Jack Hoxie Movies
Square-jawed and with piercing eyes, American silent screen star Jack Hoxie was the most successful of the independent cowboy stars of the early '20s. Part Nez Perce Indian and a champion rodeo rider, Hoxie was limited as an actor, but was one of Hollywood's finest horsemen. He first gained notice supporting the Kalem company's action heroines, most notably Marin Sais, whom he married in 1920. Through the influence of Sais, Hoxie signed with independent producer Benjamin F. Wilson and starred in a series of fast-paced and popular low-budget Westerns. Moving on along Gower Gulch, Hoxie left Wilson in favor of Greek-born Poverty Row entrepreneur Anthony J. Xydias, whose Sunset Productions featured him in another eight Westerns, all geared to the States Rights market. Increasingly popular, Hoxie was signed by major studio Universal in 1923 and quickly placed himself squarely in the runner-up position to the company's reigning Western star, Hoot Gibson, despite a certain grind-house look to most of his vehicles. He portrayed Buffalo Bill in The Last Frontier and considered it to be his best role, but the fans disagreed, and the arrival of sound finished his career. While not unintelligent or illiterate as some have suggested, Hoxie had little formal education and was not good at memorizing lines. He did return for a low-budget Western series in 1932, but it was poorly received and he turned his back on Hollywood for good. After running an unsuccessful cattle ranch in Arizona, Hoxie spent the remainder of his life touring various wild west shows and making personal appearances, keeping up a hectic schedule until illness forced his retirement in 1959. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide- 1933
A cowboy (Jack Hoxie) and his partners are known as "trouble busters," men who look for adventure and help out people in need. They discover that a ranch owned by a crotchety old man and his daughter has large oil deposits. They also discover that a local gang has found out about it and plans to take the land from the pair. ~ Brian Gusse, All Movie Guide
- 1933
In his penultimate Western, former silent screen cowboy Jack Hoxie plays The Sonora Kid, an outlaw who, to spare an old blind woman's feelings, pretends to be her long-lost son. The nasty Nevada Smith (J. Frank Glendon), a cattle rustler, confuses things considerably by pretending to be The Sonora Kid himself, with the real kid unable to defend himself because of his own deception. Nevada is killed in the ensuing fight and buried as The Kid. The U.S. marshal (Bob Burns) realizes the truth but leaves well enough alone. A free man at last, the former Sonora Kid can settle down with the old woman's pretty niece (Betty Boyd). Playing the blind victim of Hoxie's deception, white-haired Mary Carr was Hollywood's most motherly mother. Years younger than she appeared, Carr became a major star playing the prototype of suffering motherhood in the classic tearjerker, Over the Hill to the Poorhouse (1920). But as one noted film historian put it, "Mrs. Carr could arouse sympathy from an audience without evidencing that she could really act." ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- 1933
Former silent screen cowboy star Jack Hoxie played a Pony Express rider in this, the fourth of six low-budget oaters produced by Majestic. Delivering a valuable deed to El Rio Rancho, Buck Carson (Hoxie) is ambushed by Clem Porter (Matthew Betz) and his gang, who steal the deed. Meanwhile, at El Rio Rancho, Betty Castlear (Marceline Day) releases her horse, Dynamite, into the desert. The animal has been conscripted to the cavalry by Lt. Bob Gray (Lane Chandler), Betty's fiancée. Bringing the wayward horse back to the ranch, Carson stumbles over Porter, who forces him to go to the gang's hangout at the Bar X Ranch. With the aid of sidekick Pancho Gonzales (Julian Rivero), Carson manages to recover the deed, after which he sets the ranch on fire. In retribution, Porter holds Betty and her friend June (Doris Hill) hostage at El Rio Rancho, but they are eventually saved by Carson, Lt. Gray, and the cavalry. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lane Chandler, Marceline Day, (more)
- 1932
Silent screen cowboy Jack Hoxie returned to the celluloid range after a five year absence with this low-budget Western, the first of six produced by poverty row company Majestic Pictures Corp.. Hoxie, who actually handled dialogue with less difficulty than legend has it, played Panamint Jack, an outlaw suspected of killing Sheriff Rankin (Walter Shumway. Jack saves a ranch belonging to June Taggert (Dorothy Gulliver) from gang leader Faro Black (Jack Trent), earning Faro's enmity. A Mexican outlaw (Chris-Pin Martin) reveals that Sheriff Rankin isn't dead after all but held hostage at the gang's hideout. Jack rescues Rankin, captures the gang, and is revealed to be none other than the brother of Sheriff Rankin and is only pretending to be an outlaw. Hoxie and leading lady Dorothy Gulliver) had appeared together in the silent era, in The Rambling Ranger (1927). ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jack Hoxie, Dorothy Gulliver, (more)
