| ~The Disciple~ 1915 |
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| ~SilentHollywood.com~ |
| ~Plot Synopsis~ |
A typically moralistic William S. Hart western, The Disciple tells the story of frontier preacher Jim
Houston (William S. Hart) arrives in Barren Gulch with his wife Mary (Dorothy Dalton) and daughter Alice
(Thelma Salter) to administer to the spiritual needs of the lawless mining community. Aided by the sheriff,
"Birdshot" Bivens (Charles K. French), Houston infiltrates the town with his gospel teachings, creating
many enemies along the way, including "Doc" Hardy (Robert McKim), the current proprietor of the rowdy
local saloon. While Houston builds a new church, Hardy seduces Mary and convinces her to desert her
family and leave town with him. Upon learning of Mary's defection, Houston bitterly denounces his
religion and flees to the wilderness with Alice. Months later Mary hears that Houston has died, and she
and Hardy return to Barren Gulch to investigate. Left alone in a cabin outside of town, Mary ventures into
a terrible storm and ends up at Houston's hideaway where Alice lies gravely ill. Houston brings Hardy
back from town at gun point, insisting that the physician tend to Alice. For saving his daughter's life,
Houston spares Hardy, who then forces Mary to choose her mate. Pointing to Alice in Houston's bed, Mary
returns to her husband's side. One of the many vamps of the early silent era, brunette Dorothy Dalton's
best-known roles were Queen Anne in The Three Musketeers (1916) and Letty in Moran of the Lady Letty
(1929). She retired after doing a version of the old melodrama Leah Kleschna, re-titled The Moral Sinner.
Plot Synopsis is a combination of plot synopses from allmovie.com and afi.com
Houston (William S. Hart) arrives in Barren Gulch with his wife Mary (Dorothy Dalton) and daughter Alice
(Thelma Salter) to administer to the spiritual needs of the lawless mining community. Aided by the sheriff,
"Birdshot" Bivens (Charles K. French), Houston infiltrates the town with his gospel teachings, creating
many enemies along the way, including "Doc" Hardy (Robert McKim), the current proprietor of the rowdy
local saloon. While Houston builds a new church, Hardy seduces Mary and convinces her to desert her
family and leave town with him. Upon learning of Mary's defection, Houston bitterly denounces his
religion and flees to the wilderness with Alice. Months later Mary hears that Houston has died, and she
and Hardy return to Barren Gulch to investigate. Left alone in a cabin outside of town, Mary ventures into
a terrible storm and ends up at Houston's hideaway where Alice lies gravely ill. Houston brings Hardy
back from town at gun point, insisting that the physician tend to Alice. For saving his daughter's life,
Houston spares Hardy, who then forces Mary to choose her mate. Pointing to Alice in Houston's bed, Mary
returns to her husband's side. One of the many vamps of the early silent era, brunette Dorothy Dalton's
best-known roles were Queen Anne in The Three Musketeers (1916) and Letty in Moran of the Lady Letty
(1929). She retired after doing a version of the old melodrama Leah Kleschna, re-titled The Moral Sinner.
Plot Synopsis is a combination of plot synopses from allmovie.com and afi.com
| Directed by: William S. Hart Clifford Smith - uncredited Written by: Thomas H. Ince - screenplay & story S. Barret McCormick - screenplay & story |
| ~Cast~ William S. Hart ... Jim Houston Dorothy Dalton ... Mary Houston Thelma Salter ... Alice Houston Robert McKim ... Doc Hardy Charles K. French ... Sheriff 'Birdshot' Bivens Jean Hersholt ... Mob Member (uncredited) Bob Kortman ... Mob Leader (uncredited) Wedgwood Nowell ... (uncredited) |
| ~Remaining Credits~ Production Companies: Kay-Bee Pictures New York Motion Picture Distribution Company: Triangle Distributing Produced by: Thomas H. Ince Original Music by: Wedgwood Nowell Cinematography by: Joseph H. August Assistant Director: Clifford Smith Length: 5 Reels Runtime: 50 Minutes Released: October 17, 1915 |
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