Release Date: March 2, 1914 (American Silent Western Short)
Buffalo Jim (1914) Colorized: A Silent Western Short Film from the Vitagraph Company
A Classic Western Love Triangle in the Silent Era
"Buffalo Jim" is a compelling "silent Western short film" released on March 2, "1914", by the "Vitagraph Company of America". Directed by "Ulysses Davis" and written by George Pattullo, the 10-minute film tells a concise story of rivalry and romance set in the rough-and-tumble environment of a frontier camp. The central drama revolves around three characters: the composed hero, "Buffalo Jim" (played by "William Parsons"); his sweetheart, "Grace Hawes" ("Myrtle Gonzalez"); and the menacing town bully and gunfighter, Steve Moffatt ("George Kunkel").
Synopsis: Saloons, Shootouts, and a Dance
The action begins dramatically in Nashby's bustling saloon. While Jim and his companion Tim play cards, the atmosphere is shattered by the entrance of Steve Moffatt, who fires his revolver in an act of intimidation. Jim's composure under fire contrasts sharply with the crowd's panic. The tension escalates later at a grand dance. Despite Jim inviting Grace, the arrival of the intimidating Steve captures Grace's attention, and she openly flirts with him. When Steve insists Grace dance with him, defying Jim’s intervention, Grace ultimately chooses the gunfighter. Steve enforces his dominance by firing a shot over the musician's head, before escorting Grace home, leaving Jim defeated and disheartened.
Cast, Crew, and Colorized Preservation
This film is a fascinating look at the tropes and storytelling of "early American cinema". Beyond the lead stars William Parsons and Myrtle Gonzalez, the cast includes Major J.A. McGuire and Jack Mower. As a "public domain" work, this silent classic is an important piece of cinematic history (Source: archive.org/details/9507_1411113252...).
The film has been expertly restored and processed with "AI Colorization" (Credit: Professor Jameel Akhtar). This transformation from its original black-and-white format to a "Restored Colorized Film" allows modern viewers to experience the drama with new visual depth.
- "Director:" Ulysses Davis
- "Writer:" George Pattullo
- "Starring:" William Parsons, Myrtle Gonzalez, George Kunkel
- "Production Company:" Vitagraph Company of America
- "License Detail:" PUBLIC DOMAIN MARK / “No Known Copyright”
Watch the Full Colorized Historical Western (1914)
Experience the drama of the early frontier. Watch the complete "AI-Colorized" short film, "Buffalo Jim" (Runtime: 13 minutes, 45 seconds).