The Desert Man
Synopsis
William S. Hart directs and stars in a film that is a typical Western of the era. He plays Jim, a prospector who lands in the town of Broken Hope, and the name pretty much describes its inhabitants. Jim meets and falls in love with Jennie (Margery Wilson), whose father (Walt Whitman) is gravely ill. Jim rounds up a reluctant doctor from another town to tend to the old man, but he dies anyway. The doctor, however, gains Jennie's trust and she runs off with him. Only then does he tell her he's already married. She leaves immediately, but is too proud to go home so she finds work as a dance hall girl at Tacoma Jake's saloon. Jim, meanwhile, finds gold near Broken Hope, which raises its inhabitants' attitudes considerably. But the bad element is still there, and Jim is chasing after a group of kidnappers when he enters Tacoma Jake's saloon and sees Jennie. Jim not only overcomes the bad guys, he gets the girl, too.
Top Cast
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Release History & Theatrical Window
April 22, 1917
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- William S. Hart
- Screenplay & Story
- Lambert Hillyer, Martin Brown
- Original Title
- The Desert Man
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 50m
- Production Studios
- New York Motion Picture, Kay-Bee Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
William S. Hart
Lambert Hillyer, Martin Brown
Joseph H. August
Thomas H. Ince
Department Leadership Roster
Lambert Hillyer
Writer
Thomas H. Ince
Producer
William S. Hart
Director
Joseph H. August
Director of Photography
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Desert Man.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Desert Man
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Desert Man about?
William S. Hart directs and stars in a film that is a typical Western of the era. He plays Jim, a prospector who lands in the town of Broken Hope, and the name pretty much describes its inhabitants. Jim meets and falls in love with Jennie (Margery Wilson), whose father (Walt Whitman) is gravely ill. Jim rounds up a reluctant doctor from another town to tend to the old man, but he dies anyway. The doctor, however, gains Jennie's trust and she runs off with him. Only then does he tell her he's already married. She leaves immediately, but is too proud to go home so she finds work as a dance hall girl at Tacoma Jake's saloon. Jim, meanwhile, finds gold near Broken Hope, which raises its inhabitants' attitudes considerably. But the bad element is still there, and Jim is chasing after a group of kidnappers when he enters Tacoma Jake's saloon and sees Jennie. Jim not only overcomes the bad guys, he gets the girl, too.
Who directed The Desert Man?
The Desert Man was directed by William S. Hart.
Who stars in The Desert Man?
The principal cast of The Desert Man includes William S. Hart, Margery Wilson, Buster Irving, Henry Belmar, Milton Ross.
When was The Desert Man released and how long is it?
The Desert Man was released in 1917 with a total runtime of 50m.