EYES OF THE FOREST (1923) Tom Mix & Tony Race Ahead of an Explosion & Rockslide!

Description

Vintage original 11x14 in. US lobby card
from the 1920's silent film western,
EYES OF THE FOREST
, released in 1923 by the Fox Film Corporation and
directed by Lambert Hillyer
. Bruce Thornton (Tom Mix), a forest ranger, arrests Ruth Melier (Pauline Starke), who is accused of murdering her stepfather. However, Ruth reveals that her brutal husband, Horgan (Sid Jordan), is the murderer. Bruce and a fellow ranger capture Horgan and his gang of timber thieves, establishing Ruth's innocence. The cast includes Buster Gardner, J.P. Lockney, Thomas G. Lingham, and Edwin Wallock.
The image features a dramatic exterior action scene as forest ranger Bruce Thornton (
Tom Mix
),
astride
his horse, Tony, races to stay ahead of the shockwave and flying debris from a huge explosion that has just occurred behind him in a rocky and wooded setting.
The vignette in the lower right depicts Mix with leading lady
Pauline Starke
. It is unrestored in fine- condition with three pinholes in the top and bottom borders
and light signs of wear on the corners. There are no tears, stains, writing, or other flaws.
Filmed on location in Ben Lomond, California,
Tom Mix and his horse Tony were injured when an explosion that was supposed to cause a landslide covering a high pass was apparently too strong and blew rocks and debris further than it was supposed to
,
and both Mix and his horse were struck by the flying rocks
. Although injured, Mix spent two hours coaxing his terrified horse down off the pass to an area where it, and he, could be treated.