Portrait of Hart in cowboy garb
William S. Hart, c. 1920

William S. Hart (1864–1946) was an American silent film actor, screenwriter, director and producer.[1] He is remembered as a foremost Western star of the silent era who "imbued all of his characters with honor and integrity."[2] During the late 1910s and early 1920s, he was one of the most consistently popular movie stars, frequently ranking high among male actors in popularity contests held by movie fan magazines.[3]

Hart was born in New York and began his acting career in 1888.[4] He had success as a Shakespearean actor on Broadway, and appeared in the original stage production of Ben-Hur (1899).[5] He entered films in 1914, and after playing supporting roles in two short films, he achieved stardom the same year as the lead in the feature The Bargain.[6] Hart was particularly interested in making realistic Western films. His films are noted for their authentic costumes and props, as well as Hart's acting ability, honed on Shakespearean theater stages in the United States and England. Beginning in 1915, Hart starred in his own series of two-reel Western short subjects for producer Thomas Ince, which were so popular that they were supplanted by a series of feature films.[7] In 1915 and 1916, exhibitors voted him the biggest money making star in the United States.[8] In 1917, Hart accepted a lucrative offer from Adolph Zukor to join Famous Players–Lasky, which merged into Paramount Pictures.[9]

By the early 1920s, Hart's brand of gritty, rugged Westerns with drab costumes and moralistic themes gradually fell out of fashion. The public became attracted by a new kind of movie cowboy, epitomized by Tom Mix, who wore flashier costumes and was involved in more action scenes. Paramount dropped Hart, who then made one last bid for his kind of Western. He produced Tumbleweeds (1925) with his own money, arranging to release it independently through United Artists. After Tumbleweeds, Hart retired to his to home in Newhall, California.[10]

For his contribution to the motion picture industry, William S. Hart has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6363 Hollywood Blvd.[11] In 1975, he was inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.[12] As of December 2023, two of the films Hart starred in—The Bargain and Hell's Hinges—along with Show People, in which he has a cameo, have been added to the National Film Registry.[13]

