The Lash (1930 film)

The Lash is a 1930 American pre-Code Western film produced and distributed by First National Pictures, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. It had an alternate title of Adios.[2] The film was directed by Frank Lloyd and stars Richard Barthelmess, Mary Astor, James Rennie and Marian Nixon. The film was issued in two formats: Warner Bros. 65mm Vitascope wide screen and regular 35mm. The Vitaphone sound system was used for recording. Exteriors were filmed at the current Westlake Village, California and Russell Ranch of Thousand Oaks, California areas near Los Angeles. It was adapted for the screen by Bradley King from a story Adios by Fred Bartlett and Virginia Stivers Bartlett.[3][4]

The Lash
Directed byFrank Lloyd
Written byBradley King, Lanier Bartlett, Virginia Stivers Bartlett
Produced byFrank Lloyd
StarringRichard Barthelmess, Mary Astor, James Rennie, Marian Nixon
CinematographyErnest Haller
Edited byHarold Young
Music byXavier Cugat, David Mendoza, Leon Rosebrook
Production
company
Distributed byWarner Bros. Pictures
Release date
  • December 14, 1930 (1930-12-14)
Running time
77 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$647,000[1]
Box office$716,000[1]
Marian Nixon, Robert Edeson, and Richard Barthelmess in The Lash.
Marian Nixon and Richard Barthelmess in The Lash.

Plot

When Francisco Delfino (Richard Barthelmess) goes off to study for four years at a university in Mexico, his home in California is a part of Mexico. By the time he returns (around 1850), however, California in the hands of the United States. He finds his family living in fear and the family estate is in shambles. Although the land deeds granted by the Spanish throne are supposed to be recognized by the U.S. government as proof of ownership, some unscrupulous California land commissioners are attempting to cheat the landowners.

Delfino becomes embroiled in an argument with a Federal official, Peter Harkness (Fred Kohler). When Delfino shows an interest in Rosita (Mary Astor), a girl that Harkness regards as his girlfriend, Delfino is tied up and lashed across the face. He is only saved from further assault by the sheriff, David Howard (James Rennie).

Delfino embarks on a career of Robin Hood-style banditry to avenge the brutal treatment of the Spanish and Mexican settlers, and there is soon a price on his head. Now close friends with Delfino, Howard has fallen in love with his sister, Dolores (Marian Nixon). When their father is shot, Delfino avenges his murder. He delivers the deed to his family's property to Howard, who allows him time to escape to Mexico — where Rosita promises to meet him.

Cast

Box Office

According to Warner Bros records the film earned $565,000 domestically and $151,000 foreign.[1]

References
  1. Warner Bros financial information in The William Shaefer Ledger. See Appendix 1, Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, (1995) 15:sup1, 1-31 p 11 DOI: 10.1080/01439689508604551
  2. Pictorial History of Talkies Blum, Daniel c.1958
  3. The AFI Catalog of Feature Films 1893-1993: The Lash
  4. Catalog of Holdings The American Film Institute Collection and The United Artists Collection at The Library of Congress p.100 c.1978 published by The American Film Institute
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