Lost Treasures of the West: The Lone Rider (1931) / The Battle (1911) (Silent) / The Battle at Elderbush Gulch (1913) (Silent) (DVD)

The Lone Rider (1931, B&W): The Gray family's gold strike is under seige by thug Gore and his hired gunmen. The bandits will stop at nothing to seize control of the mine for themselves. Just when it appears that the Grays will have to abandon their claim, hard-knocks cowpoke Jeff rides in to interfere with their plans.

Real-life cowboy Wally Wales aka Hal Taliaferro broke into movies just before America's entry into World War I, initially playing small bits in Tom Mix Westerns and later starring in low-budget quickies as Walt Williams and Wally Wales. The Lone Rider is the last of six 1934 short subjects in which he starred for writer/director Robert Tansey.

Stars Wally Wales, Franklyn Farnum, Jim Sheridan, Merla Bratton; Direction and screenplay by Robert Emmet (Robert Emmett Tansey).

The Battle (1911, B&W, Silent): Starring Blanche Sweet; Directed by D.W. Griffith.

Battle at Elderbush Gulch (1913, B&W, Silent): Starring Mae Marsh, Lillian Gish, Henry B. Walthall; Directed by D.W. Griffith.

• western