When Reverend Robert Henley and his sister Faith arrive in the town of Hell’s Hinges, saloon owner Silk Miller and his cohorts sense danger to their evil ways. They hire gunman Blaze Tracy to run the minister out of town. But Blaze finds something in Faith Henley that turns him around, and soon Silk Miller and his compadres have Blaze to deal with.
Directors: Charles Swickard, William S. Hart (uncredited) & Clifford Smith (uncredited).
Stars: William S. Hart, Clara Williams, Jack Standing, Alfred Hollingsworth, Robert McKim, J. Frank Burke, Louise Glaum.
An early western with Hart at the top of his form. It is more a morality tale than a traditional western . It uses the west as a backdrop for the confrontation between good and evil. Hart though redeemed by his love for a pious girl is unrelenting in his revenge on a lawless town that becomes Sodom in flames at the fiery conclusion of the film. Well worth watching (Jean Hersholt and John Gilbert were extras in the film. I couldn’t spot either of them.)
many thanks for this film .Jon
HELL’S HINGES is probably the first great American western & heralds in the traditional anti-hero redeemed by piety, faith, kindness & a beautiful innocent young woman. Some of it still plays so well & the ending confrontation and climatic visions of a burning hell on the plans are remarkable by any standard. The acting style is, of course, dated & stilted & outdated even in its own time since most of these performers came from the stage but the image of Bill Hart with is two guns standaing in the flames is truly icon. Thanks for offering this Jon.