''The Toll Gate'' is a 1920 American silent

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 directed by

Lambert Hillyer Lambert Harwood Hillyer (July 8, 1893 – July 5, 1969) was an American film director and screenwriter. Biography Lambert Harwood Hillyer was born July 8, 1893, in Tyner, Indiana. His mother was character actress Lydia Knott. A graduate of ...

, written by Lambert Hillyer and

William S. Hart William Surrey Hart (December 6, 1864 – June 23, 1946) was an American silent film actor, screenwriter, director and producer. He is remembered as a foremost Western star of the silent era who "imbued all of his characters with honor and integ ...

, and starring William S. Hart,

Anna Q. Nilsson Anna Quirentia Nilsson (March 30, 1888 – February 11, 1974) was a Swedish-American actress who achieved success in American silent movies. Early life Nilsson was born in Ystad, Sweden in 1888. Her middle name Quirentia is derived from her ...

Joseph Singleton Joseph Edward Victor Fairfield Daveran Singleton (1 March 1879 – 24 October 1946) was an actor of the silent era. An Australian, he appeared in 74 films between 1913 and 1925. He was born in Melbourne. Selected filmography * ''Shon the ...

, Jack Richardson, and Richard Headrick. It was released on April 15, 1920, by

Paramount Pictures Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film and television production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company and the main namesake division of Paramount Global (formerly ViacomCBS). It is the fifth-oldes ...

Plot

As described in a

film magazine Film periodicals combine discussion of individual films, genres and directors with in-depth considerations of the medium and the conditions of its production and reception. Their articles contrast with film reviewing in newspapers and magazines whi ...

, bandit leader Black Deering (Hart) leads his band on what he declares to be their last raid only to be captured when Tom Jordan (Singleton), one of the members, betrays him to the authorities. Deering escapes and attempts to reach the Mexican border. However, hunger forces him to enter a western town. Here he meets Jordan, whose opposition results in a burning of the town and Deering's escape and pursuit by a posse. He takes shelter in the home of Mary Brown (Nilsson), a widow who lives in a lonely cabin with her little son (Headrick). She willingly poses as Deering's wife, but the Sheriff (Richardson) is not convinced and asks permission to house his men in the cabin for the night. This brings about the situation where Deering, on his honor, must reveal his identity. News comes of a threatened attack by Jordan on members of the posse, and Deering requests the opportunity to die fighting and is given it. During the fight Deering kills Jordan, who is Mary Brown's missing husband. The Sheriff grants Deering his freedom.

Cast

as Black Deering *

as Mary Brown *

as Tom Jordan * Jack Richardson as The Sheriff * Richard Headrick as The Little Feller * Bill Patton as Hank Simmons (uncredited) *

Leo Willis Leo Willis (5 January 1890 – 10 April 1952) was an American actor who began his career in the silent era. He played mainly tough guys and comic villains, notably opposite Harold Lloyd, Charley Chase, and Laurel and Hardy at the Hal Roach Stud ...

as Soldier (uncredited)

Preservation

Copies of ''The Toll Gate'' are in the

Library of Congress The Library of Congress (LOC) is the research library that officially serves the United States Congress and is the ''de facto'' national library of the United States. It is the oldest federal cultural institution in the country. The library is ...

Museum of Modern Art The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is an art museum located in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, on 53rd Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. It plays a major role in developing and collecting modern art, and is often identified as one of ...

film archive, and the

George Eastman House Motion Picture Collection The George Eastman Museum Motion Picture Collection in Rochester, New York comprises about 28,000 titles, including features, shorts, documentaries, newsreels, and experimental moving images. The collection is renowned for its holdings of silent f ...

.Progressive Silent Film List: ''The Toll Gate''
at silentera.com The film has also been released on DVD.

References

External links

* *

at silenthollywood.com 1920 films 1920 Western (genre) films Paramount Pictures films Films directed by Lambert Hillyer American black-and-white films Silent American Western (genre) films 1920s English-language films 1920s American films {{silent-film-stub