Tonio, Son of the Sierras (1925 ~ 5 reels)
Directed by Ben F. Wilson
Produced by J. Charles Davis
Cinematography by Alfred Gosden
Writing credits: Charles King (novel)
Cast:
Ben F. Wilson: Lt. Richard Harris ~ Lt. Booth
Neva Gerber: Evelyn Archer ~ Miss Brower
Chief Yowlachie: Tonio
Jim Welch: Col. Archer ~ Col. Brower
Robert Walker: Lt. Willett ~ Lt. Downs
Ruth Royce: Mrs. Bennett
Fay Adams: Capt. Stannard
Tonio, Son of the Sierras
Summary:
Tonio, the son of a Navajo chief, is the Indian scout at Fort Almy. When
the Apaches go on the warpath, he disappears from the fort. During a battle,
Lieutenant Booth is wounded while he rescues the married daughter of the
fort's commander, Colonel Brower. Booth and Lieutenant Downs are rivals
for Colonel Brower's other daughter. After a stagecoach robbery and murder
has occurred at Piney Point, Tonio, who has been accused by Downs of treachery,
returns to the fort and, through a window, observes Booth, who had defended
Tonio, give Downs some money. After Downs leaves, Tonio follows him to
a cabin and sees him plant Booth's kerchief near a a hidden bag that was
taken during the stage holdup. The next day, Tonio brings his father, the
Navajo chief, to meet the colonel, who arranges for the chief to have his
warriors get ready for the fight against the Apaches. Later, Downs meets
with a cohort, Sanchez, at a bar to give him the bag of coins. The paymaster
for the district, who is drinking there, notices that the bag is a U.S.
government pay sack. Downs says that Booth loaned him $300 to pay a debt
he owes to Sanchez and that the money was in the bag when he gave it to
him. Realizing that the bag was stolen from the stagecoach, the paymaster
goes with Sanchez and Downs to the fort to report to Colonel Brower. At
the fort, Downs asks Miss Brower if she will go riding with him that afternoon,
and she agrees, if Booth does not return by then. Believing Booth to be
above suspicion, Colonel Brower vows to personally investigate and returns
the money to the paymaster. Sanchez rides off, after inviting Downs to
bring Miss Brower for a visit that afternoon. Downs then tells the colonel
that he followed Tonio to the cabin, where he found the stolen money. The
colonel asks Downs to take him there. Meanwhile, Tonio sends Booth a smoke
signal, and when he arrives, relates that he followed Downs to the cabin,
where he opened a box and took a sack of gold away. Hoping he is wrong,
Booth follows Tonio to the cabin. The colonel and Downs arrive first, and
the colonel recognizes the kerchief as belonging to Booth. Downs says he
distrusted Booth all along. When Tonio and Booth arrive, the colonel arrests
Booth and Tonio for murder and the holdup at Piney Point. They are imprisoned
at the fort, and a guard sadistically has Booth watch Downs ride off with
Miss Brower. Booth asks the guard to give a note to Miss Brower, and when
the guard takes it, Booth grabs his rifle and keys through the bars. Tonio
gets out and hits the guard over the head with the rifle, and they escape
on horses. The colonel calls out his men to pursue them. Meanwhile, Sanchez
commands some Apaches not to hurt "the white squaw," whom he says is for
him, after they plan to attack Downs. Sanchez reveals that he now plans
to enjoy both the money and the girl. Downs fights Sanchez, but an Apache
hits him over the head with a rifle, then they ride off with Miss Brower
and their horses. After seeing the Apaches riding with the colonel's daughter,
the Navajo chief goes to his village and sends his braves with rifles to
save her. Booth and Tonio come upon Downs, who says that Sanchez and "the
red devils" have the girl. Booth and Tonio join the Navajos pursuing the
Apaches, who have been instructed by Sanchez to bring the girl to his cabin.
The colonel and his men find Downs unconscious and revive him, then set
off to save his daughter. The cavalry reaches the Navajo and the chief
coordinates his attack with them. As the Navajo fight the Apaches, Booth
chases down and fights the Apache carrying Miss Brower and throws him from
a high rock. She faints and Booth carries her off. Tonio knocks Sanchez
off his horse and they fight. Sanchez draws his knife and in their struggle,
he is stabbed. Tonio brings the mortally wounded man to the colonel, and
Sanchez confesses that his Indians held up the stage, and tells that Downs
found the strongbox and tried to frame Booth before dying. The colonel
then confronts Downs and orders a subordinate to take him away. Booth carries
Miss Brower to her father, and when she revives, the colonel gives Booth
her hand. They embrace, as Tonio looks on.
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