Release Date: July 22, 1914 (American Silent Western Short)
By the Sun's Rays (1914) Colorized: Lon Chaney in a Silent Western Thriller
Plot Summary: Gold Robbery and Deception in the West
'"By the Sun's Rays" (1914)' is an early American 'silent action-drama' produced by the 'Nestor Film Company' and directed by 'Charles Giblyn'. This '11-minute short film' is a key example of the era's popular Western genre, featuring early roles for legends 'Lon Chaney' and 'Murdock MacQuarrie'. The plot centers on Frank Lawler, a dishonest clerk at a mining company, who partners with bandits to signal gold shipment times using a reflective mirror system—a clever early cinematic device for conspiracy.
The Detective's Undercover Assignment
In addition to his criminal activities, Lawler harbors unwelcome romantic intentions toward Doris Davis, the daughter of the local branch manager. To stop Lawler's collusion scheme and protect Doris, the company's central office dispatches its best detective, 'John Murdock'. Murdock goes 'undercover' in the mining town, tasked with infiltrating the conspiracy, exposing Lawler, and ultimately securing Doris's safety from the clerk's nefarious advances.
- 'Director:' Charles Giblyn
- 'Starring:' Murdock MacQuarrie, Lon Chaney, Agnes Vernon
- 'Production Company:' Nestor Film Company
- 'Genres:' Action, Drama, Western, Silent Film
- 'Filming Location:' Nestor Studios, Hollywood, California, USA
A Restored and Colorized Public Domain Classic
This 'public domain movie' provides a valuable glimpse into the history of Hollywood, having been filmed at the historic 'Nestor Studios' on Sunset Boulevard (Source: archive.org/details/by_the_suns_rays). The original black-and-white film has been brought to modern audiences through extensive 'AI Colorization' efforts by 'Professor Jameel Akhtar', creating a vivid 'Restored Colorized Film' experience.
Watch the full silent short below, featuring 'Lon Chaney' in one of his foundational film roles, now enhanced with color: