The Recommended Vault Deeply Connected to The Phantom Bullet: Cult ...

Dir: Clifford Smith

Charles Easton returns to his ranch to find his property in a shambles and his chances of marrying politician Oscar Davison's daughter Rose extremely slim, after losing the election for sheriff of Pyramid County to Ethan Ransford. However, Rose appears and begs him to find the man who robbed and beat her father. Charles rides into the desert with Ethan but quarrels with his rival and shoots him. With a price on his head, Charles takes refuge at Hawk's Nest, a seemingly invulnerable retreat for bandits, and soon gains the outlaws' respect and confidence. Later he rides into town leading the two guilty men in handcuffs and explains that Ethan's shooting was merely a ploy to gain entrance into the outlaws' stronghold. Ethan appears, confirming the story, and turns his office over to Charles, while Rose gladly accepts the new sheriff's proposal of marriage.

Dir: Clifford Smith

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of The Learnin' of Jim Benton perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Jim Benton has been too busy making money to learn to read and write, but he persuades Evelyn Hastings to open school on his ranch and he is her most devoted pupil. The sheepmen carry out their threat to cut off Benton's water supply and Evelyn makes him promise to shoot only in self-defense. He keeps his promise, but still he has to kill, and a packed jury of sheepmen bring in a death verdict. The cattlemen attempt a rescue, but it is Evelyn who saves the day.

Dir: Clifford Smith

Bosom friends Jeff Flagg and Jim Lee launch a cattle-raising business, but their prospects are so seriously threatened by Ed Crane and his nearby copper mining operations that Jim moves to another town. Crane tries to assault Jeff's sweetheart, Helen Dryer, and in the attempt is shot and killed by her brother Vic. Jeff, accused of the murder, leaves town closely pursued by Sheriff Sol Durkee, who hopes to identify Jeff by the scar on his left arm. In a faraway town, Jeff meets up with his old friend Jim, who, in a poker game brawl, shoots the scar away from Jeff's arm. The two return home, and when Vic finally confesses that he killed Crane to preserve his sister's honor, Jeff is exonerated. Jeff and Jim discover rich copper deposits on their ranch, and Jeff, now a wealthy man, proposes to Helen.

Dir: Clifford Smith

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Faith Endurin' perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Unhappy with William "Red" Saunders, the foreman of the Chanta Seechee Ranch in Oklahoma, its Eastern owners send a Boston tenderfoot named Albert Jones to manage the ranch with "Eastern business methods." Red prevents the angry cowboys from quitting, but they insist on making Jones the butt of their jokes and tricks. Upon learning that Jones's niece, Loys Andres, is planning a visit, the boys plan a rowdy reception for the woman, whom they expect will be an old maid. Loys's beauty, however, surprises them all, and Red's bunk-mate, Kyle Lambert, falls in love with her, and he soon proposes. When Jones tries to break up the romance, Red arranges for an elopement, but as the lovers reach the ford, a rustler called "Squint-Eye" Lucas fires at them, slightly wounding Kyle. Loys returns to the ranch for help, Red shoots Lucas, and Kyle is rescued, after which Loys and Kyle marry. Beaten, Jones gives the couple his blessing.

Dir: Clifford Smith

"One Shot" Ross, who has brought law and order to the town of Painted Gulch, decides to hang up his six-shooters when he sees the daughter of one of his victims sobbing over her dead father's body. While traveling East, Ross's stagecoach is held up and Ross, knocked unconscious, is taken to a nearby cabin owned by the Sheridans. After Mr. Sheridan is killed when he inadvertently stumbles upon Jim Butler and his gang dividing up the spoils from the stage robbery, Ross takes pity on Nan, the old man's daughter, and decides to bring the outlaws to justice. Feigning feeble-mindedness, Ross obtains a job on Butler's ranch and uncovers evidence which proves that Butler is the leader of the outlaws. Heading the posse, Ross captures Butler's gang and then rides off to the Sheridan cabin where, in a shootout, he rescues Nan from Butler.

Dir: Clifford Smith

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of The Red-Haired Cupid perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Meg Carter is the daughter of the man who runs the "Hell's Agony" saloon. He is killed in a row, and Meg takes it upon herself to keep the business going. This requires her to mix in and put a stop to any and all fights, which she does with the assistance of her constant companions, her two revolvers. Brian McTavish, who is supposed to help maintain law and order in the town, tries to take advantage of Meg, and a man by the name of Bad Lands O'Connor prevents him. For this McTavish determines to get even. A number of murders have been committed near O'Connor's cabin, and McTavish fastens them on his rival by lying. The crowd is about to hang the innocent man when Meg effects his rescue. She gets McTavish to consent to a test of marksmanship with her and defeats him, the life of O'Connor being her prize. There is a wedding in town shortly and Meg and O'Connor are the principals.

Dir: Clifford Smith

Bob Allers, an unfortunate consumptive, and his wife are traveling to Arizona for medicinal purposes. On the way, a highwayman robs them of horse and money. Destitute, they are befriended by William "Red" Saunders, whose sympathy and innate love for his fellow man lands Allers a job in the local saloon. Soon after, when the same highwayman attempts to rob the saloon, Allers kills him with a hammer thrown in self-defense, unaware that the outlaw is the brother of the sheriff. Convicted for murder by the vengeful sheriff, Allers is defended by "Red." The corrupt jury makes its final decision based on whether a crawling fly reaches the top of a window pane. Allers is acquitted, then reunited with his happy wife and newborn child, and they all leave together.

Dir: Clifford Smith

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of One Shot Ross perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Driven to desperation by the cattle rustlers who have nearly ruined him, ranch owner Jim Carson appeals to the Texas Rangers for help, and soon afterward he hires a cowpuncher named Bob Gordon. The handsome young rider quickly develops an attachment to Jim's pretty daughter Jean, which incurs the enmity of ranch foreman Dave Merrill, who is also in love with the girl. Shortly after Bob's arrival, he catches Dave branding a calf and hints to Jean and her father that the foreman may be one of the cattle rustlers. To save himself, Dave tries to cast suspicion on Bob, but the plan backfires. Cornered, Dave abducts Jean into the hills, but Bob, who is actually a Texas Ranger, locates the hideout, kicks in the door and kills the outlaw.

Dir: Clifford Smith

On the Mexican border, Jim Jason forms a partnership with Don Felipe Arrello although he is troubled by a clause in their contract which states that if one of the partners dies, the other will inherit their ranch. When the ranch begins to prove profitable, Felipe hires an assassin to kill Jim, but the cowboy discovers the plan and gives the killer a sound beating. Jim's sweetheart, Ruth Allen, who has come to the area with her father to restore the old Spanish architecture, sees the fight and assumes that he is mistreating his men, but his concern for little Carmelita, who is suffering from typhoid fever, convinces Ruth of Jim's kindness. Felipe tries once again to kill Jim, who leads his cowboys in pursuit of the villain, but upon reaching Felipe's hideout, they learn that Dolores, his betrayed lover, has already killed him.

Dir: Clifford Smith

Bashful ranch hand Aleck is in love. To help him get his girl, Red Saunders goes to town and convinces Lindy, whom Red thinks is the object of Aleck's affections, to come to the ranch. Meanwhile, Ah Sing, "the ranch Chinaman," steals the cowboys' clothes and pawns them. Red and Lindy meet with Ah Sing and the pursuing, half-clad cowboys at a gambling hall and regain the lost clothing. Red discovers he has brought the wrong girl, but the situation brightens when she consents to his proposal.