''The Lucky Horseshoe'' is a 1925 American silent

Western film The Western is a genre set in the American frontier and commonly associated with folk tales of the Western United States, particularly the Southwestern United States, as well as Northern Mexico and Western Canada. It is commonly referred ...

directed by John G. Blystone and starring

Tom Mix Thomas Edwin Mix (born Thomas Hezikiah Mix; January 6, 1880 – October 12, 1940) was an American film actor and the star of many early Western films between 1909 and 1935. He appeared in 291 films, all but nine of which were silent films. He w ...

Billie Dove Lillian Bohny (born Bertha Eugenie Bohny; May 14, 1903 – December 31, 1997), known professionally as Billie Dove, was an American actress. Early life and career Dove was born Bertha Eugenie Bohny in New York City in 1903 to Charles and Ber ...

, and

Malcolm Waite Malcolm Ivan Waite (May 7, 1892 – April 25, 1949) was an American film actor. Biography Malcolm Waite appeared in 31 films between 1923 and 1942, most notably as the oily "ladies' man" Jack in Charlie Chaplin's film classic ''The Gold Rush ...

. Based on a story by Robert Lord, the film is about a ranch foreman who assumes responsibility for the ranch following the owner's death. He also cares for the owner's daughter who is taken to Europe by an aunt. Two year later the woman returns from Europe with her new wealthy fiancée and plans to hold their wedding at the ranch, which the foreman has turned into a successful tourist destination. The foreman's feelings for the woman have not been diminished by the years, and after learning some damaging information about the fiancée, the foreman must find a way to stop the wedding. A print is preserved at the

Museum of Modern Art The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is an art museum located in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, on 53rd Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. It plays a major role in developing and collecting modern art, and is often identified as one of ...

, New York.The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: ''The Lucky Horseshoe''
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Plot

Following the death of the owner of the Hunt ranch, foreman Tom Foster (

) assumes responsibility for the property, taking also into his care Eleanor Hunt (

), the beautiful daughter of the late owner. Although he falls in love with the girl, Tom is too diffident to express his feelings and propose marriage. Soon after, Eleanor is asked to accompany her aunt to Europe. Two years later, Eleanor returns from Europe with condescending airs, accompanied by Denman (

), her wealthy European fiancée. Eleanor announces that she plans to hold the wedding at the ranch, which has been renovated by Tom and transformed into a successful tourist destination. Tom's friend, Mack (

J. Farrell MacDonald John Farrell MacDonald (June 6, 1875 – August 2, 1952) was an American character actor and director. He played supporting roles and occasional leads. He appeared in over 325 films over a four-decade career from 1911 to 1951, and directed fort ...

), tells Tom about the rakish exploits of

Don Juan Don Juan (), also known as Don Giovanni ( Italian), is a legendary, fictional Spanish libertine who devotes his life to seducing women. Famous versions of the story include a 17th-century play, ''El burlador de Sevilla y convidado de piedra'' ...

, hoping to instill in him a bit of romance. Wanting to eliminate any competition, Denman instructs his men to kidnap Tom and keep him prisoner until after the wedding. Tom is knocked on the head and dreams that he is the fabled Juan, fighting like a lion for love. When he wakes up, Tom frees himself from his bonds and rides back to the ranch, where he arrives just in time to prevent the wedding. Afterwards, Tom and Eleanor are married.

Cast

Reception

In his review in ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid d ...

'', Mordaunt Hall found the film well suited to Tom Mix's talents, calling it "a most agreeable entertainment." Hall enjoyed the super-heroism displayed by Mix in one scene—lassoing four or five men and bowling over scores of others—which remains plausible in that it occurs in a dream. As Don Juan, Tom awards the prize for beauty to Elvira Hunt, who appears as a charming Spanish girl. After fighting off and routing his enemies by leaping to a chandelier and then lunging across the great hall, Tom says to the girl, "Come, fair Eleanor; forget that despoiler, as you are mine." She replies, "Oh, Don Juan, you are a man. But will they take me from you?" Hall concluded:

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Lucky Horseshoe, The 1925 Western (genre) films 1925 films American black-and-white films Films based on the Don Juan legend Films directed by John G. Blystone Fox Film films Silent American Western (genre) films 1920s English-language films 1920s American films

Plot

Cast

Reception

See also

References

External links