The Pony Express *** (1925, Betty Compson, Ricardo Cortez, Ernest Torrence, Al Hart, Wallace Beery, George Bancroft) – Classic Movie Review 10,153

Producer-director James Cruze’s famous 1925 silent Western film The Pony Express was intended as a follow-up to his 1923 big hit, The Covered Wagon, but didn’t quite hit the target, either artistically or at the box office.

Ricardo Cortez stars as Pony Express rider Jack Weston who tries to put a spoke in the wheel when traitorous California Senator Glen (Al Hart) plots to take over parts of California and Mexico.

it also stars Cruze’s wife Betty Compson as Molly Jones, along with Ernest Torrence from The Covered Wagon as ‘Ascension’ Jones, Wallace Beery as Rhode Island Red and George Bancroft as Jack Slade.

The Pony Express is produced by Famous Players-Lasky and distributed by Paramount Pictures.

There are 10 reels with a running time of 110 minutes. Prints still survive, and it has been shown on TV and released on DVD.

It is remade as Pony Express (1953).

It also features Frank Lackteen, Johnny Fox [John Fox Jr], William H Turner, Al Hart, Charles Gerson, Rose Tapley, Vondell Darr, Hank Bell, Ernie Adams, Duke Kahanamoku and Toby Wing.

The Pony Express is directed by James Cruze, runs 110 minutes, is made by Famous Players-Lasky, is released by Paramount Pictures, is written by Walter Woods (scenario), based on the story by Walter Woods and Henry James Forman, is shot in black and white by Karl Brown, is produced by Jesse L Lasky (presenter), Adolph Zukor (presenter) and James Cruze, and is scored by Hugo Riesenfeld.

It was released on September 20, 1925.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,153

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