Summary
In a rugged expanse where the untamed frontier meets nascent civilization, rancher John Stafford, besieged by incessant cattle depredations, enlists the formidable talents of Ned Ferguson, a cowboy whose reputation for daring precedes him, to quell the rampant rustling. Fate, however, interjects a perilous detour when Ned, journeying to the Stafford spread, succumbs to the venomous bite of a rattlesnake. His recovery unfolds under the tender ministrations of Mary Radford, a woman whose pen endeavors to capture the very essence of the Western saga Ned embodies. This burgeoning connection ignites the simmering resentment of Dave Leviatt, Stafford's foreman, whose possessive affections for Mary morph into a treacherous jealousy. Leviatt, a master manipulator, cunningly poisons Stafford's perception, implicating Mary's brother, Ben, as the orchestrator of the rustling ring. In a vile act of calculated betrayal, Leviatt shoots Ben in the back, ensuring Ben's conviction that Ned, the supposed hero, is his assailant. This calculated deceit shatters the nascent bond between Mary and Ned, her trust irrevocably fractured. Even Ned's subsequent heroic intervention, snatching Mary from the terrifying maw of a cattle stampede, fails to mend the chasm of misunderstanding. The intricate web of deception only unravels when Leviatt is finally apprehended, his confession laying bare the heinous truth and exonerating Ned. With the true villain exposed, Mary's disillusionment dissipates, allowing her to finally recognize Ned not as a character from her literary imagination, but as her genuine, unwavering hero.
Synopsis
Rancher John Stafford hires daredevil cowboy Ned Ferguson to hunt down cattle rustlers. En route to the ranch Ned is bitten by a rattlesnake and nursed by Mary Radford, who is writing a Western novel. Ranch foreman Dave Leviatt is jealous of Mary's interest in Ned and convinces Stafford that Mary's brother Ben is the head of the rustlers. Leviatt shoots Ben in the back, and Ben is convinced that Ned is responsible. Mary will have nothing to do with Ned, even after he rescues her from a cattle stampede. Finally, Leviatt is captured and confesses the truth, and Mary accepts Ned as her real, rather than fictional, hero.
Review Excerpt
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Riding the Range of Redemption: An Appraisal of Tom Mix's 'Treat 'Em Rough' (1919)
In the annals of early cinematic history, particularly within the burgeoning genre of the Western, certain figures tower like the majestic mesas of the American frontier they so often depicted. Tom Mix, without a shadow of a doubt, is one such icon. His name became synonymous with daring horsemanship, impeccable cowboy attire, and a brand of rugged heroism that captivated audiences worldwide. To..."
