''The Bandit Buster'' is a 1926 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

Richard Thorpe Richard Thorpe (born Rollo Smolt Thorpe; February 24, 1896 – May 1, 1991) was an American film director best known for his long career at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Biography Born Rollo Smolt Thorpe in Hutchinson, Kansas, Richard Thorpe began his en ...

, the film stars

Buddy Roosevelt Buddy Roosevelt (born Kenneth Stanhope Sanderson; June 25, 1898 – October 6, 1973) was an American film and television actor and stunt performer from Hollywood's early silent film years through the 1950s. Biography Roosevelt was born as Kenn ...

Molly Malone "Molly Malone" (also known as "Cockles and Mussels" or "In Dublin's Fair City") is a traditional song set in Dublin, Ireland, which has become its unofficial anthem. A statue representing Molly Malone was unveiled on Grafton Street by then Lo ...

, and

Lafe McKee Lafayette S. "Lafe" McKee (January 23, 1872 – August 10, 1959) was an American actor who appeared in more than 400 films from 1912 to 1948. Part of his career was spent with Art Mix Productions. McKee also worked as a stage actor from 19 ...

. It was released on December 19, 1926.

Plot

Henry Morton is a prominent banker. His daughter, Sylvia, and his wife feel that he is working too hard. Sylvia enlists the help of her friend, Buddy Miller, who has romantic aspirations towards her, to fake a kidnapping, taking her father to a secluded cabin where he can rest for a week or two. Miller and his friend, Romeo, take Morton and bring him to a lakeside cabin. Unbeknownst to Morton's wife and daughter, he was in the midst of a large business transaction. When Morton's subordinates go to Mrs. Morton for instructions as to whether hold or sell Morton's stock, Mrs. Morton discusses the situation with Sylvia. Their discussion is overheard, and real kidnappers are informed of his whereabouts, and go to the cabin and conduct a real kidnapping. When Mrs. Morton receives the ransom demand, she believes that Miller is behind the kidnapping, and was only pretending to "fake kidnap" her husband. Sylvia also has her doubts. However, Miller tracks down the real kidnappers and rescues Morton, who upon his return finds his holdings greatly enhanced, allowing him to retire. Sylvia understands she was incorrect about Miller, and the two end up together.

Cast list

as Buddy Miller *

as Sylvia Morton *

as Henry Morton * Winifred Landis as Mrs. Morton *

Robert Homans Robert Edward Homans (November 8, 1877 – July 28, 1947) was an American actor who entered films in 1923 after a lengthy stage career. Life and career Robert Homans was born November 8, 1877, in Malden, Massachusetts. Although he studied ...

as Romeo *

Slim Whitaker Charles Orbie "Slim" Whitaker (July 29, 1893 – June 27, 1960) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 340 films between 1914 and 1949. He was born in Kansas City, Missouri, and died in Los Angeles, California, from a heart at ...

as Steve (credited as Charles Whitaker) * Al Taylor as Hotel clerk

Production

A December 1926 article in ''

Motion Picture News The ''Motion Picture News'' was an American film industry trade paper published from 1913 to 1930. History The publication was created through the 1913 merger of the ''Moving Picture News'' founded in 1908 and ''The Exhibitors' Times'', founded ...

'' announced the release date as December 19, 1926. It gave credit for the story to Frank Inghram, while stating that Buddy Roosevelt as the star of the film, supported by Molly Malone, Lafe McKee, Winifred Landis, Robert Homans, Charles Whitaker (Slim Whitaker), and Al Taylor.

Reception

Moving Picture World The ''Moving Picture World'' was an influential early trade journal for the American film industry, from 1907 to 1927. An industry powerhouse at its height, ''Moving Picture World'' frequently reiterated its independence from the film studios. I ...

'' gave the film a positive review, calling it a "snappy actionful western story."

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Bandit Buster, The 1926 Western (genre) films 1926 films Films directed by Richard Thorpe American black-and-white films Associated Exhibitors films Silent American Western (genre) films 1920s English-language films 1920s American films