- 1932
The third in a series of six Jack Hoxie Westerns produced by poverty row company Majestic, this film featured the former silent screen cowboy doing what he did best: ridin' and shootin'. Hoxie plays a gun fighter, Montana, hired by a Spanish landowner, Lopez (Bob Burns), to investigate a series of cattle rustlings. The trail leads Montana and sidekick Pancho (Julian Rivero) to crooked ranch foreman Tex Barnes (Yakima Canutt). Briefly detained for allegedly shooting a guard, Montana and Pancho break out of jail and force Barnes to take them to his boss, evil rancher Cash Hopson (J. Frank Glendon). Cleared of any wrongdoing, Montana can settle down with his sweetheart, Lopez' daughter Rosita (Hilda Moreno). Producer Henry L. Goldstone peppered the cast with former silent screen players, including Canutt, Glendon, Wally Wales, Helen Gibson, Alma Rayford, Charles "Slim" Whitaker, and Ben Corbett. Hoxie's second wife, trick rider Dixie Starr, appeared in an unbilled bit. Leading lady Hilda Moreno, who also acted under the name "Hilda Moore," should not be confused with British-born character actress Hilda Moore (1886-1929). ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- 1932
The second of six sound Westerns starring Jack Hoxie and produced by poverty row company Majestic, this film, like most B-Westerns at the time, features long stretches of what for all intents and purposes is silent action briefly interrupted by somewhat awkward dialogue sequences. Jack (Hoxie) and Jeff Sellers (Lafe Mckee) are partners in search of gold who are joined by the latter's lovely daughter, Marion (Alice Day). Jeff sells his part of the claim to Boss Kramer (Hooper Atchley) and is soon after found murdered. Marion accuses Jack of killing her father and he is arrested by the sheriff (Tom London). Together with sidekick Elmer (Matthew Betz), Jack devises a plan in which Kramer, riding Elmer's wagon, is mistakenly shot by his own henchman (Robert Kortman). With their leader dead, the gang members give themselves up to the authorities, and Jack is cleared of any wrongdoing. This Western marked the last screen appearance for silent screen ingenue Alice Day. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jack Hoxie, Alice Day, (more)
- 1929
Easy-to-please rural audiences got two aging Western stars for the price of one with this low-budget silent oater directed by the ubiquitous Robert J. Horner. Art Acord stars as Johnny Douglas, a highwayman known as "the White Outlaw" because of his usual disguise of a white scarf and because he only steals from the greedy and the corrupt. But when double-crossed by nasty Jed Isbell (Lew Meehan), Johnny returns to his hometown and obtains a job as a ranch hand under an assumed name. The rancher, Colonel Holbrook (Howard Davies), is being squeezed by crooked gambler Chet Wagner (Dick Nores), who intends to marry his daughter Janice (Vivian May). The latter agrees to the proposal in order to save the ranch and a distraught Ted Williams (Bill Patton), who is in love with the girl, takes to robbing the stage wearing Johnny's trademark white scarf. The authorities naturally mistakes Ted for the outlaw, but Johnny not only saves the boy from a jail term but also manages to implicate the villainous Isbell. A family affair, The White Outlaw was penned by character actor Robert McKenzie, who also plays a comic pit part and whose wife, Eva, briefly appears as Douglas' mother. Playing the boss villain is one Dick Nores, a non-actor who was Acord's brother-in-law at the time. Al Hoxie appears as a sheriff courtesy of footage from an earlier Robert J. Horner oater. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jack Hoxie, Marceline Day, (more)
- 1927
This typical Universal "Blue Streak Western" starred the studio's popular Jack Hoxie as a cowboy named Ned Raleigh, who fancies himself as a descendant of Sir Walter Raleigh. Ridiculed for his chivalry towards ladies in general and lovely Beth Stone in particular, Raleigh finally gets to show what he's really made of when a crooked neighbor, Manning (William A. Steele), attempts to take over the Stone spread. In order to save her family ranch, Beth agrees to marry Manning but is saved in the nick of time by Ned and his horse Scout. Leading lady Ena Gregory, an Australian, was also known under the name Marion Douglas. Hoxie's wife, Marin Sais, appeared in a supporting role. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- 1927
Cowboy star Jack Hoxie is definitely a "man of daring," but just how daring he really can be isn't demonstrated until the final reel. The story is set in the Black Hills of South Dakota circa 1876. While making their way through the Badlands, a religious cult is terrorized by a bandit known only as Black Roger. Wagon-train scout Jack Taylor (Jack Hoxie) vows to protect the cultists after their leader is killed by person or persons unknown. Before the inevitable unmasking of the villain as the Least Likely Suspect, Jack has fallen in love with the pious heroine (Ena Gregory). And, oh yes -- there is at least one Indian attack, just to keep the audience awake. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jack Hoxie, Ena Gregory, (more)
