The West~Bound Limited is a 1923 American silent melodrama film directed by Emory Johnson. FBO released the film in April 1923. The film's "All-Star" cast included Ralph Lewis, Claire McDowell, Johnny Harron, and Ella Hall. Emilie Johnson, Johnson's mother, wrote both the story and screenplay. was the third film in Johnson's eight-picture contract with FBO.
Esther Miller, the daughter of the railway President, and her mother are riding horses alongside the railroad tracks. When Ester tries to cross the tracks, her horse gets its hoof caught on the track. While attempting to help the horse, Ester also becomes entangled. Railroad engineer Bill Buckley is steaming down the mainline towards the helpless Esther and her horse. Bill Buckley's son, Johnny, rescues her at the last minute. Esther develops an instant affection for her newfound hero. A grateful Esther gives Johnny her horse, and a content father provides the Buckley family with a new home. Soon, the President's general counselor, J. Lawrence Wilton, reveals he has feelings for Esther and is plotting to win Esther's hand in marriage. Wilton arranges a chain of machinations involving Esther, Bill Buckley, Mrs. Buckley, and Johnny. Johnny thwarts Wilton's schemes and saves his father and hundreds of train passengers from disaster. Johnny rescues Esther from the villainous Wilton and falls in love. Wilton's intrigues finally reap their just rewards, and everybody lives happily ever after.
The film was released on April 15, 1923.
Plot
Bernard Miller is the President of a railroad, and Lawrence Wilton is his general counselor. Both are traveling in an open car, paralleling the tracks when they see Bill Buckley's engine steaming down the rails. Miller's only daughter, Esther, and her mother ride horses in the same area. When Esther attempts to go over a level crossing, her horse gets caught in the tracks and falls. The fallen horse traps Esther. Bill Buckley's son, Johnny, sees Esther's plight from his telegraph hut. With Bill Buckley's engine bearing down, Johnny rushes to save Esther and frees her at the last second. A grateful Esther gives Johnny her horse, and their close encounter has prompted romantic feelings in Esther. After watching the rescue, Miller tells Wilton he plans to reward the Buckley family with a house.
The following morning, Wilton drives the Millers to the passenger depot for an arranged trip to San Francisco. As Wilton is leaving, a man approaches him and demands money. He threatens Wilton by claiming he will "spill the beans about you and your kid." Wilton gives him cash and rides off. Wilton visits Buckley's home and shows Mrs. Buckley the deed to their new home. Mrs. Buckley tells Wilton to keep the gift a secret because she wants to surprise her husband.
When Bill Buckley comes to work, he learns he has a new crew member – Collins. The crewman is the same man who extorted Wilton for cash. Buckley mounts his engine along with Collins and starts his daily run. Buckley notices Collins take a quick drink from a bottle he had concealed. Collins offers Buckley a drink, which he refuses, and a struggle ensues with Buckley finally tossing the bottle out of the cab. Buckley's Westbound 99 arrives two hours early, and Collins is drunk. A supervisor sees a drunken Collins and fires him. Collins blames Buckley and swears revenge.
Johnny's dog appears at the Miller home. Esther sees the dog and comes up with a plan to see Johnny. She attaches a note to the dog's collar, telling Johnny to look for smoke from the chimney. It will be a signal that Wilton has left the house. The dog returns to Johnny's shack. Johnny reads the request and smiles.
At the Miller home, Wilton tells the housemaid to "Have Sylvester bring the roadster around for me — then he can take you marketing in the other car." Esther hears Wilton's request and starts stacking wood in the fireplace. Wilton has second thoughts, realizing that he will be alone with Esther if he remains. He returns to the house as Esther lights a fire in the fireplace. Wilton asks her if she would like to drive to town, but she declines. He shuts the door, walks over to Esther, and tries to kiss her. Esther resists Wilton's advances. Wilton grabs her and throws her on the couch. She screams and continues struggling while smoking logs burn in the fireplace. Johnny sees the smoke and starts galloping toward the house. Johnny arrives at the Miller house and senses Esther's in trouble.
He goes inside Miller's home and rushes toward the source of the screams. He breaks down the door, finds Wilton trying to assault Esther, and the two men struggle. Wilton draws a pistol, and a shot rings out. Bill Buckley is walking up to the front porch of the Miller house. Buckley wants to inquire about his old home when he hears a gunshot. Buckley runs inside and discovers his son and Wilton grappling with a gun. He takes the pistol out of Wilton's hands and threatens him. Johnny calms his dad, then leaves with Esther. Bill Buckley and Esther drive off in the roadster, trailing Johnny mounted on his horse. Johnny leads his dad to their new home. Johnny tells his dad that Esther's father gave them the house, but Mrs. Buckley wants to surprise him. Mother Buckley and their adopted son, Henry, rush out to greet them.
The Millers are relaxing in a San Francisco hotel. Mr. Miller receives a letter from Esther. She begs the couple to return home. The following morning, Wilton discovers the Millers are returning home on a special train. Collins shows up at the house. He confronts Wilton, saying he needs more cash because Buckley fired him. Wilton hatches a nefarious plan.
