A Broadway Cowboy is a 1920 American silent Western comedy film directed by Joseph Franz and starring William Desmond. It was distributed by Pathé Exchange.[1]

A Broadway Cowboy
Directed byJoseph Franz
Written byGeorge H. Plympton
Based onThe Man from Make Believe
by Byron Morgan
Produced byJesse D. Hampton
StarringWilliam Desmond
CinematographyHarry Gerstad
Distributed byPathé Exchange
Release date
  • July 4, 1920 (1920-07-04)
Running time
5 reels
CountryUnited States
LanguagesSilent
English intertitles

Plot edit

As described in a film magazine,[2] Betty Jordan (Francisco), daughter of a Montana banker, is in the East attending boarding school and falls desperately in love with Burke Randolph (Desmond), a matinee idol, who performs valiant deeds behind the footlights each night in the title role of an old-fashioned melodrama, The Western Knight.

She is expelled from school after Burke treats a chaperon rather roughly during an automobile ride. When Betty returns home to Montana, Sheriff Pat McGann (Delmar), who is in love with her, finds a picture she has of Burke in his cowboy suit, and in a fit of jealousy sends copies of it out to the other neighboring sheriffs with the request that Burke be arrested on sight.

When his show hits a small western town, Burke is arrested. He manages to escape, and in a series of exciting incidents accidentally captures four desperadoes who in the prior night had robbed Betty's father's bank. Burke is proclaimed as a hero and wins Betty as his bride.

Cast edit

Preservation status edit

  • The film is preserved at Filmmuseum Nederlands (EYE Institut).[3]

References edit

  1. ^ "Detail view of Movies Page". Afi.com. Retrieved October 2, 2017.
  2. ^ "Reviews: A Broadway Cowboy". Exhibitors Herald. 10 (26). New York City: Exhibitors Herald Company: 83–84. June 26, 1920.
  3. ^ "Broadway Cowboy". Memory.loc.gov. October 2, 2017. Retrieved October 2, 2017.

External links edit