- 1927
Nearing the end of his long, profitable association with Universal Westerns, stout cowboy hero Jack Hoxie played "Grinner" Martin, a returning war veteran hired to fill in for the editor (George K. French) of a local newspaper in a town terrorized by a gang of bandits. Deciding to clean up the town, "Grinner" exposes one member in each issue until the leader, Harvey Purcell (Arthur Morrison), is unmasked. Purcell attempts to burn down the newspaper in retaliation but succeeds only in getting caught by the alert "Grinner." As his reward, the crusading newspaperman wins the love of the editor's daughter (Ena Gregory aka Marian Douglas). Hoxie starred in two additional Westerns before tearing up a new contract after an argument with studio boss Carl Laemmle. No actor in any real sense of the word but also not the illiterate moron some sources suggest, Hoxie appeared in a series of very low-budget oaters for poverty row company Majestic before leaving films altogether in favor of touring with various Wild West shows and a stint as a rancher. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- 1927
The stolid Jack Hoxie comes to the rescue of the Follies Bergere in this otherwise routine silent Western. The touring show's soubrette, Jeanne D'Arcy (Alma Rayford), as it turns out, is the long-lost daughter of Westerner John D'Arcy (William Malan). While she is performing at the town opera house, D'Arcy is found murdered and young Jack is accused of the heinous deed. The cowboy flees from the authorities and finds a hiding place in Jeanne's dressing room. Disguised as the show's mystic, he manages to unmask the real killer, D'Arcy's ne'er-do-well nephew, Steve Clayton (William Norton Bailey), who was about to be disinherited. This whodunit Western proved Jack Hoxie's final film for Universal. The now veteran action star faced an uncertain future in the new sound films and chose to leave films in favor of personal appearances. He returned in 1932 for what was to become his final series, six bottom-of-the-barrel Westerns produced by low-budget Majestic Film Corp. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jack Hoxie
- 1927
Returning from WWI, Jack Howard (Jack Hoxie) finds his father, the local sheriff, murdered. The city fathers elect him new sheriff, but leading citizen Jeff Taylor (Claude Payton), blames him for cowardice during the war. Jack's mother (Edith Yorke) begs her son not to retaliate, but the silence only encourages Taylor to accuse the novice sheriff of complicity to a crime. The villain lures Jack's girlfriend Molly (Margaret Quimby) to an isolated mountain cabin in order to have his way with her. Jack trails them and overhears Taylor confess to murdering his father. He rescues Molly, captures the gang, and brings the killer to trial. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jack Hoxie, Margaret Quimby, (more)
- 1927
A typical Jack Hoxie Blue Streak Western from the assembly lines at Universal, The Rambling Ranger featured the stalwart Hoxie as Hank Kinney, a ranger who adopts an orphaned child (Monte Montague Jr.), whom everybody soon knows as "His Royal Highness." Later, nasty claim jumper Sam Bruce (Captain C.E. Anderson), Hanks' rival for the attention of Ruth Buxley (Dorothy Gulliver), spreads the rumor that Hank is mistreating the child. With the sheriff (Monte Montague) bearing down on them, Hank and "His Royal Highness" manage to escape on the former's handsome steed, Scout. They return with proper adoption papers and Sam Bruce is defeated. Child actor Monte Montague Jr. was the son of the prolific B-Western supporting player. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jack Hoxie
- 1926
Husky cowboy star Jack Hoxie inherits a ranch in this silent Blue Streak Western from Universal. Unfortunately, he is forced to share his inheritance with Donaldeen Travis (Olive Hasbrouck), a snobbish debutante type who arrives from the East with her mammy (Mattie Peters) and sister (Virginia Bradford) in tow. Donaldeen takes an immediate dislike to the uncouth "Lightning" Jack and spends time instead with smooth-talking neighbor Currier King (William A. Steele). When she discovers that there is a Mrs. King (Carmen Phillips) as well, Donaldeen gives the amorous neighbor his walking papers. With lust in his heart, King kidnaps the girl but she is rescued in the nick of time by Jack, whom she has grown to love. A Six Shootin' Romance was based on a story, "Dashing", by Ruth Mitchell and was one of Hoxie's most popular vehicles. A very young Gary Cooper, still known as Frank Cooper, played one of the ranch hands. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jack Hoxie, Olive Hasbrouck, (more)
