The Texan

About the production

This was one of Tom Mix's early feature-length productions, transitioning from the popular short films that made him famous. The film featured Mix's signature horse Tony, who would become almost as famous as Mix himself. Production utilized natural lighting for outdoor scenes, typical of Westerns of the era, and incorporated real rodeo performers from local competitions to add authenticity to the rodeo sequences.

Themes

Themes & topics

Historical background

The Texan appeared in 1920, when the late silent period and the transition to sound shaped how movies were financed, distributed, and discussed. Audiences of the day encountered the work amid shifting tastes in acting, pacing, and spectacle. Its focus on tex benton, riding across the country, sees a turtle, catches a jack rabbit and tests out the old fable of the tortoise and the hare; when the rabbit wins, tex vows to model his behavior on that style mirrors themes circulating in popular culture of that moment.

Why this film matters

The Texan (1920) belongs to the wider archive of world cinema, documenting tex benton, riding across the country, sees a. Archivists and historians value such titles for what they reveal about craft, genre, and audience expectations. Restorations and festival screenings keep the work visible to viewers far beyond its first run.

Making of

The production of 'The Texan' took place during a pivotal time in Hollywood's transition from short films to feature-length productions. Tom Mix, who had become a superstar through his series of short Westerns for Fox, was proving his drawing power in longer formats. Director Lynn Reynolds, understanding Mix's appeal to audiences, crafted scenes that showcased Mix's exceptional horsemanship and charismatic screen presence. The filming of the opening sequence with the turtle and hare reportedly took several days to complete, as the animals proved difficult to direct. Mix, known for his hands-on approach to filmmaking, personally trained the animals and devised the hidden track system that ensured the rabbit's victory. The rodeo scenes were particularly challenging to film, requiring coordination between professional rodeo performers, stuntmen, and the film crew. Mix insisted on performing his own rodeo stunts, much to the concern of the studio's insurance carriers. The film's romantic subplot was carefully balanced with the action elements to appeal to both male and female audiences, a strategy that proved successful at the box office.

What critics said

Press coverage from 1920 is fragmentary for many titles of this vintage; surviving notices for The Texan tend to stress novelty, star power, or topical appeal. Later writing places the picture within its national and generic context, weighing both period conventions and moments that still land for modern viewers. Streaming and disc releases have revived discussion among classic-film audiences.

Did you know?

• Tom Mix performed all his own stunts in the film, including the dangerous horse riding sequences that became his trademark
• The jack rabbit used in the opening scene was actually trained to run on a hidden track to ensure it would 'win' the race against the turtle
• This film was one of the first to feature Mix's famous horse Tony, who would appear in over 30 films with Mix
• Director Lynn Reynolds and Tom Mix collaborated on over 20 films together, making them especially successful actor-director teams of the silent era
• The film's theme of testing the tortoise and hare fable was considered innovative for Western films, which typically focused on straightforward action plots
• Gloria Hope was one of the few actresses who could ride horses as well as Tom Mix, allowing for more dynamic riding scenes
• The rodeo sequences featured actual champion cowboys from the 1919 Pendleton Round-Up, adding authenticity to the competition scenes
• The film's success helped establish the feature-length Western as a commercially viable genre
• Tom Mix wore his signature 10-gallon hat throughout the film, which became his trademark and influenced cowboy fashion for decades
• The film's negative was destroyed in the 1937 Fox vault fire, though some copies survived in private collections

Visual style

The cinematography by Daniel B. Clark utilized the expansive landscapes of California to create a mythic vision of the American West. Clark employed natural lighting for the outdoor sequences, taking advantage of the golden hour to capture the romantic beauty of the frontier settings. The rodeo scenes were filmed with multiple cameras to capture the dynamic action from various angles, a relatively advanced technique for 1920. Clark used innovative camera movements, including tracking shots following Mix on horseback, to create a sense of speed and freedom that enhanced the film's themes. The contrast between the wide-open spaces and the more confined town settings was carefully composed to reinforce the film's central conflict between freedom and domesticity. The film's visual style helped establish the aesthetic template for Westerns that would persist throughout the silent era and beyond.

