Dynamite Smith

Dynamite Smith is a 1924 American silent drama film directed by Ralph Ince and written by C. Gardner Sullivan. The film stars Charles Ray, Bessie Love, and Wallace Beery, and was distributed through Pathé Exchange.

Dynamite Smith
Bessie Love and Wallace Beery
Directed byRalph Ince
Screenplay byC. Gardner Sullivan
Story byC. Gardner Sullivan
StarringCharles Ray
Jacqueline Logan
Bessie Love
Wallace Beery
CinematographyHenry Sharp[1]
Distributed byPathé Exchange
Release date
  • October 12, 1924 (1924-10-12) (U.S.)
Running time
6,400 feet;[2] approx. 70 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageSilent (English intertitles)

The film was presumed lost until 2023, with the discovery of an 8mm print with Dutch titles.[3][4]

Plot

Gladstone Smith (Ray) is a young San Francisco literary editor, who, in his first assignment as a reporter, upsets murderer "Slugger" Rourke (Beery) so much that he must flee to Alaska with his sweetheart Kitty Gray (Logan). Gladstone brings the killer's pregnant wife Violet (Love) with him, so that her child can be born away from the saloons and bars of San Francisco. Slugger pursues them in Alaska, where the baby is born, and Violet dies shortly thereafter. Gladstone is able to trap Slugger in a bear trap. Gladstone lights a dynamite fuse, and changes his mind about using it at the last minute, but it explodes, killing Slugger. Gladstone, Kitty, and the baby are safe.[2][5][6][7]

Cast

Reception

The film received positive reviews,[8][9] and was commercially successful.[8]

Grace Kingsley of the Los Angeles Times, Florence Lawrence of the Los Angeles Examiner, and Guy Price of the Los Angeles Herald all gave high praise to Charles Ray for his performance[10] – which universally received rave reviews[2][6] – and the film served as a comeback vehicle for him.[9] The performances of Beery, Logan, and Love all received positive reviews as well.[2]

References
  1. Love, Bessie (1977). From Hollywood with Love: An Autobiography of Bessie Love. London: Elm Tree Books. p. 152. OCLC 734075937.
  2. "Charles Ray in 'Dynamite Smith'". The Film Daily. September 7, 1924. p. 8.
  3. "Dynamite Smith / Ralph Ince [motion picture]". Library of Congress. 1924.
  4. https://moviessilently.com/2023/03/26/dynamite-smith-1924-a-silent-film-review/
  5. Munden, Kenneth W., ed. (1971). The American Film Institute Catalog of Motion Pictures Produced in the United States: Feature Films 1921–1930. New York: R.R. Bowker Company. p. 208. ISBN 9780520215214. OCLC 664500075.
  6. Sewell, C.S. (September 13, 1924). "Dynamite Smith". The Moving Picture World. p. 159.
  7. Pardy, George T. (September 20, 1924). "Box Office Reviews". Exhibitors Trade Review. p. 41.
  8. Powell, A. Van Buren, ed. (November 15, 1924). "Straight from the Shoulder Reports". Moving Picture World. p. 241.
  9. "'Dynamite Smith' Classed as One of Best October Films". Moving Picture World. November 29, 1924. p. 427.
  10. "'Dynamite Smith' Wins Praise of Los Angeles Reviewers". Moving Picture World. November 29, 1924. p. 557.
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