William S. Hart

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  • WILLIM S. HART


    Information From IMDb


    Date of Birth
    6 December 1864,
    Newburgh, New York, USA


    Date of Death
    23 June 1946,
    Newhall, California, USA


    Birth Name
    William Surrey Hart


    Nickname
    Two-Gun Bill


    Height
    6' 2" (1.88 m)


    Spouse
    Winifred Westover (1921 - 1927) (divorced) 1 child


    Trivia
    Donated his estate to the City of Los Angeles, on the condition they install a fountain and use the park for the arts. Today, the internationally renowned Actors Studio has its West Coast branch at the William S. Hart Park, in West Hollywood, in Hart's old estate.


    Inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in 1975.


    Hart High School located in Newhall, California is named after him. The entire school district is also named the William S. Hart school district. [William S.]


    An interesting footnote, the famous prohibition lawman (also once a bodyguard for the President Of The United States) "Two Gun Hart" changed his name to that of this famous actor and in some ways patterned his life after him. The real-life lawman Two Gun Hart seldom revealed his birth name, which was James Vincenzo Capone. He was the older brother of Alphonse "Big Al" Capone. See "Capone: The Man And The Era" by Laurence Bergreen


    In March of 1923, Hart, already being sued for divorce by wife Winifred, was accused by her of fathering a child by another woman. This hurt his already declining career and by 1924 and 1925 he would release only two more films before retiring.


    Was a friend of legendary wild west lawman Wyatt Earp, and along with fellow silent movie cowboy star Tom Mix, was a pall bearer at Earp's funeral in 1929.


    Mini Biography
    A storybook hero, the original screen cowboy, ever forthright and honest, even when (as was often the case) he played a villain. Hart lived for a while in Dakota Territory, then worked as a postal clerk in New York City. In 1888 he began to study acting. In 1899 he created the role of Messala in "Ben-Hur", and he received excellent reviews for his lead part in The Virginian (1907). His first film was a 2-reeler, His Hour of Manhood (1914). In 1915 he signed a contract with Thomas Ince and joined Ince's Triangle Film Company. Two years later he followed Ince to Famous Players-Laskey and received a very lucrative contract from Adolph Zukor. His career began to dwindle in the early twenties due to the publicity surrounding a dismissed paternity suit. He made his last film, Tumbleweeds (1925) for United Artists and retired to a ranch in Newhall, CA. By that time audiences were more interested in the antics of a Tom Mix or Hoot Gibson than the victorian moralizing of W.S. Hart. He is buried in Greenwood cemetery, NY.
    IMDb Mini Biography By: Ed Stephan


