Antonio Moreno Movies

Conservative Biograph Studios, having galloped to prominence on the coattails of their star director D.W. Griffith, refused to allow Griffith to make any film longer than two reels. Ignoring this edict, Griffith permitted his Biblical epic Judith of Bethulia to stretch to four reels; Biograph's reprimands were so blistering that the director quit the studio, setting up his own independent operation. While of great historical value, Judith of Bethulia is, truth to tell, not one of Griffith's best efforts. Among other things, the film is hampered by uninteresting exterior locations and a storyline that switched dramatic gears far too often. The basic story of young widow Judith (Blanche Sweet) offering herself to Assyrian leader Holofernes (Henry B. Walthall) in order to kill the man and thus avenge the subjugation and slaughter of her countrymen was strong enough on its own to carry the day. It was hardly necessary for Griffith to concoct a last-minute-rescue subplot involving Bethulian warrior Robert Harron and damsel in distress Mae Marsh. Historians have suggested that Griffith, impressed by the recently released Italian spectacular Quo Vadis, may have conceived Judith as an American "answer" to that film--an ill-advised decision, since the plotlines of the two properties bear precious little resemblance to each other. Still, it is fascinating to watch Griffith experiment with many of the story elements and techniques that he'd later hone to perfection in such films as Birth of a Nation (1915), Intolerance (1916) and Orphans of the Storm (1916); it's also an enjoyable film-buff exercise to spot such Griffith regulars as Lillian and Dorothy Gish and Harry Carey in minor roles. Biograph--whose fortunes diminished after Griffith's departure--reissued Judith of Bethulia in 1917 in an expanded version titled Her Condoned Sin, using outtakes that Griffith had wisely jettisoned back in 1914. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

On Her Wedding Night is when young society bride Helen Carter (Edith Storey) abruptly becomes a widow. In fact, she is on the phone with her new husband Denton (Denton Vane) when he is shot and killed. The sole witness to the crime, Italian immigrant Carlo Picalli (William Dunn), is so shocked by the experience that he loses his memory, at which point he is "adopted" by Denton's best friend Henry Hallem (Antonio Moreno), who also appoints himself Helen's protector. Together, Henry and Denton manage to uncover the murderer's identity, whereupon the grateful Helen agrees to marry Henry, who of course has been in love with her all along. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A Southern gentleman's alcoholism nearly costs him the love of his life in this silent drama set just before the Civil War. Fortunately for the troubled lovers, a wiser, more experienced friend is around to help the young man overcome his addiction and reunite with his lady love. The duo hold an engagement party. Unfortunately, the bride-to-be finds herself threatened by the amorous advances of an inebriated partygoer. To defend her honor and his own, the disgruntled groom challenges the drunken lad to a duel at dawn. The fiance wins, but his father is so angry that he disowns his son. In shame the son, who still loves the girl, moves to the New York home of the wise friend and remains there until his father dies. Surprisingly, he left his son a small inheritance and the young man uses it to head for South America to look for rubies. He finds them and soon becomes extremely wealthy and returns home. There he finds that his old friend has become impoverished. With little hesitation the young man shares his wealth and then gets to marry his true love. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Vitagraph leading man Antonio Moreno played just about everything but a cocker spaniel during his pre-1920s prime. In Captain of the Gray Horse Troop, the Latino heartthrob is cast as Captain George Curtis, assigned to a post in Indian territory. Here he discovers that the Native American inhabitants are being victimized by crooked ranchers and paid-off government officials. At the risk of his own career, Captain Curtis does his best to protect the Indians from their white predators. As opposed to later eras, Native Americans were treated with some respect in early silent films. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Darrow (Antonio Moreno) is a wealthy young man who uses his money to help educate slum children. However, when he helps out a young woman, Florence (Helen Chadwick), who has been thrown out of her home, it draws the wrath of both Betty, his fiancée (Margaret Greene), and Tony (Armand Cortez), a gunman who loves the slum girl. Betty invites Florence to a social dance, hoping to embarrass her, but instead Florence is a hit. Tony's anger is then expressed a bit more violently -- he tries to kill Darrow. But Florence sees him climbing a pole to Darrow's office and takes a shot at him. He falls to the ground, and Darrow's revolver is found at the scene, so he is arrested for the crime. Things look mighty bleak until another slum dweller, Sailor Bill (Frank Conlan), is fatally wounded in a fight. He admits to both possessing the gun and the shooting. Darrow finds happiness not with his snobbish girlfriend, but with Florence. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide

