''Hitchin' Posts'' is a 1920 American

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...

directed by

John Ford John Martin Feeney (February 1, 1894 – August 31, 1973), better known as John Ford, was an American film director and producer. He is regarded as one of the most important and influential filmmakers during the Golden Age of Hollywood, and w ...

. It is considered to be a

lost film A lost film is a feature film, feature or short film in which the original negative or copies are not known to exist in any studio archive, private collection, or public archive. Films can be wholly or partially lost for a number of reasons. ...

Plot

As described in a

film magazine Film periodicals combine discussion of individual films, genres and directors with in-depth considerations of the medium and the conditions of its production and reception. Their articles contrast with film reviewing in newspapers and magazines whi ...

, Jefferson Todd (Mayo) and Louis Castiga (Harris), brothers-in-law, come to blows on a Mississippi River steamer when Todd discovers Castiga's presence there with a woman usurping the place of his wife, Todd's sister. Todd, a Southern gentleman whose fortune was depleted during the

Civil War A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same Sovereign state, state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies.J ...

, is attempting to rebuild it by gambling on the river boats that frequent the great river. He wins four race horses at poker with Colonel Brereton (Fenton), but refuses to collect the stakes. Brereton insists, and then takes his own life. Brereton's suicide causes Todd to question his new profession. Todd and Castiga again meet at the plantation home of the Colonel's daughter Barbara (Burnham), both having gone there to break the news of her father's death. Castiga's wiliness makes Barbara believe that Todd is an intruder and the cause of her father's ruin. The trouble between the men results in a duel in which Castiga cheats and is driven out of town. Barbara's faith in Todd is established and together they join the great army of homesteaders and go West for the great land lottery that followed the Civil War. They win a race for a homestead involving prairie schooners, buckboards, horse teams, and race horses, but fall victims to a plot hatched by Castiga. In a struggle between the two, Todd is victorious while his enemy meets his death. Love beckens for Todd and Barbara.

Cast

* Frank Mayo as Jefferson Todd * Beatrice Burnham as Barbara Brereton * C.E. Anderson as Captain of steamer * Matthew Biddulph as Major Grey (credited as M. Biddulph) *

Mark Fenton Mark Fenton (November 11, 1866 – July 29, 1925) was an American stage performer and motion-picture character actor who appeared in at least 80 films between 1914 and 1925. Fenton had considerable experience performing on stage prior to ...

as Colonel Brereton * Dagmar Godowsky as Octoroon * Joe Harris as Louis Castiga * Duke R. Lee as Colonel Lancy (credited as Duke Lee) * J. Farrell MacDonald as Joe Alabam (credited as J. Farrell McDonald)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Hitchin Posts 1920 films 1920 drama films American silent feature films Silent American drama films American Civil War films American black-and-white films Films directed by John Ford Lost American drama films Universal Pictures films 1920 lost films 1920s American films 1920s English-language films English-language drama films Lost silent American films

Plot

Cast

See also

References

External links