Summary
“Colorado” unfurls a tapestry of moral rectitude clashing with insidious avarice, set against the rugged, unforgiving canvas of the nascent American West. Our narrative commences with Frank Austin, a soldier whose innate sense of justice compels him to strike down his superior, Colonel Kinkaid, for an act of petty cruelty against a vulnerable newsboy. This impulsive defense of the downtrodden precipitates a court-martial and a five-year sentence, an unjust decree that sparks a daring escape orchestrated by the very boy he championed. Austin, now a fugitive, seeks refuge and a fresh start in the titular state. Simultaneously, we are introduced to Professor Thomas Doyle, a man of intellect and domestic tranquility, whose wife Mary's deteriorating health mandates a migration to Colorado's drier climes, accompanied by his spirited sister, Kitty. Fate, or perhaps malevolence, interweaves their paths with Kinkaid, who, under a veneer of helpfulness, orchestrates a cunning land swindle through his confederate, Staples, leaving Doyle financially devastated by a barren tract. Yet, the arid landscape holds a secret: Austin, toiling on an adjacent claim, unearths a rich vein of gold. His discovery, initially a beacon of hope, becomes a magnet for Kinkaid's renewed villainy, as the colonel and Staples conspire to usurp Austin’s newfound wealth. A fortuitous accident, a blast wounding Austin, brings him into the protective embrace of the Doyle household, where Kinkaid, already ensconced, recognizes his former subordinate. Under duress, Austin is forced into an inequitable partnership. As the mine develops and Doyle accepts a foreman's role, the layers of Kinkaid's depravity deepen, manifesting in a sinister manipulation of Mary and an escalating conflict with Staples, culminating in a near-fatal mine disaster for Doyle and Kitty, from which Austin heroically saves them. This very catastrophe, a flood, paradoxically transforms Doyle's "worthless" land into fertile ground, while claiming Staples. The film then pivots to Kinkaid's brazen pursuit of Mary in Denver, a dangerous liaison that ignites Doyle's fury and Mary's flight. Austin, his mine now flooded, finds employment with Doyle, his burgeoning affection for Kitty shadowed by the specter of his past conviction. The narrative crescendos with a dramatic confrontation in Denver, where Mary, driven to protect her husband, wounds Kinkaid, forcing a confession that exonerates Austin. The denouement sees the Austins returning to their revitalized land, the Doyles reconciled, and Austin, finally pardoned, free to embrace a future with Kitty, a testament to enduring justice and the transformative power of the Western frontier.
Synopsis
Frank Austin, a soldier, one day sees Colonel Kinkaid, his superior officer, abusing a little lame newsboy, and in a passion knocks the coward down. He is court-martialed for this and given a sentence of five years. That night the newsboy aids him to escape from the guardhouse, and Austin sets out for Colorado. Thomas Doyle is a professor of languages in a college and lives happily with his wife, Mary, and Kitty, his sister. His wife's health has been failing for some time, and at last the doctor tells them the only hope for her is that she seek a drier climate. On the way Doyle, his wife and Kitty make the acquaintance of Colonel Kinkaid, who is going to Denver on business, and makes himself useful to the party. Kinkaid wires a henchman of his, Staples, a gambler and crook. By acting as Kinkaid's agent, Staples gets Doyle to invest in worthless land, leaving Doyle with a balance of only five hundred dollars. Austin has been working a claim just above the tract bought by Doyle, and one day while he is working he is accosted by one of the natives, Old Morgan, tells him that he will never find anything there, whereupon Austin shows him some samples taken out of the claim which prove to be rich in gold. With the dry season Doyle finds everything on his land is dead and Old Morgan tells him that his land would be rich if it was irrigated, but that it is worthless as it is. Doyle is discouraged over his finances, but finds consolation in the fact that his wife is very much improved. Staples had noticed Austin working, and stealing some of the ore, takes it to Kinkaid and the two have it assayed. It proves to be very rich and they plan to work the young man out of his claim. Kitty and her brother are out hunting one day and discover Austin wounded by a blast. They pick him up and take him to Doyle's house. They find that Kinkaid has arrived at Doyle's, and made himself very much at home. Kitty is sent for water, and after she has been gone a long time, her brother goes in search of her. He finds her in the grasp of Staples. They fight and Staples confesses that Kinkaid was back of the land deal. Kinkaid recognizes Austin and makes the ex-soldier give him a partnership in his mine. The mine is developed, and Doyle accepts a position as foreman. Kinkaid has given Mrs. Doyle a revolver, and one day takes her for a hunt. Staples accosts Doyle at the mine. Doyle thrashes him and Staples swears revenge. Later, when Doyle and Kitty have gone down in the mine, Staples manages to stop the lift and prevent their escape during a blast. The blast goes off and a flood of water is released in the mine. They are rescued just in time by Austin. The water proves the key to wealth for Doyle as it irrigates his arid land. Staples is drowned. Doyle tells Kinkaid of the flooding of the mine and finds him in intimate conversation with his wife. He throws him out and demands an explanation from his wife. Mrs. Doyle, unable to explain, leaves home and goes to Denver. Austin goes to work for Doyle, his mine being flooded. He and Kitty are in love with each other, but every time he goes to take her in his arms he thinks of the sentence hanging over him and stops. Both Kitty and her brother suspect that something is wrong and finally get him to explain the cause. In the city, Kinkaid seeks every opportunity to put himself in Mary's way and finally one day she draws a gun on him and forces him out of the room. Kitty, her brother, and Austin arrive at the hotel, and while the men are seeking Kinkaid, Kitty finds her sister-in-law. The women return in time to see a fight between Doyle and Kinkaid, and Mary saves her husband's life by shooting Kinkaid in the arm. Kinkaid is forced to write a letter clearing Austin and all return to the tract. Doyle and his wife are reconciled. Some time later Austin gets his pardon and there is now nothing to hinder his marriage with Kitty.
Review Excerpt
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Unearthing a Classic: The Enduring Spirit of 'Colorado'
In the vast, untamed expanse of early 20th-century cinema, certain narratives emerge as foundational pillars, shaping the very grammar of storytelling that would follow. The film 'Colorado', a compelling entry from an era defined by its nascent expressive power, stands as a testament to the enduring allure of human drama played out against the grandeur of the American West. It's more than just a moving picture; it's a mor..."
