Summary
A vibrant tapestry of frontier justice and romantic entanglement unfolds as the stoic Sandy Burke, a man of quiet integrity, intervenes in the brutal aftermath of a father's murder. He becomes the unexpected guardian of seven-year-old Dolly Morgan, orphaned by the ruthless Jim Diggs, entrusting her care to the compassionate Widow Mackey. However, the shadow of Diggs extends, threatening the widow's livelihood through a looming mortgage held by his unscrupulous partner, Lafe Hinton. Driven by a profound sense of duty, Sandy seeks honest work at Jeff Kirby's sprawling ranch, only to be ensnared in a web of mistaken identity, apprehended by Kirby's spirited daughter, Molly, who believes him to be the notorious desperado Slim Dillon. After demonstrating his true character, Sandy, with an audacious gambit, embraces the Dillon persona, orchestrating a stagecoach robbery not for personal gain, but to secure the widow's future. His cunning extends to a high-stakes poker game where he deftly outmaneuvers Hinton, claiming the vital mortgage funds. Hired by Kirby to quell a burgeoning cattle rustling operation, Sandy's investigative prowess points directly to Diggs and Hinton. A harrowing rescue of Molly from Diggs' clutches yields a crucial piece of evidence – a letter from a packing firm – unequivocally linking the villains to the illicit enterprise. The narrative escalates when Diggs reclaims Molly, luring Sandy into a treacherous trap. As the villain prepares to inflict a barbaric branding upon Sandy's bare back, Molly's desperate pleas create a momentary distraction, allowing Sandy to break free. With Diggs subdued, a bittersweet farewell looms; Sandy, misinterpreting Molly's affections, prepares to depart. Yet, in a final, captivating flourish, Molly disarms him, compelling him into an embrace that promises a new horizon.
Synopsis
After Sandy Burke rescues orphaned seven-year-old Dolly Morgan from Jim Diggs, who gunned down her father, he gives her to the Widow Mackey to rear. Learning that the widow's mortgage soon is due to Digg's partner, Lafe Hinton, Sandy goes to rancher Jeff Kirby for a job, but is mistaken for desperado Slim Dillon, and captured by Kirby's daughter Molly. After Sandy proves his innocence, he masquerades as Dillon and robs a stagecoach to help the widow. Sandy wins the mortgage money playing poker with Hinton. Kirby hires Sandy to stop the thieves rustling his prize steers. Sandy suspects Diggs and Hinton, and after he rescues Molly from Diggs, he finds a letter from a packing firm which proves his suspicions. Diggs recaptures Molly, and Sandy, pursuing, falls into Diggs' trap. As Diggs prepares to brand Sandy's bare back, Molly's pleas give Sandy the opportunity to pry loose. After capturing Diggs, Sandy, who loves Molly but thinks that she loves another, says goodbye. Molly then takes his revolvers and orders him to put his hands up and around her.
Review Excerpt
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In the annals of early cinematic art, where the flickering images of the nascent film industry captivated burgeoning audiences, Sandy Burke of the U-Bar-U emerges as a compelling artifact from 1917. This silent Western, a testament to the genre's enduring appeal even in its formative years, masterfully weaves a narrative tapestry of heroism, moral ambiguity, and burgeoning romance against the rugged, unforgiving backdrop of the American frontier. Penned by J. Allan Dunn, the film p..."