Filmography

Release dateTitleRoleCredited asNotesRef.
DirectorWriterProducer
July 2, 1914His Hour of ManhoodPete LarsonTwo reels; survival status unknown[14]
July 23, 1914Jim Cameron's WifeAndy StilesTwo reels; survival status unknown[15]
December 3, 1914The BargainJim StokesAdded to the National Film Registry in 2010[16]
December 23, 1914The Passing of Two-Gun HicksTwo-Gun HicksYesTwo reels; survival status unknown[17]
December 25, 1914In the Sagebrush CountryJim BrandonYesTwo reels[18]
January 6, 1915The Scourge of the DesertBill EversYesTwo reels; survival status unknown[19]
February 19, 1915Mr. "Silent" HaskinsLon HaskinsYesTwo reels[20]
February 25, 1915The GrudgeRio EdYesTwo reels; survival status unknown[21]
February 26, 1915The Sheriff's Streak of YellowSheriff HaleYesTwo reels; survival status unknown[22]
April 9, 1915The RoughneckDave PageYesTwo reels[23]
April 15, 1915On the Night Stage"Silent Texas" Smith[24]
April 16, 1915The Taking of Luke McVaneLuke McVaneYesTwo reels[25]
May 6, 1915The Man from NowhereBuck Varley - the Man from NowhereYesTwo reels[26]
May 21, 1915Bad Buck of Santa YnezBad Buck PetersYesTwo reels[27]
May 31, 1915The Darkening TrailYukon EdYes[28]
June 2, 1915The Conversion of Frosty BlakeFrosty BlakeYesTwo reels[29]
July 7, 1915Tools of ProvidenceSteve BlakeYesTwo reels[30]
July 14, 1915The Ruse"Bat" PetersYesTwo reels[31]
July 21, 1915Cash Parrish's PalCash ParrishYesTwo reels[32]
August 20, 1915Knight of the TrailJim TreenYesTwo reels[33]
August 25, 1915Pinto BenBoss RiderYesYesTwo reels[34]
August 27, 1915Keno Bates, LiarKeno BatesYesTwo reels[35]
November 21, 1915The DiscipleJim HoustonYes[36]
January 2, 1916Between MenBob WhiteYes[37]
February 3, 1916Hell's HingesBlaze TracyYesAdded to the National Film Registry in 1994[38]
April 9, 1916The AryanSteve DentonYes[39]
May 21, 1916The Primal LureAngus McConnellYesLost film[40]
June 25, 1916The Apostle of VengeanceDavid HudsonLost film[41]
July 23, 1916The Captive GodChiapa[42]
September 3, 1916The PatriotBob WileyYesLost film[43]
September 24, 1916The Dawn MakerJoe ElkYesLost film[44]
October 15, 1916The Return of Draw EganDraw Egan aka William BlakeYes[45]
November 26, 1916The Devil's Double"Bowie" BlakeYesLost film[46]
January 7, 1917Truthful TulliverTruthful TulliverYes[47]
February 11, 1917The GunfighterCliff HudspethYes[48]
March 25, 1917The Desert ManJim AltonYes[49]
April 22, 1917The Square Deal ManJack O'DiamondsYes[50]
May 27, 1917Wolf LowryTom "Wolf" LoweryYes[51]
November 17, 1917The Cold DeckJefferson "On-the-Level" LeighYes[52]
October 1917All-Star Production of Patriotic Episodes for the Second Liberty LoanHimself½ reel[53]
November 26, 1917The Silent Man"Silent" Budd MarrYes[54]
December 30, 1917The Narrow TrailIce HardingYesYes[55]
January 14, 1918Wolves of the Rail"Buck" AndradeYesYesYes[56]
February 18, 1918Blue Blazes RawdenBlue Blazes RawdenYesYes[57]
April 1, 1918The Tiger ManHawk ParsonsYesYes[58]
May 20, 1918Selfish Yates"Selfish" YatesYesYes[59]
July 8, 1918Shark MonroeShark MonroeYesYes[60]
August 19, 1918Riddle GawneJefferson "Riddle" GawneYesYesTwo of five reels exist; co-stars Lon Chaney[61]
September 1918A Bullet for BerlinHimselfYesYesYes½ reel[62]
September 10, 1918The Border WirelessSteve RansomYesYesLost film[63]
December 15, 1918Branding BroadwayRobert SandsYesYes[64]
February 2, 1919Breed of MenCareless CarmodyYes[65]
March 16, 1919The Poppy Girl's HusbandHairpin Harry DuttonYesYesLost film[66]
April 20, 1919The Money CorralLem BeasonYesYes[67]
July 15, 1919Square Deal SandersonSquare Deal SandersonYesYesCo-directed by Lambert Hillyer[68]
July 21, 1919Wagon TracksBuckskin HamiltonYesDirected by Lambert Hillyer[69]
November 2, 1919John Petticoats"Hardwood" John HaynesYesDirected by Lambert Hillyer[70]
April 28, 1920The Toll GateBlack DeeringYesYesDirected by Lambert Hillyer[71]
June 27, 1920Sand!Dan KurrieYesDirected by Lambert Hillyer[72]
October 17, 1920The Cradle of Courage"Square" KellyYesDirected by Lambert Hillyer[73]
December 26, 1920The Testing Block"Sierra" BillYesYesDirected by Lambert Hillyer[74]
December 20, 1921O'Malley of the MountedSergeant O'MalleyYesYesDirected by Lambert Hillyer; remade in 1936 with George O'Brien[75]
March 27, 1921The WhistleRobert EvansYesDirected by Lambert Hillyer[76]
October 16, 1921Three Word BrandBen Trego / Three Word Brand / Governor MarsdenYesDirected by Lambert Hillyer[77]
December 18, 1921White OakOak Miller - A Gambling ManYesYesDirected by Lambert Hillyer[78]
March 11, 1922Travelin' OnJ.B.YesYesDirected by Lambert Hillyer[79]
August 19, 1923HollywoodHimself (cameo)Lost film; directed by James Cruze[80]
December 2, 1923Wild Bill HickokWild Bill HickokYesDirected by Clifford Smith[81]
March 2, 1924Singer Jim McKee"Singer" Jim McKeeYesYesDirected by Clifford Smith[82]
December 27, 1925TumbleweedsDon CarverYesDirected by King Baggot; reissued in 1939 with Hart in a new talking prologue[83]
November 11, 1928Show PeopleHimself (cameo)Directed by King Vidor; added to the National Film Registry in 2003[84]

Bibliography

  • Everson, William K. (January 1, 1992). The Hollywood Western: 90 Years of Cowboys and Indians, Train Robbers, Sheriffs and Gunslingers, and Assorted Heroes and Desperados. New York, NY: Citadel Press. ISBN 0-8065-1256-3.
  • Koszarski, Diane Kaiser (January 1, 1980). The Complete Films of William S. Hart: A Pictorial Record. New York, NY: Dover Publications. ISBN 978-0486238630.

