Plunderer

• 1924
• 1 hr 6 mins
• NR

• Watchlist

Based on a 1912 novel by Roy Norton and filmed previously in 1915 with William Farnum, this silent Western from Fox starred Frank Mayo as Bill Matthews, a young Easterner who, along with engineer friend Richard Townsend (Edward Phillips), goes West to operate his late father's abandoned mine. As it turns out, the mine is being plundered through secret tunnels by Bill Presbey (Tom Santschi), the father of Richard's girlfriend, Joan (Peggy Shaw). With the assistance of the Lily (Evelyn Brent), a saloon belle, Bill, Richard, and Joan manage to outwit the villains and save old man Presbey from a cave-in. Very much an also-ran action lead of the silent era, Frank Mayo's career was already in a decline by the time he starred in The Plunderer. The New York-born actor hung in there, however, playing hundreds of supporting and bit roles until his retirement in the late '40s. He was the husband of silent screen vamp Dagmar Godowski.