- 1926
Jack Hoxie's first release of 1926, this Universal Western starred the taciturn hero as a Texas ranger posing as an ex-con in order to infiltrate a gang of land grabbers. Along the way, Hoxie takes time out to romance the gang's lovely stenographer, Lola Todd. (A man of certain standing in the community, gang leader Jere Austin not only employed a stenographer but also a personal secretary.) Todd was, according to studio owner, "Uncle" Carl Laemmle, "one of the best prospects Universal ever had." Todd's subsequent career, sadly, went downhill from there. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- 1926
This Jack Hoxie Western, made during his contract with Universal, has just about every cliché in the book, beginning with the inevitable feud between the cowmen and the sheepmen. Nevertheless, trade magazine Motion Picture News promised, "Will fill the bill wherever fast Westerners please 'em." Peace Parker (Hoxie) has been falsely jailed, and when he is released he resolves to track down whoever framed him. But his bad luck isn't over yet -- he hears that his girl, Jess Marshall (Lola Todd), has become engaged to another man. Parker finds out that the sheepmen have a plot to drive their herds onto the ranch land belonging to Jess' father (Clarke Comstock). Jess is kidnapped and Parker goes to her rescue. He discovers that she still loves him, and he goes on to defeat the sheepherders at their dirty game and clear his own name in the bargain. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- 1926
A stalwart government scout, Tom Kirby (William Boyd) and his best friend, the legendary frontiersman Buffalo Bill Cody (Jack Hoxie) lead a wagon train through Indian territory when they are attacked by Pawnee Killer (Frank Lackteen). A young woman named Beth is saved, but her parents are killed by the marauding Indians. Beth goes to live with Lige Morris (Mitchell Lewis), an unscrupulous trader who tells her that Tom Kirby, her boyfriend, was in league with Pawnee Killer. Beth learns otherwise from the the adjutant's daughter (Gladys Brockwell). She goes to see Tom just as the Indians stampede a herd of buffalo through the town. Lige is killed by Pawnee Killer and Tom, Buffalo Bill Cody, and Wild Bill Hickock (J. Farrell MacDonald) arrive with general George Custer to quell the uprising. This film was begun by veteran producer Thomas H. Ince. After Ince's sudden death in 1924, the project was taken over by Hunt Stromberg and eventually released by Metropolitan Pictures. Jack Hoxie was borrowed from Universal to play Buffalo Bill Cody, a role he always claimed to be his favorite. Leading man William Boyd was of course a decade away from his most famous role, that of Hopalong Cassidy. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marguerite de la Motte, John Farrell MacDonald, (more)
- 1926
One of Universal's better Blue Streak Westerns, Red Hot Leather starred the company's number two cowboy hero at the time, Jack Hoxie. (The lackadaisical Hoot Gibson was Universal's premiere Western star of the 1920s.) Unlike Gibson, Hoxie was not much of an actor but looked good on a horse, which was all this story of a rancher who discovers an oil deposit on his land called for. Returning from the East where he has tried in vain to borrow money to save his father's ranch, Hoxie's Jack Lane meets nurse Ellen Rand (Ena Gregory), herself en route to care for the elder Lane (William Malan). A neighbor, Morton Kane (William H. Turner), meanwhile, has discovered oil on the Lane property, a fact he attempts to keep to himself. When Jack enters the rodeo hoping to earn enough money to save the ranch, Kane has him abducted. The intrepid cowboy escapes in Kane's car, wins the rodeo, saves the ranch, and marries his father's nurse. Leading lady Ena Gregory, an Australian, appeared in four Westerns opposite Hoxie, married his director, Albert S. Rogell, and changed her name briefly to Marian Douglas. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jack Hoxie, Ena Gregory, (more)
- 1926
This Universal "Blue Streak" western stars that fabulous rider and roper Jack Hoxie. The star is cast as Jack Carter, who accepts the challenge of corralling 10,000 wild horses within a 10-day period. Collecting an enormous sum for his efforts, Jack prepares to propose to his sweetheart, only to find out that a rival cowpoke has beaten him to it. The rival is dispatched by the Wild Horse Stampede of the title, but this was hardly necessary: it turns out that the "other man" already had a wife! In lieu of the traditional human comedy relief, Jack Hoxie is given a "funny animal" sidekick in the form of a dog named Bunk. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jack Hoxie
- 1926