Mrs. Gilman (Laura Winston), who runs a camp hotel in a rugged mining town, is doomed to a life of drudgery. Her daughter Bertha (Edith Storey) can't bear to watch her struggle anymore, so she marries a rich invalid, even though she doesn't love him. But complications arise when she meets Ben Fordyce (Antonio Moreno) who has come West to be with his consumptive fiancee, Alice Heath (Florence Dye). Bertha and Ben fall in love. Alice tells Bertha's husband that they are both standing in the way of the lovers' happiness, and then she breaks off her engagement and returns East. Bertha's husband, meanwhile, deliberately travels up a mountain, even though his doctor has told him his heart can't stand altitudes, and obligingly dies. None of this exactly throws sympathy on the two leads, and the films negative reviews reflected that. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide

This mystery melodrama was based on a novel by British author William Garrett. Antonio Moreno stands out as Guy Fenton, an American newspaper correspondent based in London. When he rescues a girl in distress he embroils himself in a mystery. The girl, Marion (Lillian Hall), has an uncle who has been murdered by fortune hunters. The code Fenton discovers leads him to a country home where his every move is watched. The house itself is full of hidden panels and secret passageways. In spite of these obstacles, Fenton is able to find the hidden book containing the rest of the code, which reveals a treasure that is buried in the Scottish highlands. He also discovers a trap door which leads him to a secret chamber where a band of counterfeiters have been doing their dirty work. Fenton manages to fend off the bad guys and recover the treasure, along with winning Marion. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide

This remake of the 1916 Cecil B. DeMille picture was Mary Miles Minter's final film for Paramount. June Tolliver (Minter) is a Kentucky mountain girl whose family is feuding with the Falins. But their differences are temporarily put on hold when revenue officer John Hale (Antonio Moreno) comes around. He falls in love with June and sends her to the city to get an education. When she returns and the feud breaks out once again, June tries to become a peacemaker between the two families. Only after Hale is shot and seriously wounded do the men finally come to their senses, and upon his recovery, he and June marry. Those who think that Paramount ditched Minter because her name was dragged into the still-unsolved murder of William Desmond Taylor will be forced to admit that the studio sent her off in style. Not only was this a remake of a popular film, it was originally based on an even more well-known book and play. Minter also had very capable support in Moreno and excellent character actor Ernest Torrence, who played "Devil" Judd Tolliver. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide

The Exciters is the old one about a footloose heiress who must marry by the age of 21 or forfeit her fortune. The girl (Bebe Daniels), an inveterate thrill-seeker, chooses as her mate a handsome gangster (Antonio Moreno). Lots of thrills and laughs occur as a result of this shaky union. The gangster eventually reveals that he's an undercover cop, and the girl finally agrees to curb her craving for excitement. Veteran scenarists Sonya Levien and John Colton adapted The Exciters from a novel by Martin Brown. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Agnes Ayres, who'd once been topbilled over Rudolph Valentino, was beginning the slow downward slide when she starred in Bluff. Ayres plays a young woman who must raise a great deal of money in a hurry to afford medical treatment for her brother. Thus she poses as a world-reknowned fashion designer, and in this guise is able to accrue the necessary funds. Her plan backfires when she is arrested for crimes committed by the designer. Attorney Antonio Moreno saves the day. Bluff was directed by Sam Wood, whose more famous endeavors included A Night at the Opera, Goodbye Mr. Chips and The Pride of the Yankees. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide