The Fighting Trail

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The Fighting Trail
The fighting Trail poster.jpg
Film poster
Directed by William Duncan
Written byEdward J. Montagne
Garfield Thompson
Based onscreen story by Cyrus Townsend Brady and J. Stuart Blackton
Produced by Vitagraph Company of America
StarringWilliam Duncan
Distributed byVitagraph Company of America
Release date
September 10, 1917
Running time
15 chapters (31 reels)
CountryUnited States
Languages Silent
English intertitles

The Fighting Trail is a lost [1] 1917 American silent Western serial film directed by and starring William Duncan. It was produced and distributed by the Vitagraph Company of America. It was released in 15 chapters. [2]

Contents

Plot

As described in a film magazine, [3] a valuable mineral, found in only one California mine, is necessary in the manufacture of a new explosive and is desired by the Central Powers. The secret is described in papers held by Nan (Holloway) who is repeatedly captured by the henchmen of German spy Von Bleck (Rogers) and rescued by mining engineer John Gwynn (Duncan).

Cast

uncredited

Chapter titles

  1. The Priceless Ingredient
  2. The Story of Ybarra
  3. Will Yaqui Joe Tell?
  4. The Other Half
  5. Torrent Rush
  6. The Ledge of Despair
  7. The Lion's Prey
  8. The Strands of Doom
  9. The Bridge of Death
  10. The Sheriff
  11. Parched Trails
  12. The Desert of Torture
  13. The Water Trap
  14. The Trestle of Horrors
  15. Out of the Flame

Reception

Like many American films of the time, The Fighting Trail was subject to cuts by city and state film censorship boards. The Chicago Board of Censors required these cuts in the following serial chapters:

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References

  1. Progressive Silent Film List: The Fighting Trail at silentera.com
  2. Synopsis at AllMovie
  3. "Reviews: The Fighting Trail". Exhibitors Herald. New York: Exhibitors Herald Company. 5 (12): 24. September 15, 1917.
  4. "Official Cut-Outs by the Chicago Board of Censors". Exhibitors Herald. 5 (14): 33. September 29, 1917. (cuts in Chapters 1 through 9)
  5. "Official Cut-Outs by the Chicago Board of Censors". Exhibitors Herald. 5 (22): 33. November 24, 1917. (cuts in Chapter 10)
  6. 1 2 "Official Cut-Outs by the Chicago Board of Censors". Exhibitors Herald. 5 (26): 40. December 22, 1917. (cuts in Chapters 11 and 14)
  7. 1 2 "Official Cut-Outs by the Chicago Board of Censors". Exhibitors Herald. 6 (1): 31. December 29, 1917. (cuts in Chapters 12 and 15)
  8. "Official Cut-Outs by the Chicago Board of Censors". Exhibitors Herald. 5 (25): 31. December 15, 1917. (cuts in Chapter 13)