40-Horse Hawkins on AllMovie

An unpolished Westerner once again finds himself a fish out of water on the Great White Way in this pleasant silent comedy-Western starring Hoot Gibson. Gibson plays Luke Hawkins, the jack-of-all-trades of the Western town of Lariat. An oldfashioned theatrical troupe visits the area and Luke falls head-over-heels in love with Mary Darling (Anne Cornwall), the company's pretty soubrette. So in love is our Luke that when the company returns to New York, he quickly follows. After various odd jobs, the irrepressible Luke secures himself a bit part in Mary's newest stage endeavor. Just as the play is about to flop, Luke's no holds barred ardor saves the day. If nothing else, 40-Horse Hawkins offered a nostalgic look at the era of touring stock companies complete with mustache-twirling villain (Richard Tucker) and a grand leading woman (Helen Holmes). Directors Edward Sedgwick and J. Gordon Edwards appeared in cameos as a stage manager and stage-door Johnny, respectively. Gibson was Broadway-bound once again in Broadway or Bust, also released in 1924.