Selfish Yates

Selfish Yates is a 1918 American silent western drama film starring William S. Hart. It was directed by and co-produced by Hart along with Thomas H. Ince.[1] Paramount Pictures handled distribution.[2]

Selfish Yates
Film poster
Directed byWilliam S. Hart
Produced byWilliam S. Hart
Thomas H. Ince
Written byC. Gardner Sullivan (story, scenario)
StarringWilliam S. Hart
Jane Novak
CinematographyJoseph H. August
Production
company
William S. Hart Productions
Distributed byParamount Pictures Artcraft
Release date
May 12, 1918 (New York City premiere)
May 20, 1918 (general release)
Running time
50 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageSilent (English intertitles)

This is a surviving Hart western at the Museum of Modern Art.[3]

Plot

As described in a film magazine,[4] Mary Adams (Novak), her sister Betty (Salter), and her dying father arrive at the town of Thirsty Center which is ruled by "Selfish" Yates. After the death of her father, Mary scrubs the floors of the dance hall and cooks for Yates. However, soon her finer qualities awaken a spark of manhood in Yates and he sets her to work teaching his protege Hotfoot. After rescuing Mary from his unscrupulous manager, Yates decides to dispose of his dance hall and devote the rest of his life to righteous living and making Mary happy.

Cast

Reception

Like many American films of the time, Selfish Yates was subject to restrictions and cuts by city and state film censorship boards. For example, the Chicago Board of Censors cut, in Reel 1, young woman at bar drinking with men, the intertitle "His protege, the nameless waif of a departed dance hall girl", Reel 3, Mexican shooting man, Reel 4, closeup of Riley as he is about to spring at young woman as she lies on ground, two closeups of Yates choking man, Reel 5, three intertitles "There's a rope waiting for you, Riley", "They're going to lynch Riley", and "You've got two minutes to pray", last two scenes of mob taking man from jail, scene of cowboy with rope in hand, and all scenes of man with rope around neck up to where young woman rescues him.[5]

References
  1. Progressive Silent Film List: Selfish Yates at silentera.com
  2. The AFI Catalog of Feature Films: Selfish Yates
  3. The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: Selfish Yates
  4. "Reviews: Selfish Yates". Exhibitors Herald. New York City: Exhibitors Herald Company. 6 (24): 27. June 8, 1918.
  5. "Official Cut-Outs by the Chicago Board of Censors". Exhibitors Herald. New York City: Exhibitors Herald Company. 6 (25): 31. June 15, 1918.


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