Western Blood

Although Tom Mix was a very popular cowboy star by 1918, when he made this film his fame was still a few years away from reaching its peak. Mix blends humor and melodrama here — a formula that would hold him in good stead for most of his career. Ranch owner Tex Wilson (Mix) supplies horses to the government. While on his way to Los Angeles to take care of business, Tex sees a girl, Roberta Stephens (Victoria Forde), on a runaway horse. He rescues her and they strike up an acquaintanceship. She invites him to a party where he’s embarrassed to discover he’s the only man without a dress suit. After rectifying this situation by forcing the man who laughed at him the hardest to volunteer his own outfit, Tex decides to throw a party of his own. His men, however, are not happy about having to wear the cheap suits he gives them. In the midst of this silliness, Tex’s rival — both in love and for the government contract — makes his move. He has a group of Mexican bandits kidnap Roberta. Tex makes a heroic rescue and vanquishes his foes.