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Hell's Hinges

Play trailer Poster for Hell's Hinges Released Mar 5, 1916 1h 5m Western Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 2 Reviews 56% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
A saloon owner (William S. Hart) begins to change his ways when he meets the new preacher's (Jack Standing) sister (Clara Williams).

Critics Reviews

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Richard Brody New Yorker The images are as direct and bare as the characters' emotions, and the harsh drama builds to a mad, apocalyptic climax of crime and revenge. Jan 4, 2016 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews An early silent William S. Hart western that delivers a religious message about moral retribution. Rated: B Jun 1, 2007 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member Hell's Hinges is a very compelling motion picture. While there are moments in the film that are pretty simple, they are still nuanced. An example of that is the costume designs in the film. Especially the characters that wear cowboy hats. The film's antagonist wears a black cowboy hat that symbolizes evil while the film's protagonist Blaze Tracy (played by William S. Hart) at first wears a black cowboy hat than as the film goes on, he wears a white cowboy hat that symbolizes the good nature in. All because his character is an interesting character as he starts of infamous gunslinger then seeks redemption. He is the true anti-hero. The visuals when everything in the small village burns to the ground is a very powerful scene because it captures the feel of fury. The cinematography by Joseph August is also pretty nuanced as well especially with the film's climax. Hell's Hinges is a very respected western film that gives audiences a feel that some bad guys (anti-heroes) can seek redemption. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Audience Member This silent western is the tale of an inept preacher sent by his Church leaders to a town where religion and law aren't entirely wanted...and a Salooon owner and the local gunslinger plot to run them out of town. But the gunslinger, Blaze Tracy, falls for the preacher's sister and accepts their religion. When others don't follow him blindly because of his crush, he gets annoyed...and once the saloon owner and a good chunk of the townspeople get the weak willed preacher drunk...Blaze goes nuts and tries to burn everyone alive. Seriously. The Christian message of this film is believe in God or we'll burn your town down and just walk away. Christians are the best! I can't say I agree with the Christian tale being told, as an Atheist, but I can say that this is a decent early western that is competently made and kind of fun...if you like movies we people go nuts and try to burn everyone alive. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/17/23 Full Review Audience Member Whats the moral of this story? If the nonbelievers set fire to your church, the Christian thing to do is go on a killing spree and burn the entire town to the ground. Then God will give you peace. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 01/14/23 Full Review Audience Member I liked it. Most silent film bores me for the most part unless it's Chaplin, but this one works. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/25/23 Full Review Audience Member I really like this movie for some reason. William Hart is so cool in this cheesy classic. Liberating hell from the devil, or whoever ran the town. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/18/23 Full Review Audience Member Great early western feature. Absolutely required viewing for western fans. One only wishes more were made today. Solid acting, characterizations, script, sets, and locations. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/14/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Hell's Hinges

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Cast & Crew

Movie Info

Synopsis A saloon owner (William S. Hart) begins to change his ways when he meets the new preacher's (Jack Standing) sister (Clara Williams).
Director
Charles Swickard
Producer
Thomas H. Ince
Screenwriter
C. Gardner Sullivan
Production Co
Triangle Film Corporation, New York Motion Picture Corporation, Kay-Bee Pictures
Genre
Western
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 5, 1916, Wide
Release Date (DVD)
Nov 21, 2006
Runtime
1h 5m