DVD/Blu Ray Review: Hell Bent (1918)

This early John Ford western was presumed lost until a print turned up in a Czechoslovakian archive. It was restored by Universal in 2019 and is now available on DVD and Blu Ray by Kino Lorber.

"Hell Bent" is what describes cowboy Cheyenne Harry (Harry Carey) who courageously and relentlessly travels through the desert on foot to reach the woman he loves (Neva Gerber) who has been kidnapped by an outlaw that is also smitten with her. And in a brisk 53 minutes, "Hell Bent" manages to be funny, dramatic, exciting, and visually arresting.

Even in a film this early in his career, director John Ford has a keen visual sense and an astute shot composition. The movie opens with novelist Fred Worth reading a note from his publisher indicating that his books featuring virtuous heroes are unrealistic, and he should create a flawed character who triumphs positively. Worth stares at a western painting, Frederic Remington's "A Misdeal," and as a story formulates in his head, director Ford holds at a close-up of the painting and it becomes live action with a visual transformation that must have been shockingly impressive to viewers back in 1918.

From this point, "Hell Bent" develops its characters, and despite the brief running time, they are layered enough for us to invest in them, and in the narrative.

When a single film of "Hell Bent" was discovered at Národní filmový archiv in the Czech Republic, it was on nitrate stock and over a century old. The fact that the subsequent restoration resulted in such a sharp print is truly remarkable. Kino's release also includes a strong score by Zachary Marsh that enhances the action commendably.

Extras on the Kino Lorber disc include an audio commentary by Ford expert Joseph McBride, a 1970 interview with John Ford, and a video essay by another Ford expert Tag Gallagher. All of this is enlightening, informative, and interesting.

So much from the silent era is now lost, it is worth celebrating when any new footage from that important cinematic era is discovered. Having a movie that helps complete the accessibility of John Ford's filmography turn up in such restorable condition is especially significant. "Hell Bent" is a must.

The blu ray is available here: Ford/Carey/HellBent