THE BARGAIN
Starring William S. Hatt
MOTION PICTURE NEWS
November 21, 1914
Among the present-day directors and script writers of westerns, Thomas H. Ince, aided by William H. Clifford, has a very small number of equals. Whenever we hear the name of Ince, it is involuntarily linked with the best of western dramas and melodramas. His wide experience and the wonderful equipment that the forces at Inceville offer are perhaps the best. So that his honors in producing this variety of pictures are well earned.
In "The Bargain," Mr. Ince and Mr. Clifford have produced a wonderfully strong western, which in its own particular class is very good. It contains a typical western story, full of fast, thrilling action, some of which is most sensational. One scene in particular warrants special mention. William S. Hart, who plays the leading part, and his horse, which most certainly must be a trick animal, roll over and over down a steep embankment.
This act in itself is most wonderful, but it seems almost miraculous when we learn that neither of them was seriously injured. Mr. Hart, who plays the part of Bill Stokes, "The Two-Gun Man," is constantly exhibiting his prowess in the saddle throughout the picture. The times when he is not astride his horse, he is exhibiting his ability as an actor, and altogether gives an excellent account of himself.
J. Frank Burke is cast as the sheriff, Clara Williams as the girl, J. Barney Sherry as her father, and James Dawley appears in the small part of the traveling minister. Photographically the picture is excellent. Some remarkably extensive scenes have been obtained, and the film is clear in all parts. As the picture was taken in the Grand Canyon of Arizona, scenes have been obtained which are not at all familiar, which give the picture an air of decided freshness.
The experiences and hair-breadth escapes of Stokes, the Two-Gun Man, consume the major portion of the picture. Once he poses as an honest man and wins the heart of the daughter of a miner. Then he has to flee for his life. Finally he is caught on the Mexican border, just as he is about to reform and send the money he robbed the mail of back to the government.
The sheriff locks him in a room, then repairs to the gambling
hall, where he proves he is not such a competent sheriff after
all, by losing all the money. He bargains with his prisoner that
if he will get the money back for him, he will give him his freedom.
This the bandit does in a very clever manner. Her returns for
his bride, explains matters and the two set off for Mexico to
live straight.