Summary
In an intricate tapestry woven from inherited loyalties and burgeoning patriotism, Christy Cabanne's 'Fighting Through' unfurls the tumultuous journey of Robert Carr, a scion steeped in the anachronistic reverence for a bygone Confederacy, viewing the federal government with an ingrained skepticism. His rigid adherence to ancestral dogma clashes violently with the spirited, modern sensibilities of Maryland Warren, his fiancée, whose exasperation mounts with Robert's perceived lack of gallantry and, more critically, his overt disloyalty to the burgeoning national identity. A pivotal incident involving a runaway horse, where Robert's sartorial mishap ironically sidelines him, allowing a rival suitor to play the hero, serves as an early fissure in their bond. The true chasm, however, opens with the declaration of war against Germany, when Robert's defiant refusal to salute the American flag ignites Maryland's fury, culminating in a decisive rupture of their engagement. Displaced and disoriented after a brutal encounter with vagrants leaves him on a freight train bound for Arizona, Robert inadvertently follows Maryland, who is vacationing there. Fate, or perhaps narrative contrivance, orchestrates their reunion amidst peril: Maryland is seized by Mexican bandits across the border. It is in this crucible of foreign hostility, where the American flag itself becomes a target of derision, that Robert's entrenched convictions are finally challenged and transformed. He confronts the brigands, not merely to rescue Maryland, but to defend the very symbol he once scorned. As the lovers are cornered, a timely intervention by a posse of cowboys ensures their deliverance, culminating in a cathartic reunion and their subsequent return to Virginia, their individual and collective identities irrevocably altered by the crucible of conflict and newfound allegiance.
Synopsis
Robert Carr, the grandson of a Confederate soldier, was raised to honor his Southern heritage, and to regard the U.S. government as an adversary. Maryland Warren, Robert's fiancée, chides him for cowardice when a tear in his pants prevents him from rescuing her from a runaway horse, allowing a rival suitor to come to her aid. After war is declared against Germany, and Robert refuses to honor the American flag, Maryland accuses him of disloyalty and breaks their engagement. Later, Robert is beaten unconscious by hobos and placed on a freight train bound for Arizona. He arrives to learn that Maryland, who is there on vacation, has been taken hostage by Mexican bandits across the border. He fights the Mexicans for insulting the American flag and attempts to escape with Maryland. As the bandits surround Maryland and Robert, a posse of cowboys comes to the rescue. The lovers are reunited and return to their native Virginia.
Review Excerpt
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Step into the flickering shadows of early 20th-century cinema, and you'll often find narratives grappling with profound societal shifts, national identity, and the timeless complexities of the human heart. Christy Cabanne's Fighting Through is precisely such a work, a compelling, if occasionally didactic, silent film that plunges its audience into a whirlwind of inherited prejudices, personal growth, and the forging of a nascent American spirit amidst global conflict. Released at a pivotal ..."
