“An Eastern Westerner” (1920) starring Harold Lloyd / Z-View

An Eastern Westerner (1920)

Director:  Hal Roach

Screenplay: Frank Terry, H.M. Walker

Stars:  Harold Lloyd, Mildred Davis, Noah Young. 

Tagline: A Riot of Rollicking Fun!

The Plot…

Harold is the son of wealthy parents.  Harold parties all night and sleeps during the day.  In an effort to toughen up his son, Harold is sent to his Uncle’s ranch out west.  Harold arrives in the frontier town of Piute Pass.

Almost immediately Harold becomes smitten with a beautiful woman.  The girl, along with her father are seeking work from Tiger Lip Tompkins.  He’s the hardcase that runs the town.  When the girl refuses Tiger Lip’s advances, he kidnaps her father.

Meanwhile Harold is literally dealing with cardsharps, roughnecks and gunslingers.  When Harold learns of the girl’s problem, he decides to win her over, by saving her dad.

Mount up!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Harold Lloyd made this film after an accident that cost him his right thumb and index finger.  For the rest of his career Lloyd wore a flesh-colored prosthetic glove.  Despite the loss of fingers, Lloyd was able to continue his acrobatic stunts.

This film is made in 1920, but it’s obvious that Cowboy movies had already established many of the troupes we expect to see: evil gunslinger who runs the town, damsel in distress, saloon card games and card sharks, barroom brawls, etc.

One of the John Wick 2 posters pays homage to the poster for An Eastern Westerner.

An Eastern Westerner (1920) rates 5 of 5 stars.