    Filmography
    Actor
    1. Tumbleweeds (1925) .... Don Carver
    2. Hello, 'Frisco (1924)
    3. Singer Jim McKee (1924) .... 'Singer' Jim McKee
    4. Wild Bill Hickok (1923) .... Wild Bill Hickok
    5. Travelin' on (1922) .... J.B., The Stranger
    6. White Oak (1921) .... Oak Miller, a gambling man
    7. Three Word Brand (1921) .... Three Word Brand/Gov. Marsden/Ben Trego
    8. The Whistle (1921) .... Robert Evans
    9. O'Malley of the Mounted (1921) .... Sergeant O'Malley
    10. The Testing Block (1920) .... 'Sierra' Bill
    11. The Cradle of Courage (1920) .... 'Square' Kelly
    12. Sand! (1920) .... Dan Kurrie
    13. The Toll Gate (1920) .... Black Deering
    14. John Petticoats (1919) .... 'Hardwood' John Haynes
    15. Wagon Tracks (1919) .... Buckskin Hamilton
    16. Square Deal Sanderson (1919) .... Square Deal Sanderson
    17. The Money Corral (1919) .... Lem Beason
    18. The Poppy Girl's Husband (1919) .... Hairpin Harry Dutton
    ... aka Poppy Girl (UK)
    19. Breed of Men (1919) .... Careless Carmody
    20. Branding Broadway (1918) .... Robert Sands
    21. The Border Wireless (1918) .... Steve Ransom
    22. Riddle Gawne (1918) .... Jefferson 'Riddle' Gawne
    23. Shark Monroe (1918) .... Shark Monroe
    24. Selfish Yates (1918) .... 'Selfish' Yates
    25. The Tiger Man (1918) .... Hawk Parsons
    26. Blue Blazes Rawden (1918) .... Blue Blazes Rawden
    27. The Lion of the Hills (1918)
    28. Staking His Life (1918) .... Bud Randall
    29. Wolves of the Rail (1918) .... 'Buck' Andrade
    30. The Narrow Trail (1917) .... Ice Harding
    31. The Silent Man (1917) .... 'Silent' Budd Marr
    32. The Cold Deck (1917) .... Jefferson 'On-the-Level' Leigh
    33. Wolf Lowry (1917) .... Tom 'Wolf' Lowery
    34. The Square Deal Man (1917) .... Jack O'Diamonds
    35. The Desert Man (1917) .... Jim Alton
    36. The Gun Fighter (1917) .... Cliff Hudspeth
    37. Truthful Tulliver (1917) .... Truthful Tulliver
    38. All-Star Production of Patriotic Episodes for the Second Liberty Loan (1917)
    39. The Devil's Double (1916) .... 'Bowie' Blake
    40. The Return of Draw Egan (1916) .... 'Draw' Egan/William Blake
    41. The Dawn Maker (1916) .... Joe Elk
    42. The Patriot (1916) .... Bob Wiley
    43. The Captive God (1916) .... Chiapa
    44. The Apostle of Vengeance (1916) .... David Hudson
    45. The Primal Lure (1916) .... Angus McConnell
    46. The Aryan (1916) .... Steve Denton
    47. Hell's Hinges (1916) .... Blaze Tracy
    48. Between Men (1915) .... Bob White
    49. The Disciple (1915) .... Jim Houston
    50. Keno Bates, Liar (1915) .... Keno Bates
    ... aka The Last Card
    51. Pinto Ben (1915) .... Boss Rider
    ... aka Horns and Hoofs
    52. Knight of the Trail (1915) .... Jim Treen
    ... aka Prowlers of the Plains
    53. Cash Parrish's Pal (1915) .... Cash Parrish
    ... aka Double Crossed
    54. The Ruse (1915) .... 'Bat' Peters
    ... aka A Square Deal
    ... aka Square Deal Man
    55. Tools of Providence (1915) .... Dakota Dan
    ... aka Dakota Dan
    ... aka Every Inch a Man
    ... aka The Struggle in the Steeple
    56. The Conversion of Frosty Blake (1915) .... Frosty Blake
    ... aka The Convert
    57. The Darkening Trail (1915) .... Yukon Ed
    ... aka The Hell-Hound of Alaska (USA: reissue title)
    58. 'Bad Buck' of Santa Ynez (1915) .... Bad Buck Peters
    ... aka A Desperate Chance
    ... aka Revolver Bill
    ... aka The Bad Man
    59. The Man from Nowhere (1915) .... Buck Varley
    ... aka His Duty
    ... aka The Silent Stranger
    60. The Taking of Luke McVane (1915) .... Luke McVane
    ... aka The Fugitive
    61. On the Night Stage (1915) .... 'Silent' Texas Smith
    ... aka The Bandit and the Preacher (USA: reissue title)
    62. The Roughneck (1915) .... Dave Page
    ... aka The Gentlemen from Blue Gulch
    63. The Sheriff's Streak of Yellow (1915) .... Sheriff Hale
    64. The Grudge (1915) .... Rio Ed
    ... aka The Haters
    65. Mr. 'Silent' Haskins (1915) .... Lon Haskins
    ... aka Dealing for Daisy
    ... aka His Royal Flush
    ... aka Man Against Man
    ... aka The Marked Deck
    66. The Scourge of the Desert (1915) .... Bill Evers
    ... aka Reformed Outlaw
    67. Grit (1915)
    68. In the Sage Brush Country (1914) .... Jim Brandon
    ... aka Mr. Nobody
    69. Two-Gun Hicks (1914) .... Two-Gun Hicks
    ... aka Taming the Four-Flusher
    ... aka The Passing of Two-Gun Hicks (USA: reissue title)
    70. The Bargain (1914) .... Jim Stokes
    ... aka The Two-Gun Man in the Bargain (USA: reissue title)
    71. Jim Cameron's Wife (1914) .... Andy Stiles
    72. His Hour of Manhood (1914) .... Pete Larson
    73. The Gringo (1914)
    74. The Bad Buck of Santa Ynez (1914)
    75. Ben Hur (1907) .... Messala
    76. The Man Killer (????)


