Summary
In the rugged, lawless expanse of Lumber Cove, we encounter “Lady Fingers” Hilgard, a prodigal son of an esteemed English lineage, now presiding over a boisterous dance hall. His affections are singularly focused on Babette, a woman whose allegiances prove as fluid as the frontier winds. The equilibrium shatters with the arrival of Blue Blazes Rawden, a man of formidable presence, leading his crew on a spree that irrevocably shifts Babette's gaze. A challenge is hurled by Hilgard, a desperate gamble: a duel, where the victor claims not only the resort's bounty but also the woman and, implicitly, their very pride. The confrontation culminates in Hilgard's demise, yet the truth of the fatal shot is obscured by Babette's cunning; she discovers Rawden’s pistol unfired, then discharges it herself, fabricating a narrative of self-defense for the bewildered Rawden. This intricate web of deception tightens with the arrival of Hilgard’s mother and younger brother, who, tragically unaware of the true circumstances, embrace Rawden as their lost son’s comrade. However, Babette, now scorned and embittered by Rawden's shifting attention, shatters the illusion, revealing the truth of Hilgard’s death to his brother. Unable to deny the stark accusation, Blue Blazes Rawden, once again a solitary figure, is compelled to vanish into the vast, unforgiving landscape, leaving behind Babette's frantic, futile pleas.
Synopsis
"Lady Fingers" Hilgard is the black sheep of a fine English family. He runs a dance hall at Lumber Cove and Babette is his favorite. But Babette turns her affections to Blue Blazes Rawden when he leads his men into the Cove for a spree, and Hilgard taunts him into a duel, the winner to take the money, the resort and the girl. Hilgard is killed, but Babette finds Rawden's gun has not been discharged and fires one shot, persuading Rawden that he shot in self-defense. Hilgard's mother and younger brother come to camp and the old lady shows a motherly affection for the man she believes to have been her boy's pal, but Babette, scorned, tells the brother Rawden killed "Lady Fingers," and unable to deny, Blue Blazes again hits the trail alone, in spite of Babette's frenzied entreaties.
Review Excerpt
"
Stepping into the world of ‘Blue Blazes’ Rawden is akin to sifting through the dust-laden annals of early American cinema, a journey that reveals not just a film, but a foundational narrative archetype, etched into the very bedrock of the Western genre. This particular offering, featuring the iconic William S. Hart, transcends a mere plot summary, delving instead into the intricate dance of human fallibility, moral ambiguity, and the relentless, often brutal, pursuit of a self-fash..."
