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Reckless Courage (1925): The Western Cult Classic You Need to See | Dbcult

Reckless Courage

Name: Reckless Courage
Director: Tom Gibson
Released: 1925
Cast: William McIllwain, John M. O'Brien, Merrill McCormick, Bob Burns, Neola May

1925Tom GibsonIMDb: /10

Synopsis

Director

Tom Gibson

Cast

John M. O'Brien

Helen Foster

J.C. Fowler

Buddy Roosevelt

Editor's Choice Analysis

Reckless Courage Review: Is This Classic Western Worth Your Time?

Is Reckless Courage, a relic from the early sound era, worth revisiting today? Short answer: yes, but with significant caveats. This 1930 Western adventure offers a fascinating, if sometimes clumsy, glimpse into early Hollywood's attempts to blend high-stakes drama with the nascent technology of synchronized sound. It’...

Archivist John

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Filmography

Movies by Tom Gibson

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Battle of the Cult

Intelligence Comparison

Comparing the cinematic DNA and archive impact of two defining moments in cult history.

1925

Reckless Courage

Tom Gibson

ScoreCult MeterScore

50%Popularity50%

#593Archive Rank#476

1920

Blackmail

Dallas M. Fitzgerald

Analyze Head-to-Head

Knowledge Base

Reckless Courage FAQ

The movie Reckless Courage was directed by Tom Gibson.

Reckless Courage was released in the year 1925.

Reckless Courage is a movie from United States.

Reckless Courage is categorised as Western, Drama in the cult cinema archive at Dbcult.

Reckless Courage features John M. O'Brien, Helen Foster, J.C. Fowler, Buddy Roosevelt.

The screenplay for Reckless Courage was written by Victor Roberts, Betty Burbridge.

If you enjoy Reckless Courage, you might also like Blackmail (1920), 'A mala nova (1920), The Great Shadow (1920), Into the Light (1920).

Yes, Reckless Courage (1925) is featured in the Dbcult archive as a curated cult cinema title, known for its Western and Drama qualities.

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Summary

Reckless Courage plunges its protagonist, Doris Bayne, into a whirlwind of frontier peril when her father's precious diamond necklace becomes the target of an audacious airborne heist. Her quick-thinking decision to jettison the jewels from the plane's open cockpit inadvertently places them into the hands of Bud Keenan, an unassumingly honest ranch foreman. This chance encounter sparks a series of escalating confrontations: Doris, parachuting into the wilderness, first binds Bud, only for him to turn rescuer after her own mishap. Their retreat to Bud's ranch offers little sanctuary. The relentless Scar Degan, a menacing gang leader, soon tracks them, demanding the necklace Doris had prudently given to a Native American woman for safekeeping. Degan's subsequent abduction of Doris forces Bud into a desperate mission: retrieve the diamonds to secure her freedom. The narrative culminates in a violent showdown, leaving the outlaws vanquished and the necklace returned to its rightful, if somewhat battered, owner.

Synopsis

Doris Bayne is instructed by her wealthy father to deliver a valuable diamond necklace by air. When the airplane is robbed in flight, Doris is forced to throw the necklace from the craft's open cockpit, and it lands at the feet of Bud Keenan, an honest ranch foreman. Bud picks it up and soon finds himself looking down the barrel of a pistol held by Doris, who has parachuted from the plane. Doris ties up Bud, but he escapes and rescues her after she falls down an embankment. Bud takes Doris to his ranch, but while he fetches a doctor, gang leader Scar Degan appears and demands the necklace, which Doris has given to a Native American woman for safekeeping. Scar takes Doris to the gang's hideout, forcing Bud to retrieve the necklace and buy her freedom. A battle follows that leaves the gang dead and Bud in possession of the necklace, which he returns to Doris.

Review Excerpt

"Is Reckless Courage, a relic from the early sound era, worth revisiting today? Short answer: yes, but with significant caveats. This 1930 Western adventure offers a fascinating, if sometimes clumsy, glimpse into early Hollywood's attempts to blend high-stakes drama with the nascent technology of synchronized sound. It’s a film best suited for dedicated cinephiles, historians of the Western genre, and those with a deep appreciation for the foundational pieces of cinematic storytelling. Conversely..."

Archivist John

Read Full Review