Silent Film of the Month: The Return of Draw Egan (1916)

Run Time: 50 minutes. Studio:  Kay-Bee Pictures. Director: William S. Hart. Writer:
C. Gardner Sullivan. Producer: Thomas H. Ince.  Main Cast: William S. Hart, Margery Wilson, Robert McKim, Louise Glaum, Fritz the Horse. Cinematographer: Joseph H. August.

I feel that is too often today that when film buffs discuss silent films that with the exception of The Great Train Robbery (1903), too often westerns are left out of the conversation. I feel this is unfair as there are actually quite a few really good western movies made during the silent era. The era also turned out some of the great western screen stars such as Tom Mix and William S. Hart. The films of William S. Hart still leave quite an impression today when one takes the time to watch one. It doesn't matter that many of his movies follow the same pattern, they are very engaging and I find myself thoroughly entertained every time I watch one. While Hell's Hinges (1916) is his best movie, but even more standard efforts from him such as The Return of Draw Egan still delight as well.

Like many of Hart's films, this one stars the cowboy actor as a bad guy who turns good. Draw Egan (William S. Hart) is a famous outlaw who is believed to be dead. When he finds him self in the town of Yellow Dog, he is believed to be a upright law-abiding citizen named William Blake. It isn't long before he is made sheriff of the town and must drive out the outlaws who have been taking over the town.

Moving Picture World, 1916

  This may not be as dark and shocking as Hell's Hinges but what it is is a very fast paced and fun oater. There is never a dull moment in this film and there is no doubt that it will entertain audiences today just as well as it did in 1916. Hart's direction and C. Gardner Sullivan's script take a story that was nothing new even at this time and tell it the best way they can. Watching this film, I was so caught up in my enjoyment of the filmmaking and storytelling that I didn't care for a second about having seen this film before and it is likely that you will feel the same. This is a film that the people working on could have probably have phoned in and still made money, but they gave it all they had and I am so grateful that they did.

The following exhibitor's reviews from Motography Magazine (in 1916) give you an idea of just how much audiences loved this movie upon its release. "William S. Hart in The Return of Draw Egan (Triangle) compares favorably with the star's earlier production Hell's Hinges. At any rate I did better with this picture than with any feature in which Hart was featured. -George Moore, Orpheum Theatre." "The Return of Draw Egan with W. S. Hart (Triangle), kept me so busy taking in the money that I did not get a chance to take in the picture. We have made more money on this feature than we ever had before on any of Hart's vehicles. - Harry Miller Boston Theatre, Chicago."

If any of you are interested in seeing this film it is on YouTube.

Warning: The Following pages from Photoplay Magazine (in 1916) give away the whole story. If you have trouble reading these pages click on them and use your touch screen to zoom in. 

-Michael J. Ruhland