Silent Western Double Feature: Call of the Desert (1930) / The Fighting Stallion (1927) (DVD)

CALL OF THE DESERT (1930): Rex Carson claims the gold mine left to him by his father. He is attacked by crooked Todd Walker, who makes off with the deed to the mine. Rex is discovered by pretty cowgirl Jean, who nurses him back to health. The new lovebirds are interrupted by the return of Jean's uncle -- none other than Walker himself, who isn't happy to find the man he left for dead in his home. Now ownership of the Carson gold mine must be decided in a final showdown.

After driving a chariot in the silent version of Ben-Hur (1925), Tom Tyler began appearing in Western features and serials. The former weightlifting champion possessed a natural athletic strength and grace that made him a fan favorite. Call of the Desert was one of 8 Westerns Tyler made for Syndicate Pictures, his last during the silent era. In 1940, he terrified audiences as the monster Kharis in The Mummy's Hand. A year later he reached the zenith of his popularity as the titular superhero in The Adventures of Captain Marvel. In addition to his starring roles in "B" movies, he appeared in major studio film productions including Stagecoach (1939), Drums Along The Mohawk (1939), The Westerner (1940), Red River (1948) and She Wore A Yellow Ribbon (1949).

THE FIGHTING STALLION (1927): At the Bar-L ranch, repeated cattle raids have confounded the owner, Frank Gilmore. He blames a mysterious black stallion spotted on the grounds. A suntanned stranger called "Yak" signs on as ranch hand and quickly catches and tames the wild horse. The real rustler is the ranch foreman, Steve Mays. To avert suspicion, he kills Frank and frames Yak for the murder. Yak and his new Wonder-Horse, Boy, must now bring Mays to justice.

Hollywood legend Yakima Canutt started out at age 17 as a trick rider in a Wild West show and went on to become a rodeo champion. First hired by Tom Mix, he emerged as the leading stuntman in Hollywood, creating most of the tricks that became film staples, while setting new industry standards for safety. He became a popular leading man in the silent era in productions such as Wild Horse Canyon (1925), but an illness damaged his vocal chords as the sound era dawned, relegating him to action work. In the amazing career that followed he worked closely with John Wayne, Roy Rogers and Gene Autry, and contributed to many classic films including Stagecoach (1939), Gone With The Wind (1939) and culminating with his work on the chariot race in Ben-Hur (1959). He was awarded a special Academy Award in 1966.

• silent