Santa Clarita Valley History In Pictures
> WILLIAM S. HART
"O'Malley of the Mounted"
William S. Hart


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O'MALLEY OF THE MOUNTED

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Lobby Card

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Sweden 1921

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Tobacco Card
South Africa 1922

Original 11x14-inch lobby card for "O'Malley of the Mounted" starring William S. Hart. Buff-colored card stock. Pinholes show it hung on the wall of a theater.

See also publicity photo.

Written and produced by Hart; Directed by Lambert Hillyer. According to the Internet Movie Database, the film was shot in Chatsworth. Production apparently wrapped Dec. 20, 1920; it was released Feb. 6, 1921.

Theatrical release by Artcraft; distributed by Paramount Pictures Corp. Both companies were subsidiaries of Famous Players-Lasky, whose name appears on this lobby card at lower right. "O'Malley" was probably the last film released under the Artcraft name.

Later that same year (1921), the Federal Trade Commission sued Famous Players-Lasky as the FTC started to crack down on block booking, where production companies owned so many movie theaters, they were able to force independent theaters to pay for "blocks" of films, including lousy ones, sight-unseen, if they wanted to show the good ones. The government considered Famous Players-Lasky the "largest concern in the motion picture industry and the biggest theater owner in the world" and charged it and 11 others with "conspiracy and restraint of trade" in violation of anti-trust laws. Finally on July 9, 1927, the FTC ordered Famous Players-Lasky to end the practice of block booking. But Famous Players-Lasky (as Paramount) delayed and fought back for another 20 years. The end came in 1948 when the U.S. Supreme Court (in United States v. Paramount Pictures Inc.) outlawed block booking and demanded a separation of theater ownership from production and distribution.

Getting back to "O'Malley of the Mounted," it's not the bad-guy-goes-good fare of the typical Hart film. It's a bit more like a John Wayne-Lone Star Western of the 1930s where the protagonist is a good guy who infiltrates a gang by pretending to be a bad guy. The difference is that here, instead of falling for a virtuous girl like Hart or Wayne usually do, Hart falls for the sister of a bad guy. In a twist, Hart ultimately turns in his badge rather than hand over the girl's brother, whose crime Hart (as O'Malley) considers justified.

That's what's behind the tag line on this lobby card: "I'm going to resign from the service — I can't arrest the brother of the woman I love."

In the end, lust conquers all.

About "O'Malley of the Mounted."

From Koszarski (1980:129): Produced by the William S. Hart Company; distributed by Paramount-Artcraft; released February 1921; ©December 20, 1920; six reels (5626 feet).

Directed by Lambert Hillyer; screenplay by Lambert Hillyer from a story by William S. Hart; photographed by Joe August; art director, J.C. Hoffner; art titles by Harry Barndollar.

Cast: William S. Hart (Sergeant O'Malley); Eva Novak (Rose Lanier); Antrim Short (Bud Lanier); Leo Willis (Red Jaeger); Bertholde Sprotte (the Sheriff); Alfred Allen (Big Judson).

Synopsis (from Motion Picture World, February 19, 1921): "O'Malley of the Mounted" is a sergeant who has won his stripes by getting any criminal he is sent out to arrest, this in wild Northwestern territory amid men who dare follow their own impulses rather than obey the law. On account of his reputation, he is sent to bring in the murderer of a saloon-keeper named La Grange. He takes a southern trail, believing that the criminal has escaped over the border. At a rude entertainment known as a "stampede" in Forker City, O'Malley becomes interested in the performance of some riders reputed to belong to a band of outlaws. He follows them to their stronghold in the Baldy Mountains and decides to become one of them by robbing a bank. He holds up the cashier for $5,000 and escapes with the loot. He is chased by a posse to the Baldy Mountains and thus obtains admittance to membership in the gang of outlaws.

O'Malley becomes strongly attracted by Rose Lanier and her brother, Bud, the latter a fugitive from justice. He fights a desperate character known as Red Jaeger in defense of the girl and is badly wounded. Red resolves to betray the entire band and rides to the sheriff's office secretly for that purpose. He there learns that the bank's money has been returned by the supposed robber and obtains written evidence that [O'Malley] is playing the part of a traitor. He produces the evidence when the gang has returned from a disastrous raid.

O'Malley is bound to a tree and placed under guard to be hanged at daybreak. Even Rose Lanier seems to turn against him, but she does so as a ruse while handing him a knife. By Rose and Bud the sergeant is rescued from sure death. While riding with them toward the border he confirms his suspicions that Bud is the murderer he is seeking, but finds that the killing was done to avenge a wronged sister. He leaves the brother and sister to make his report, and finds his act justified by his commanding officer. He returns to his loved one no longer "O'Malley of the Moutned."

Review (from Wid's, February 13, 1921): Bill Hart is like the old family physician — you have great faith in what he prescribes. And you can always depend on him. ... Besides some fine action, a great fist fight and rodeo sequence, there is a genuine sympathetic twist toward the close, when the [Royal Mounted] officer returns to hand in his resignation rather than arrest the brother of the girl he loves.


LW2578: 19200 dpi jpeg from original lobby card purchased 2014 by Leon Worden.
HART CATEGORIES:
• Stage Career
• Hart Films
• Publicity Photos
• Hart as Author
• WWI War Bonds
• Hart Mansion
• Hart in Retirement
• Personal Life
• Hart in Artwork

WILLIAM S. HART FILMS

WATCH FULL MOVIES
Keno Bates, Liar (1915)
Knight of the Trail (1915)
The Ruse (1915)
The Cradle of Courage (1920)
White Oak (1921)
Tumbleweeds (1925/1939)
ALSO:
Fox Newsreel Outtakes (1930)
Farewell to the Screen, from Tumbleweeds Re-release (1939)


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Biography
(Mitchell 1955)

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Narrated Biopic 1960

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Biography (Conlon/ McCallum 1960)

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Biography (Child, NHMLA 1987)

Essay: The Good Bad Man (Griffith & Mayer 1957)


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Film Bio, Russia 1926

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The Disciple 1915/1923

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The Captive God 1916 x2

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The Aryan 1916 x2

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The Primal Lure 1916

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The Apostle of Vengeance (Mult.)

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Return of Draw Egan 1916 x2

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Truthful Tulliver 1917

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The Gun Fighter 1917 (mult.)

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Wolf Lowry 1917

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The Narrow Trail 1917 (mult.)

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Wolves of the Rail 1918

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Riddle Gawne 1918 (mult.)

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"A Bullet for Berlin" 1918 (4th Series)

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The Border Wireless 1918 (Mult.)

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Branding Broadway 1918 x2

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Breed of Men 2-2-1919 Rivoli Premiere

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The Poppy Girl's Husband 3-23-1919 Rivoli Premiere

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The Money Corral 4-20-1919 Rialto Premiere

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Square Deal Sanderson 1919

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Wagon Tracks 1919 x3

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Sand 1920 Lantern Slide Image

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The Toll Gate 1920 (Mult.)

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The Cradle of Courage 1920

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The Testing Block 1920: Slides, Lobby Cards, Photos (Mult.)

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O'Malley/Mounted 1921 (Mult.)

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The Whistle 1921 (Mult.)

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White Oak 1921 (Mult.)

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Travelin' On 1921/22 (Mult.)

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Three Word Brand 1921

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Wild Bill Hickok 1923 x2

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Singer Jim McKee 1924 (Mult.)

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"Tumbleweeds" 1925/1939

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Hart Speaks: Fox Newsreel Outtakes 1930

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