''The Silent Code'' is a 1935 American

Western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...

film written by George Morgan and directed by

Stuart Paton Stuart Paton (23 July 1883 – 16 December 1944) was a British film director, director, screenwriter and actor of the silent film, silent era. Paton mostly worked with Universal Pictures, Universal, and is accredited with directing 67 films ...

. It was the third of a scheduled six films in the "Morton of the Mounties" series, although this would be the last one made. The first two, ''

Courage of the North ''Courage of the North'' is a 1935 American Western film directed by Robert Emmett Tansey and starring John Preston, William Desmond and Tom London.Pitts, p. 149. Cast * John Preston as Sergeant Bruce Morton * William Desmond as Gene Travis * ...

'' and '' Timber Terrors'' starred John Preston in the title role. This film saw

Kane Richmond Kane Richmond (born Frederick William Bowditch, December 23, 1906 – March 22, 1973) was an American film actor of the 1930s and 1940s, mostly appearing in cliffhangers and serials. He is best known today for his portrayal of the character La ...

take over the lead, co-starring with

Blanche Mehaffey Blanche Mehaffey (July 28, 1908 – March 31, 1968) was an American showgirl and film actress. Early life and career The daughter of Edward Mehaffey and his wife, soprano Blanche Berndt, she had a brother, Edward Mehaffey Jr. She started as ...

. Filming on the picture was completed in March 1935, and was originally scheduled to be released in mid-May. However, the release was delayed until November 1935. The Chicago Legion of Decency gave the film a Class A rating, meaning that it was suitable for the entire family.

Plot

When the Royal Canadian Mounted Policeman Jerry Hale is sent to a remote outpost, he meets his old sweetheart, Helen Brent, who is living their with her uncle, Peter Barkley. Helen's father, Nathan, is off prospecting. As they renew their relationship, it becomes clear that the letters which Jerry has been sending to Helen have been intercepted and destroyed by Barkley. When her father returns from prospecting, he makes it known that he has a map to his gold strike. He moves into his cabin, but is killed by Lobo, one of Barkley's gang, who steals the map. During the attack, Lobo drops several Indian beads near Nathan's body. Barkley frames Jerry for the murder, and he is arrested and thrown in jail. While there, Helen visits him and vents her disgust with him, believing that he did kill her father. The beads which Lobo dropped during the murder are eventually tracked back to him, after which Helen helps Jerry escape, and he rides off to get help from the Mounties. He tells Helen to wait in her father's cabin. While there, Barkley stops by and is confronted by Helen. The two begin to fight, Lobo watches, and kills Barkley with his knife. Jerry and the Mounties arrive and arrest Lobo and the rest of Barkley's gang, and Jerry is officially cleared. As all is well, Helen's dog Rex discovers that Nathan has hidden gold from his mining claim beneath the floor boards in his cabin.

Cast list

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Silent Code, The 1935 films 1935 Western (genre) films Films directed by Stuart Paton American Western (genre) films American independent films Royal Canadian Mounted Police in fiction American black-and-white films 1930s American films