The Good Bad Man (1916)

Disturbed by the fact that he grew up without a father, a Robin Hood like bandit (Douglas Fairbanks) gives the proceeds from his robberies to fatherless children. But it won't be long before he discovers the secret behind the circumstances of his birth. Directed by Allan Dwan (SLIGHTLY SCARLET), this is an early example of the revenge western. The film's hero is conflicted by being the illegitimate child of an unwed mother and this leads to his life of crime. As a western, the film may be short on action but makes up for it with the psychological aspects of the story. The film looks authentic with the dusty and stark Mojave desert locations nicely utilized by Victor Fleming's (yes, the director of GONE WITH THE WIND) cinematography. The restored transfer I saw had a suitable score by Donald Sosin. With the appealing Bessie Love as the romantic interest, Sam De Grasse and Pomeroy Cannon.