Bill Buckley's Westbound 99 will steam down the mainline in one direction. In contrast, Miller's special train 66 will travel down the same track from the opposite direction. Since Miller's special will have priority, Johnny Buckley will have to signal his father to stop and move his train to a siding. The two trains will collide if Johnny fails, killing Bill Buckley and the Millers. They will blame Johnny for the crash. Wilton will assume the presidency of the railroad and become Esther's guardian.
Johnny receives instructions from the dispatcher to flag down "99" and park his train. Johnny promptly raises the red light. However, Collins climbs the signal pole and covers the red light with a green filter. As Bill Buckley steams down the track, he sees the green light and blows past the stop signal. Johnny telegraphs the dispatcher, "99" missed the stop signal, and he will take a shortcut to flag down the trains. Johnny mounts his horse and gallops into the darkness. Soon he reaches the edge of a steep embankment. He must reach the bottom of the hill to flag the trains. The horse stumbles as they descend, and both somersault down the hill. When Johnny hits the bottom, he has a broken leg. Since the injury prevents him from signaling the trains, he lights a fire. He hopes both engineers will view the brush fire and halt their engines.
The Miller special is barreling down the track when the engineer notices the brushfire. He stops his train to investigate. Bill Buckley, coming from the opposite direction, sees the same fire stop his train. They avert the head-on collision. Johnny lights a railroad flare, and Bill Buckley sees the torch and rushes towards the bright light. Buckley sees his son lying helpless at the edge of the brushfire, rescues him, and carries him to safety.
Wilton shows up at the Buckley home to fetch Esther. Mother Buckley says Esther is not there, but Wilton finds her hiding in a closet. A struggle ensues, but Esther escapes. Mother Buckley grapples with Wilton, but he throws her to the floor. A gun appears, and someone fires a shot, wounding Wilton. Buckley's adopted son, Henry, is gripping the pistol. Wilton looks at Henry and says – "by my flesh and blood." Buckley's orphan lad turns out to be Wilton's mysterious son.
In the last scene, Johnny and Esther are on the back of a train departing on their honeymoon.
Cast ActorRoleRalph LewisBill BuckleyClaire McDowellMrs. Bill BuckleyJohn HarronJohnny BuckleyTaylor GravesHenryRichard MorrisBernard MillerJennie (Jane) MorganMrs. Bernard MillerElla HallEsther MillerWedgewood NowellJ. Lawrence WiltonDavid KirbyCollins
Production Pre production Development
Film Booking Offices of America (FBO) was an energetic, independent American silent era film studio. The company released around 110 features and shorts a year. The company focused on producing low-budget films emphasizing first-class westerns, action films, romantic melodramas, and comedy shorts. The company mainly distributed its pictures to small-town venues and independent theater chains, which changed their pictures three times a week. FBO would make their pictures appeal to every member of the American family.Film Booking Offices of America
The average cost per production was $50,000 to $75,000 equivalent to $ to $ in 2021 compared to the Major film studios which could spend five times as much to produce a movie.
also produced and distributed a limited number of big-budget features labeled "Gold Bond" or "Special" productions. Emory Johnson's eight films for FBO were all specials. This film would be classified as a Super-Special.
In 1923, Emilie and Emory Johnson signed a contract extension with FBO. The contract was for 2 years. The agreement stipulated Emory was to make eight attractions for FBO. The agreement specified that his previous four films would count toward the total. FBO also agreed to invest two and a half million dollars (In today's money – ) on the remaining four films. Another part of the new contract stipulated – "The contract also provides that Emory Johnson's mother, Mrs. Emilie Johnson, shall prepare all of the stories and write all the scripts for the Johnson attractions in addition to assisting her son in filming the productions."
Casting Ralph Lewis (1872–1931) was born on October 8, 1872, in Englewood, Illinois. The year-old actor would reprise his role as a rugged middle-aged working-class hero. In this go-around, he would assume the role of Western Division engineer Bill Buckley. He previously had starring roles in Emory Johnson's past two vehicles – In the Name of the Law and The Third Alarm. Lewis would go on to star in Emory Johnson's next production – The Mailman released in December 1923. He also landed a role in Johnson's seventh film – The Last Edition, released in November 1925. The Last Edition was Lewis's fifth and final film in an Emory Johnson production. Lewis will always be remembered for his role as abolitionist U.S. Representative Austin Stoneman in D. W. Griffith's The Birth of a Nation (1915) and the governor in Intolerance (1916). "Ralph Lewis is especially good in parts built upon the strength of character." Claire McDowell (1877–1966) was born on November 2, 1877, in New York City. The year-old actress had previously acted in In The Name of The Law. She would play Mrs. Buckley, Bill Buckley's wife, another mother figure in this photoplay. She would act in a total of four Emory Johnson productions. Ella Hall (1896–1981) was born on March 17, 1896, in Hoboken, New Jersey. The year-old actress was selected to play the feminine lead in this film. She would portray Esther Miller, the daughter of railroad president Bernard Miller. During this filming, Hall was married to Emory Johnson. She previously had feminine leads – In the Name of the Law and The Third Alarm. Her next film would be the 1923 production of Lloyd B. Carleton's The Flying Dutchman, which became one of her best-known works. After filming the Dutchman, Ella Hall retired from silent movies to focus on her kids and her failing marriage to Emory Johnson.