American screen actors have often cultivated a bad boy image, usually for the sake of publicity and to bring in the young female audience -- the idea that a good woman can reform a bad man is a myth that appeals to many. For Al Jennings, however, it wasn't just an image. He was a real-life cowboy who was imprisoned several time for robbing banks and trains. As a result, the credit "America's Reformed Outlaw" is a sobriquet that was real.
In this O'Henry-type story, a boy wishes to apprentice in the outlaw trade with Al. The story is simple, the sets are appropriately scrubby and the effort is competent. William S. Hart had brought to the screen the complexity of the "good bad man" cowboy which echoes through to the current day. Mr. Jennings, despite his authenticity, was not the actor that Hart was, nor did his crew, although competent, rise to the levels of excellence of Hart's. The result is a decent movie.
In this O'Henry-type story, a boy wishes to apprentice in the outlaw trade with Al. The story is simple, the sets are appropriately scrubby and the effort is competent. William S. Hart had brought to the screen the complexity of the "good bad man" cowboy which echoes through to the current day. Mr. Jennings, despite his authenticity, was not the actor that Hart was, nor did his crew, although competent, rise to the levels of excellence of Hart's. The result is a decent movie.
