''When Romance Rides'' is a 1922 American

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-g ...

directed by

Eliot Howe Eliot Callender Howe (1882-1921) was an American director of silent films. Biography Howe was born on December 23, 1882, in Boston, Massachusetts. He attended California Institute of Technology#Throop College, Throop College (now California Instit ...

, Charles O. Rush, and

Jean Hersholt Jean Pierre Carl Buron (12 July 1886 – 2 June 1956), known professionally as Jean Hersholt, was a Danish-American actor. He is best known for starring on the radio series '' Dr. Christian'' (1937–1954) and in the film ''Heidi'' (1937).Obitua ...

and written by Benjamin B. Hampton. It is based on the 1917 novel ''Wildfire'' by

Zane Grey Pearl Zane Grey (January 31, 1872 – October 23, 1939) was an American author and dentist. He is known for his popular adventure novels and stories associated with the Western genre in literature and the arts; he idealized the American frontie ...

. The film stars

Claire Adams Claire Adams (; 24 September 1898 – 25 September 1978) was a silent film actress and benefactor. She was born in Canada, studied there and in England, and developed a movie career in Hollywood. She spent the second half of her life in Austra ...

, Carl Gantvoort, Jean Hersholt,

Harry von Meter Harry von Meter (March 20, 1871 – June 2, 1956; sometimes credited Harry van Meter) was an American silent film actor. He starred in about 200 films in the period from 1912 through 1929. He retired from acting just as sound films were beginni ...

Charles Arling Charles Arling (22 August 1875 – 21 April 1922) was a Canadian actor of the silent era. He appeared in more than 100 films between 1909 and 1922. He was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and died on 21 April 1922 from pneumonia at the age ...

, and

Mary Jane Irving Mary Jane Irving (October 20, 1913 – July 17, 1983) was an American actress. She appeared in 58 films between 1917 and 1938. Biography Born in Columbia, South Carolina, Irving began her career as a child actor in silent films. A popular c ...

. The film was released on April 9, 1922, by

Goldwyn Pictures Goldwyn Pictures Corporation was an American motion picture production company that operated from 1916 to 1924 when it was merged with two other production companies to form the major studio, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was founded on November 19, 1 ...

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 ...

, Lucy Bostil (Adams) and her father (Arling) have staked everything on their horse winning a race. Bill Cordts (von Meter) and his henchman Joel Creech (Hersholt) try to kill all the favorite horses so that theirs will win. Joel is fired and swears revenge. Shortly before the race is to take place Lucy finds Lin Slone (Gantvoort) who has been somewhat hurt in an encounter with a wild horse he calls Wildfire. She takes him to the ranch. Lin and the young woman are mutually attracted. Bill and Joel steal one of the Bostil horses and dope the other. Lucy and Lin substitute Wildfire for the race, with Lucy riding him as the horse only allows Lin or Lucy to mount him. Lucy rides Wildfire to victory in an exciting race. Bill had entered the Bostil horse in the race against Wildfire, having had the horse's face painted to prevent anyone from recognizing him, but the paint is accidentally rubbed and the deceit discovered. Joel, half-witted, makes a dummy so as to impersonate Lucy so that he imagine that he is taking revenge upon her by abusing it. Bill suggests that he get the real Lucy. Joel kidnaps Lucy and takes her to Bill's ranch. Bill, in the meantime, attempts to get back into the good graces of the Bostil's by sending them a note stating that he has rescued Lucy from Joel. Lin knows that she is in danger and rides to her rescue. Bill and Lin fight and Bill is killed. Joel ties Lucy to her horse and directs it towards a cliff while Lin races to the rescue. Joel is caught in a loop of his rope and is dragged to his death. Lin saves Lucy at the cliff's edge.

Cast

as Lucy Bostil *Carl Gantvoort as Lin Slone *

as Joel Creech *

as Bill Cordts *

as Bostil *

as 'Bostie' Bostil *Tod Sloan as Holley *

Audrey Chapman Audrey Chapman (March 2, 1899 – August 10, 1993) was an actress in motion pictures of the silent film era from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A niece of Hampton Del Ruth and Roy Del Ruth, Chapman was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward a Bigley. ...

as Lucy's Chum * Frank Hayes as Dr. Binks *Helen Howard as Lucy's Chum *S.J. Bingham as Dick Sears *Walter Perkins as Thomas Brackton *

Babe London Babe London (born Jean Glover, August 28, 1901 – November 29, 1980) was an American actress and comedian, most remembered for her one-time partnership with Oliver Hardy in the 1931 Laurel and Hardy two-reeler ''Our Wife''. Career Londo ...

as Sally Brackton *John Beck as Van

References

External links

* *{{allmovie, 116556, Synopsis 1922 films 1920s English-language films Silent American drama films 1922 drama films Goldwyn Pictures films American silent feature films American black-and-white films 1920s American films Films based on works by Zane Grey