catalog.afi.com. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
^ Sewell, Charles S. (December 19, 1925). "Through the Box Office Window: The Desert's Price; Abundance of Stirring Action and Good Story Make Buck Jones Film Unusually Fine Western". The Moving Picture World. 77 (7). New York City: Chalmers Publishing Co.: 693. Retrieved October 29, 2021.