Dynamite Smith

Dynamite Smith
Bessie Love and Wallace Beery
Directed byRalph Ince
Screenplay byC. Gardner Sullivan
Story byC. Gardner Sullivan
Starring
CinematographyHenry Sharp
Distributed byPathé Exchange
Release date
  • October 12, 1924 (1924-10-12) (U.S.)
Running time
6,400 feet; approx. 70 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageSilent (English intertitles)

Dynamite Smith is a 1924 American silent drama film directed by Ralph Ince and written by C. Gardner Sullivan. The film stars Charles Ray, Bessie Love, and Wallace Beery, and was distributed through Pathé Exchange.

The film was presumed lost until 2023, when an 8mm print with Dutch intertitles was discovered.

Plot

Gladstone Smith is a reserved literary editor working for a newspaper in San Francisco, California. His boss assigns him to report on a stabbing in the rough Barbary Coast district of the city. Smith goes to the Diamond Café, a saloon operated by the violent "Slugger" Rourke. Once there, Smith meets Rourke's estranged wife Violet, who works there as a cabaret singer. She gives him information for his story.

When the newspaper publishes Smith's story, the police start investigating Rourke. Enraged, he assaults the pregnant Violet and vows to kill Smith. Violet persuades Smith to take her to Alaska; due to her pregnancy, they pretend to be siblings.

In Alaska, Violet dies after giving birth to a son. Smith takes the infant to the town of White City, where they receive help from Kitty Gray, the proprietor of a local inn. Smith becomes a local hero after alerting the town to starving settlers trapped in a nearby mountain pass. He is appointed sheriff of White City.

Rourke arrives in White City, claiming to be Smith's friend. He moves into Smith's cabin, threatening to expose him as a "wife stealer". Rourke also shows unwanted interest in Kitty. A fearful Smith resolves to deal with Rourke. Smith leads Roarke into the wilderness, traps him, and lights a fuse to dynamite near Roarke. The explosion kills him. Smith is exonerated by the community and becomes engaged to Kitty, with whom he plans to raise Violet's child.

Cast

1924 silent film

Reception

The film received positive reviews and was commercially successful.

Grace Kingsley of the Los Angeles Times, Florence Lawrence of the Los Angeles Examiner, and Guy Price of the Los Angeles Herald praised Ray's performance, which was widely lauded as a comeback for the actor. Beery, Logan, and Love were also favorably reviewed.

References

  1. ↑ Love, Bessie (1977). From Hollywood with Love: An Autobiography of Bessie Love. London: Elm Tree Books. p. 152. OCLC 734075937.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Charles Ray in 'Dynamite Smith'". The Film Daily. September 7, 1924. p. 8.
  3. ↑ "Dynamite Smith / Ralph Ince [motion picture]". Library of Congress. 1924.
  4. ↑ "Dynamite Smith (1924) A Silent Film Review". Movies Silently. March 26, 2023.
  5. ↑ Munden, Kenneth W., ed. (1971). The American Film Institute Catalog of Motion Pictures Produced in the United States: Feature Films 1921–1930. New York: R.R. Bowker Company. p. 208. ISBN 978-0-520-21521-4. OCLC 664500075.
  6. 1 2 3 Sewell, C. S. (September 13, 1924). "Dynamite Smith". The Moving Picture World. p. 159.
  7. 1 2 Pardy, George T. (September 20, 1924). "Box Office Reviews". Exhibitors Trade Review. p. 41.
  8. ↑ "Dynamite Smith. Motion picture copyright descriptions collection. Class L, 1912–1977". Library of Congress.
  9. 1 2 Powell, A. Van Buren, ed. (November 15, 1924). "Straight from the Shoulder Reports". Moving Picture World. p. 241.
  10. 1 2 "'Dynamite Smith' Classed as One of Best October Films". Moving Picture World. November 29, 1924. p. 427.
  11. ↑ "'Dynamite Smith' Wins Praise of Los Angeles Reviewers". Moving Picture World. November 29, 1924. p. 557.