Summary
In an era where societal standing often trumped genuine affection, the narrative unravels around Avice, a young woman from an Eastern lineage, ensnared in her mother Mrs. Bereton's desperate machinations to secure financial stability. This precarious situation culminates in Avice's arranged marriage to Barton Masters, a formidable cattleman whose wealth stands in stark contrast to her family's dwindling fortunes. Prior to the nuptials, Avice, caught in the intoxicating current of a casual dalliance with the suave Dr. Fortescue Van Fleet, dismissively assures him of the marriage's superficiality, a mere formality devoid of emotional commitment. Yet, fate, or perhaps the rugged authenticity of the West, intervenes. Upon her arrival at Barton's sprawling ranch, the veneer of indifference begins to crack, revealing a burgeoning, profound respect for her new husband's character and the steadfastness he embodies. The fragile peace is shattered by the arrival of a wedding party, including her mother, her brother Billy, and crucially, Van Fleet. The doctor, emboldened by Avice's earlier promises, makes a predatory move, attacking her in her private quarters. Barton, a man of action and honor, swiftly intervenes, expelling the scoundrel with resolute force. The following day, with an air of decisive authority, Barton dispatches Avice's meddling relatives, compelling her to immerse herself in the demanding realities of ranch life—a decree she initially resists with palpable resentment. It is only through a harrowing crucible that her transformation solidifies: Van Fleet's vengeful return, culminating in a near-fatal shooting of Barton. In a dramatic reversal of power, Avice, seizing a firearm, forces the wounded doctor to attend to her husband's grave injuries. This pivotal act of courage and protection irrevocably shifts her allegiance and affections. Post-Barton's arduous recovery, Avice dedicates herself wholeheartedly to him, her initial ambivalence transmuted into an unwavering devotion born of shared peril and rekindled admiration, solidifying a bond forged in the unforgiving crucible of the desert.
Synopsis
Socially prominent but nearly penniless Easterner Mrs. Bereton, marries her daughter Avice to wealthy cattleman Barton Masters. Before the ceremony, Avice promises Dr. Fortescue Van Fleet, with whom she has been carrying on a flirtation, that her marriage will mean nothing, but after she moves to Barton's ranch, she comes to respect her husband deeply. When the wedding party, consisting of Van Fleet as well as Avice's mother and brother Billy, visits the ranch, Van Fleet attacks Avice in her room, but Barton catches him and turns him out. The next day, Barton sends Avice's relatives home and compels her to work on the ranch. She is resentful until Van Fleet returns and shoots Barton, seriously wounding him. At the point of a gun, Avice forces the doctor to tend her husband's injury, and after Barton's recovery, she devotes herself to him.
Review Excerpt
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A Desert Wooing: Where Society's Chains Meet the Wild Heart of the West
Stepping back into the cinematic landscape of 1918, J.G. Hawks’s "A Desert Wooing" emerges not merely as a silent film, but as a fascinating social commentary wrapped in the rugged allure of the American West. At its core, this is a narrative of transformation, of a woman's journey from the gilded cages of Eastern society to the raw, unvarnished truth of frontier life. It’s a compelling exploration of duty..."
