| Hell Bent | |
|---|---|
 Scene from the film | |
| Directed by | John Ford |
| Written by | John Ford Harry Carey Eugene B. Lewis |
| Starring | Harry Carey |
| Cinematography | Ben F. Reynolds |
| Distributed by | Universal Film Manufacturing Company |
Release date |
|
Running time | 50 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Languages | Silent English intertitles |
Hell Bent is a 1918 American Western film directed by John Ford and featuring Harry Carey. A print of the film exists in the Czechoslovak Film Archive. [1]
As described in a film magazine, [2] Bess Thurston (Gerber), whose no-account brother Jack (Pegg) is unable to support her, obtains employment in a dance hall. This shatters the illusions of Cheyenne Harry (Carey), who has fallen in love with her. When he rescues her from the advances of Beau Ross (Harris), Cheyenne's confidence in her is restored. Her brother then aids Beau in an attempted robbery and Harry allows them to escape. Beau takes Bess with him into the desert. Harry follows and a duel ensues in which they are both wounded. Bess rides the only horse left out of the desert, while Beau and Harry struggle along on foot. A sandstorm results in the death of Beau, but Harry lives to find happiness with Bess.
Like many American films of the time, Hell Bent was subject to restrictions and cuts by city and state film censorship boards. For example, the Chicago Board of Censors cut, in Reel 1, all scenes of the stage holdup, Reel 4, two scenes of men working at safe, all scenes of holdup on coach, Reel 5, binding man to horse, and three scenes of bandits in cabin shooting. [3]
In 2019, the film was digitally restored by Universal Pictures [4] and released the following year on Blu-ray and DVD by Kino Lorber. [5]
Bucking Broadway is a 1917 American silent Western film directed by John Ford, probably his sixth feature film. Long thought to be lost, along with about 60 of Ford's 70 silent films, it was found in 2002 in the archives of the CNC. It was subsequently restored and digitized and is available on the Criterion Blu-Ray of John Ford's Stagecoach.
The Wrong Man is a 1917 American silent Western film, featuring Harry Carey. Like many American films of the time, The Wrong Man was subject to cuts by city and state film censorship boards. The Chicago Board of Censors cut six holdup scenes from the film.
Cheyenne's Pal is a 1917 American silent Western film directed by John Ford and featuring Harry Carey. The film is considered to be lost.
Straight Shooting is a 1917 American silent Western film directed by John Ford and featuring Harry Carey. Prints of this film survive in the International Museum of Photography and Film at George Eastman House. Like many American films of the time, Straight Shooting was subject to cuts by city and state film censorship boards. The Chicago Board of Censors refused to issue a permit for this film as submitted as it consists of detailed portrayal of murder and outlawry.
The Secret Man is a 1917 American silent Western film, directed by John Ford and featuring Harry Carey. Two of the five reels of the film survive at the Library of Congress film archive.
A Marked Man is a 1917 American silent Western film directed by John Ford and featuring Harry Carey. It is considered to be a lost film.
The Phantom Riders is a 1918 silent American Western film directed by John Ford and featuring Harry Carey. The film is considered to be lost.
Wild Women is a 1918 American silent Western comedy film directed by John Ford and featuring Harry Carey. The film is considered to be lost.
Thieves' Gold is a 1918 American Western film directed by John Ford and featuring Harry Carey. It is considered to be a lost film.
The Scarlet Drop is a 1918 American silent Western film directed by John Ford and featuring Harry Carey. Just over 30 minutes of footage of the film now survives in the Getty Images Archive.
A Woman's Fool is a 1918 American silent Western film directed by John Ford featuring Harry Carey. The film is considered to be lost.
Three Mounted Men is a 1918 American silent Western film directed by John Ford and featuring Harry Carey. The film is considered to be lost.
The Mystery Ship is a 1917 American adventure film serial directed by Harry Harvey and Henry MacRae. The film is considered to be lost.
The Bull's Eye is a 1917 American film serial directed by James W. Horne. It is now considered to be a lost film.
The Lion's Claws is a 1918 American adventure film serial directed by Harry Harvey and Jacques Jaccard and starring Marie Walcamp and Ray Hanford. The serial, which had 18 chapters, is considered to be a lost film.
The Fatal Ring is a 1917 American action film serial directed by George B. Seitz. Silentera.com reports that the UCLA Film and Television Archive may have a complete print. A deteriorating fragment roll containing a scene is discovered in France by Australian filmmaker Robert Hoskins in 2021 who then scanned it and uploaded it to his YouTube channel.
The Hidden Hand is a 1917 American film serial directed by James Vincent. This is a lost serial.
The Seven Pearls is a 1917 American silent action film serial directed by Louis J. Gasnier and Donald MacKenzie. Fragments are held by the Library of Congress.
The House of Hate is a 1918 American film serial directed by George B. Seitz, produced when many early film studios in America's first motion picture industry were based in Fort Lee, New Jersey.
The Brazen Beauty is a 1918 American silent comedy film directed by Tod Browning. It is not known whether the film currently survives, which suggests that it may be a lost film.
