Film Friday: The Winning of Barbara Worth (1926)
To celebrate Gary Cooper's 115th birthday, which is tomorrow, this week on «Film Friday» I have decided to write about the movie that gave him his first important screen role. This is also one of the few silent films I have seen so far. Directed by Henry King, The Winning of Barbara Worth (1926) begins with a woman (Vilma Bánky) burying her husband in the desert. She and her young daughter, Barbara (Carmencita Johnson), then get back in their covered wagon and continue to head West. At the same time, Jefferson Worth (Charles Lane) and his party — which includes Tex (Clyde Cook) and Pat Mooney (Erwin Connelly) — are also travelling West. They all run into a violent sandstorm and try to take cover. Once the storm clears, Mr. Worth and his companions find Barbara clinging to her dead mother in the sand. Mr. Worth adopts the girl and raises her as his own daughter. Fifteen years pass, and Barbara Worth (Vilma Bánky) is now a grown woman beloved by her childhood friend, Abe Lee (G...