References

  1. ↑ "Obituaries". Variety. June 26, 1946. p. 62. Retrieved August 4, 2023..
  2. ↑ King, Susan (July 25, 2011). "Classic Hollywood: Western Film Pioneers Have Silent-Era Roots". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on January 11, 2012. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  3. ↑ Sources:
  4. ↑ Koszarski 1980, p. x
  5. ↑ Koszarski 1980, p. xi
  6. ↑ Everson 1992, p. 48
  7. ↑ Everson 1992, p. 48
  8. ↑ "Shootin' to Fame". The Mercury. Hobart, Tasmania. August 27, 1942. p. 6. Archived from the original on August 4, 2023. Retrieved April 27, 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ↑ Koszarski 1980, p. xv
  10. ↑ Everson 1992, pp. 54–57
  11. ↑ "William S. Hart". Hollywood Walk of Fame. 25 October 2019. Archived from the original on 28 July 2023. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  12. ↑ "Hall of Great Western Performers". National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Archived from the original on July 28, 2023. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Personnel Credits". National Film Preservation Board. LOC. Archived from the original on November 5, 2018. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  14. ↑ Koszarski 1980, p. 1
  15. ↑ Koszarski 1980, p. 2
  16. ↑ Sources:
  17. ↑ Koszarski 1980, p. 10
  18. ↑ Koszarski 1980, p. 11
  19. ↑ Koszarski 1980, p. 12
  20. ↑ Koszarski 1980, p. 13
  21. ↑ Koszarski 1980, p. 15
  22. ↑ Koszarski 1980, p. 14
  23. ↑ Koszarski 1980, p. 16
  24. ↑ "On the Night Stage". AFI. Archived from the original on July 25, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  25. ↑ Koszarski 1980, pp. 17–18
  26. ↑ Koszarski 1980, p. 19
  27. ↑ Koszarski 1980, p. 20-21
  28. ↑ "The Darkening Trail". AFI. Archived from the original on July 25, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  29. ↑ Koszarski 1980, p. 24
  30. ↑ Koszarski 1980, p. 25
  31. ↑ Koszarski 1980, p. 27
  32. ↑ Koszarski 1980, p. 26
  33. ↑ Koszarski 1980, p. 33
  34. ↑ Koszarski 1980, p. 29
  35. ↑ Koszarski 1980, pp. 31–32
  36. ↑ "The Disciple". AFI. Archived from the original on July 25, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  37. ↑ "Between Men". AFI. Archived from the original on July 25, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  38. ↑ Sources:
  39. ↑ "The Aryan". AFI. Archived from the original on July 25, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  40. ↑
  41. ↑ Sources:
  42. ↑ "The Captive God". AFI. Archived from the original on July 25, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  43. ↑ Sources:
    • "The Patriot". AFI. Archived from the original on July 25, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
    • "The Patriot". American Silent Feature Film Survival Database. LOC. Archived from the original on July 27, 2023. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  44. ↑ Sources:
  45. ↑ "The Return of Draw Egan". AFI. Archived from the original on July 25, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  46. ↑ Sources:
  47. ↑ "Truthful Tulliver". AFI. Archived from the original on July 25, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  48. ↑ "The Gun Fighter". AFI. Archived from the original on July 25, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  49. ↑ "The Desert Man". AFI. Archived from the original on July 25, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  50. ↑ "The Square Deal Man". AFI. Archived from the original on July 25, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  51. ↑ "Wolf Lowry". AFI. Archived from the original on July 25, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  52. ↑ "The Cold Deck". AFI. Archived from the original on July 25, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  53. ↑ Koszarski 1980, p. 73
  54. ↑ "The Silent Man". AFI. Archived from the original on July 25, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  55. ↑ "The Narrow Trail". AFI. Archived from the original on July 25, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  56. ↑ "Wolves of the Rail". AFI. Archived from the original on July 25, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  57. ↑ "Blue Blazes Rawden". AFI. Archived from the original on July 25, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  58. ↑ "The Tiger Man". AFI. Archived from the original on July 25, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  59. ↑ "Selfish Yates". AFI. Archived from the original on July 25, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  60. ↑ "Shark Monroe". AFI. Archived from the original on July 25, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  61. ↑ Sources:
    • "Riddle Gawne". AFI. Archived from the original on July 25, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
    • "Riddle Gawne". Progressive Silent Film List. Carl Bennett and the Silent Era Company. Archived from the original on February 19, 2023. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  62. ↑ Koszarski 1980, p. 97
  63. ↑ Sources:
  64. ↑ "Branding Broadway". AFI. Archived from the original on July 25, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  65. ↑ "Breed of Men". AFI. Archived from the original on July 25, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  66. ↑ Sources:
  67. ↑ "The Money Corral". AFI. Archived from the original on July 25, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  68. ↑ "Square Deal Sanderson". AFI. Archived from the original on July 25, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  69. ↑ "Wagon Tracks". AFI. Archived from the original on July 25, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  70. ↑ "John Petticoats". AFI. Archived from the original on July 25, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  71. ↑ "The Toll Gate". AFI. Archived from the original on July 25, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  72. ↑ "Sand!". AFI. Archived from the original on July 25, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  73. ↑ "The Cradle of Courage". AFI. Archived from the original on July 25, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  74. ↑ "The Testing Block". AFI. Archived from the original on July 25, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  75. ↑ Sources:
  76. ↑ "The Whistle". AFI. Archived from the original on July 25, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  77. ↑ "Three Word Brand". AFI. Archived from the original on July 25, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  78. ↑ "White Oak". AFI. Archived from the original on July 25, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  79. ↑ "Travelin' on". AFI. Archived from the original on July 25, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  80. ↑ "Hollywood". AFI. Archived from the original on January 4, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  81. ↑ "Wild Bill Hickok". AFI. Archived from the original on July 25, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  82. ↑ "Singer Jim McKee". AFI. Archived from the original on July 25, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  83. ↑ "Tumbleweeds". AFI. Archived from the original on July 25, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  84. ↑ Sources:


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