Handsome newcomer Don Coleman starred in this independently produced silent Western about a Texas Ranger whose foster-father has been falsely accused of a series of crimes. A former stunt-double for Douglas Fairbanks, Coleman was signed to a personal contract by Gower Gulch maverick Leo Maloney, who carefully groomed him for stardom in a series of well-mounted oaters released by Pathé. Like other Coleman Westerns, The Black Ace benefitted from an above-average supporting cast that included the veteran J.P. McGowan as the foster-father, African-American Noble Johnson as a "half-breed," and the beautiful and talented Jeanette Loff as the girl. The golden tressed Loff later starred opposite Paul Whiteman in Universal's musical extravaganza The King of Jazz, but, like Coleman, never truly made the switch to talkies. Coleman's career suffered a major setback on November 2, 1929 when Leo Maloney suddenly succumbed to a fatal heart attack. He stayed around for a couple of supporting roles but retired in 1935 to take up ranching full time.
by Hans J. Wollstein
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