    Director
    1. Tumbleweeds (1925) (uncredited)
    2. The Cradle of Courage (1920)
    3. Square Deal Sanderson (1919)
    4. The Money Corral (1919)
    5. The Poppy Girl's Husband (1919)
    ... aka Poppy Girl (UK)
    6. Branding Broadway (1918)
    7. The Border Wireless (1918)
    8. Riddle Gawne (1918)
    9. Shark Monroe (1918)
    10. Selfish Yates (1918)
    11. The Tiger Man (1918)
    12. Blue Blazes Rawden (1918)
    13. A Bullet for Berlin (1918)
    14. Wolves of the Rail (1918)
    15. The Narrow Trail (1917)
    16. The Silent Man (1917)
    17. The Cold Deck (1917)
    18. Wolf Lowry (1917)
    19. The Square Deal Man (1917)
    20. The Desert Man (1917)
    21. The Gun Fighter (1917)
    22. Truthful Tulliver (1917)
    23. The Devil's Double (1916)
    24. The Return of Draw Egan (1916)
    25. The Dawn Maker (1916)
    26. The Patriot (1916)
    27. The Apostle of Vengeance (1916)
    28. The Primal Lure (1916)
    29. The Aryan (1916)
    30. Hell's Hinges (1916) (uncredited)
    31. Between Men (1915)
    32. The Disciple (1915)
    33. Keno Bates, Liar (1915)
    ... aka The Last Card
    34. Pinto Ben (1915)
    ... aka Horns and Hoofs
    35. Knight of the Trail (1915)
    ... aka Prowlers of the Plains
    36. Cash Parrish's Pal (1915)
    ... aka Double Crossed
    37. The Ruse (1915)
    ... aka A Square Deal
    ... aka Square Deal Man
    38. Tools of Providence (1915)
    ... aka Dakota Dan
    ... aka Every Inch a Man
    ... aka The Struggle in the Steeple
    39. The Conversion of Frosty Blake (1915)
    ... aka The Convert
    40. The Darkening Trail (1915)
    ... aka The Hell-Hound of Alaska (USA: reissue title)
    41. 'Bad Buck' of Santa Ynez (1915)
    ... aka A Desperate Chance
    ... aka Revolver Bill
    ... aka The Bad Man
    42. The Man from Nowhere (1915)
    ... aka His Duty
    ... aka The Silent Stranger
    43. The Taking of Luke McVane (1915)
    ... aka The Fugitive
    44. The Roughneck (1915)
    ... aka The Gentlemen from Blue Gulch
    45. The Sheriff's Streak of Yellow (1915)
    46. The Grudge (1915)
    ... aka The Haters
    47. Mr. 'Silent' Haskins (1915)
    ... aka Dealing for Daisy
    ... aka His Royal Flush
    ... aka Man Against Man
    ... aka The Marked Deck
    48. The Scourge of the Desert (1915)
    ... aka Reformed Outlaw
    49. Grit (1915)
    50. In the Sage Brush Country (1914)
    ... aka Mr. Nobody
    51. Two-Gun Hicks (1914)
    ... aka Taming the Four-Flusher
    ... aka The Passing of Two-Gun Hicks (USA: reissue title)
    52. The Gringo (1914) (unconfirmed)
    53. The Bad Buck of Santa Ynez (1914)


    [extendedmedia]

    [/extendedmedia]

    Best Wishes
    Keith
    London- England

    Edited 9 times, last by ethanedwards ().

  • William Surrey Hart was an American silent film actor,
    screenwriter, director and producer.
    He is remembered for having "imbued all of his characters with honor and integrity."


    The original storybook hero, and probably,
    the original Western Screen Legend.
    William S Hart, along with Tom Mix,
    were actual pall bearers at the funeral of Wyatt Earp.



    Like many members, I have never seen any of his movies,
    but owe him an undoubted debt of gratitude,
    for being one of the original pioneers of the western
    movie genre.
    Without stars like William S Hart,
    we may never have seen Duke!

    Best Wishes
    Keith
    London- England

    Edited 5 times, last by ethanedwards ().

  • That photo at the top of this thread is a great photo of him. W.S. Hart is another who I have never had the pleasure of seeing any movies of.

    Es Ist Verboten Mit Gefangenen In Einzelhaft Zu Sprechen..

  • I've seen a few of his movies, and liked what I've seen so much that I rate him as one of the best screen cowboys. I've also read his auto-biography, and even if it's exaggerated and showing him in the best light, it's entertaining reading about a very interesting life.

    I don't believe in surrenders.

  • I've seen a few of his movies, and liked what I've seen so much that I rate him as one of the best screen cowboys. I've also read his auto-biography, and even if it's exaggerated and showing him in the best light, it's entertaining reading about a very interesting life.



    While I have access to the Encore Westerns channel, i'm going to kep eyes peled for any of his movies.

    About 20 years ago, I finally got to see two Hoot Gibson movies and I thought both of them were great. :thumbs_up::thumbs_up: The only movie I had ever seen that had Hoot Gibson in it, was The Horse Soldiers. Also, I never realized that that grizzeled old Union Cavalry Sergeant (the one with the white hair) was Hoot Gibson until it was pointed out by Robert Osbourne after they had played it on TCM about a year or so ago.

    Es Ist Verboten Mit Gefangenen In Einzelhaft Zu Sprechen..

  • I find we have trouble finding the time to watch all the movies we want to from the forties and newer, unless of course, you-know-who is in it. :wink_smile:
    When I do watch a silent movie or one of the first "talkies", it's more from the historical perspective than for enjoyment, as the technical abilities back then were rather limited. Unless its The Little Rascals . :teeth_smile:


    Chester :newyear:

  • When I do watch a silent movie or one of the first "talkies", it's more from the historical perspective than for enjoyment, as the technical abilities back then were rather limited.



    Some Buster Keaton's films are (also) technically amazing, especially Playhouse and Sherlock Jr. But of course, he was far the best of the silent movie makers. His films are also more exciting, because the stunts are real, and we see the long shot action, not the actors' faces acting excitement. Bill Hart did a lot of his own stunts too, and he had a wonderful companion in many of them, his small pinto Fritz. Yes, the stories are simple, the acting often melodramatic and the defects of movie making patched with overlong intertitles, but what they may lack technically, they compensate with authentic atmoshere that I don't think has quite been reached since.

    I don't believe in surrenders.

  • Odd that he did the piece from his ranch in 1939 and yet with his fine voice could not get parts. By 1939 many less then perfect stars performed in Hollywood, a distant memory was his 1927 divorce surely forgotten by most. Maybe his health was too bad to allow him to act.
    Seems his voice more fit for theater and plays is maybe what limited him.