One of Jack Hoxie's best surviving silent Westerns, Border Sheriff makes an exciting detour to both a drug conference in Washington, D.C., and a knock-down brawl in a Chinatown dive. Hoxie is investigating drug smuggling on the border to Mexico. On his way West from the conference in Washington, he makes the acquaintance of pretty Joan Belden (Olive Hasbrouck) and her father (Tom Lingham). The latter is met in San Francisco by his oily business partner Carter Brace (real-life lawyer turned outlaw turned movie actor Al Jennings), who, as it turns out, is the brains behind the smuggling scheme. Hoxie makes a dashing figure in civilian garb (complete with rakish cap) and diminutive Gilbert "Pee Wee" Holmes is quite amusing as his dreamy sidekick. One very funny sequence has Hoxie hurrying to catch a train, dragging Holmes along by his suspenders. Equally amusing, but unintentionally so, is a scene where Hoxie, a well-known rodeo star, accidentally falls off his horse Scout. For reasons known only to Universal, the sequence made it into the released print. Even the romantic denouement in this fast-paced, well-written Western is inventive; handcuffed to Hoxie, Miss Hasbrouck inquires if she is to be taken off to jail. "No," comes the laconic answer, "to the minister." Playing Hoxie's foreman in the film is Bert De Marc, who later functioned as animal trainer on the star's real-life spread, the Broken Arrow Ranch. Director Robert N. Bradbury was the father of B-Western star Bob Steele. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jack Hoxie
- 1926
Cowboy star Jack Hoxie spends an inordinate amount of time away from his horse in Looking for Trouble. In this one, he's preoccupied with bringing a gang of diamond smugglers to justice. Of courses, he's not too busy to spend a bit of quality time with the heroine, the gloriously yclept Tulip Hellier (Marceline Day). In the final reels, however, he mounts his faithful steed Scout and brings the villains' perfidious activities to a sudden end. Looking for Trouble contains far too little action to suit the fans of Jack Hoxie -- or Hoxie's critics, who delighted in complaining about the actor's constitutional inability to convey a believable emotion. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jack Hoxie
- 1925
Based on Jean of the Lazy A by B.M. "Muzzy" Bower, this silent western starred Universal cowboy Jack Hoxie as Jack Douglas, whose father, Frank (Francis Ford), is about to be hanged for a murder he didn't commit. The victim, Bill Croft (Buck Connors), was a notorious gunfighter, whose daughter, Jean (Katherine Grant), believes Frank's innocence and helps the son catch the real killer before it is too late. Second to Hoot Gibson among Universal's coterie of Western stars, Hoxie was a real-life former cowpuncher whose riding and roping skill far outweighed any acting capability. Hoxie's half-brother, Alton Stone (later known as Al Hoxie), appeared as Jack's stunt-double in this and several other Hoxie westerns. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- 1925
Jack Hoxie's dog, Bunk, takes center stage in this amusing little silent Western from the Universal assembly-line. Hoxie's discovery of the stolen payroll from the B. B. Ranch is interrupted by the robbers. Happily, Bunk manages to escape with the loot, which he buries in a secret place. The clever pooch then tunnels under a wall and frees the tied-up Hoxie. The gang is apprehended in no time flat and Hoxie is revealed to be a Texas Ranger. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jack Hoxie, Olive Hasbrouck, (more)
- 1925
Jack Hoxie's final Western for 1925 featured Universal's second most popular cowboy hero (after Hoot Gibson) chasing a wanted man. The trail leads to Kathryn McGuire's ranch, which is about to be taken over by greedy banker Harry Todd. In one of those coincidences found only in cheap movie-making, the banker turns out to be the same man Hoxie had been chasing all along. Better known as a comic, the veteran Todd was surprisingly cast against type in this film. Leading lady Kathryn McGuire, a 1922 WAMPAS Baby Star, later married Mary Pickford's publicist, George Landy. Today, the blond starlet is best remembered as Buster Keaton's girl in both The Navigator (1924) and Sherlock, Jr.. She left films at the advent of sound. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jack Hoxie, Kathryn McGuire, (more)
- 1925
Jack Bannister (Jack Hoxie) returns to his home in Mexico to find his best friend murdered in this well-made Universal Western. The sheriff has arrested old Jose Remado (William Welsh) for the killing, but Jack is not convinced of the man's guilt. In order to get to the truth, Jack disguises himself as a Mexican peasant, and, with the assistance of the innocent man's daughter, Ynez (Cathleen Calhoun), frees Remado from jail. The real murderer, Latham (Duke Lee), is not too happy with this turn of events and kidnaps Ynez. A furious chase ends in the obligatory showdown, with Jack emerging as the winner. Hoxie ranged just below the studio's top cowboy ace, Hoot Gibson, and well ahead of such newcomers as Ted Wells, Fred Humes, and Curley Witzel. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