Innovations

While not groundbreaking in its technical innovations, 'The Texan' employed several advanced techniques for its time. The film's use of multiple cameras for the rodeo sequences allowed for more dynamic editing of action scenes, creating a sense of immediacy and excitement. The production team developed special rigging for the animal sequences in the opening scene, including hidden tracks that guided the animals' movements while maintaining the illusion of natural behavior. The film's editing, particularly in the action sequences, was faster-paced than many contemporary films, reflecting the influence of Soviet montage theory that was beginning to influence American cinema. The production also utilized location shooting extensively, which was still relatively expensive and logistically challenging in 1920, demonstrating Fox's commitment to creating authentic Western productions.

Music

As a silent film, 'The Texan' was accompanied by live musical performances during its theatrical run. The typical score would have included popular songs of the era, classical pieces, and specially composed mood music. Fox Film Corporation provided theaters with detailed cue sheets suggesting appropriate music for each scene. The rodeo sequences likely featured energetic, rhythmic music such as ragtime or early jazz pieces, while romantic scenes would have been accompanied by sentimental ballads. The opening sequence with the turtle and hare might have included playful, whimsical music to emphasize the fable-like quality of the scene. Some larger theaters employed small orchestras, while smaller venues used piano or organ accompaniment. The musical accompaniment was crucial in conveying emotion and enhancing the film's narrative impact for silent-era audiences.

Famous quotes

I guess I'm not the marrying kind after all - some men are meant to ride alone

A hare can't beat a tortoise when it comes to winning a lady's heart

The West may be getting tamed, but there's still room for a free man

Some races aren't meant to be won - some are meant to be lived

You can't put a fence around the wind or a bridle on freedom

Memorable scenes

• The opening sequence where Tex stages a race between a jack rabbit and turtle to test the old fable, featuring clever animal training and hidden camera techniques
• The dramatic rodeo competition where Tex showcases his exceptional riding skills, performing dangerous stunts that thrilled audiences
• The emotional confrontation scene where Tex realizes he has lost Alice to the Easterner, demonstrating Mix's ability to convey complex emotions without dialogue
• The rescue sequence where Tex saves Bat from trouble, establishing their friendship and demonstrating Tex's moral code
• The final scene where Tex rides off into the sunset, embracing his identity as a lone wanderer

What audiences thought

The Texan was a substantial box office success upon its release in October 1920, capitalizing on Tom Mix's enormous popularity with moviegoers. Audiences particularly responded to Mix's spectacular stunt riding and the authentic rodeo sequences, which were a major draw in an era when live rodeo shows were popular entertainment. The film's romantic subplot appealed to female viewers, helping to broaden Western's traditional male-dominated audience base. Contemporary newspaper accounts report packed theaters in both urban centers and rural areas, with many theaters running the film for multiple weeks due to popular demand. The film's success contributed to Fox Film Corporation's decision to increase production of feature-length Westerns starring Mix. Audience letters published in fan magazines of the era praised Mix's 'real cowboy' authenticity and the film's exciting action, with many viewers specifically mentioning the opening sequence with the turtle and hare as particularly memorable.

Film connections

Influenced by

• The Great Train Robbery (1903)
• William S. Hart Westerns
• D.W. Griffith's storytelling techniques
• Contemporary rodeo shows
• American frontier literature

This film influenced

• Subsequent Tom Mix Westerns
• John Ford's early Westerns
• The Big Trail (1930)
• Stagecoach (1939)
• The Searchers (1956)

Film restoration

Partially preserved - While the original negative was destroyed in the 1937 Fox vault fire, several complete prints survive in film archives including the Library of Congress and the Museum of Modern Art. Some deterioration is evident in existing copies, but the film remains viewable and has been included in several Tom Mix retrospective collections. A restored version was released on DVD in 2005 as part of a Tom Mix collection, though some scenes show signs of nitrate decomposition.

Where to watch

• Available on DVD from various classic film distributors
• Streaming on The Criterion Channel (occasionally featured in silent film retrospectives)
• Available for viewing at film archives including the Library of Congress
• Occasionally screened at classic film festivals and silent film societies
• Some public domain versions available on internet archive sites