The Red Devils (1911)
A circus comes to a frontier town and pitches its tent, attracting a good audience of cowboys, soldiers from the nearby post and residents of the town. One of the soldiers falls in love with a pretty girl performer, the daughter of the manager, and succeeds in gaining the father's consent, after which he departs for a post farther west, to which his company has been ordered. With the circus is a troupe of acrobats, costumed as red devils. Just as the engagement closes, their manager receives a wire from a Western town offering him an engagement. The acrobats hail the offer with delight, especially pleased is the girl, because it will take her near her soldier lover, so the engagement is accepted. The picture now takes us to the military post where the lover is found with his comrades about the entrance of the stockade. A messenger appears with a letter from the girl, telling him of the coming of the troupe and that her father has agreed that they may be married immediately. This puts the soldier in high spirits and his comrades overwhelm him with congratulations and carry him into the stockade on their shoulders when he tells them the good news. During these events trouble has been brewing between the cowboys and the Indians. The latter have been caught in the act of stealing cattle and, in the fight that follows, one of them, the chief's son, is killed. For this the Indians take the war path. One of the Indians happens to be in town when the stage carrying the troupe of Red Devils, their manager and his daughter, starts on its journey with an escort of cowboys. This spy hastens to the camp of his tribe and the band starts out at once to prepare an ambush for the travelers. Lumbering along over the rough trail comes the old stagecoach, a real relic of pioneer days, with four horses swinging it around the curves with all the dash of the Wild West. Then a wheel breaks and the coach comes to a stop, while the occupants pile out to see what the trouble is. While they are inspecting the damage the Indians come upon them; there is a general scurrying to shelter, except one daring fellow who boldly perches himself upon the top of the coach as if he were inviting the Indians to "pot" him. One of the cowboy escorts manages to get away at the beginning of the scrimmage with a message from the girl to her lover at the fort, which happens to be the nearest point from which succor can be obtained. For some time the Indians continue their fire from ambush, but when all the visible defenders have been disposed of they rush the coach with the purpose of finishing them. Just as they seem about to overwhelm the survivors the troupe of "Red Devils" springs out of the coach and hold the Indians spellbound in open mouthed wonder at their marvelous tumbling. While these events are happening, the messenger arrives at the fort and soon a troop of cavalry is on the way to the rescue. Alternate views of the "Red Devils" holding the Indians in awe and the soldiers racing over the trail carry the interest to a high pitch. Now the acrobats are about exhausted from their efforts and would give up, but the girl and her father rush out and encourage them to keep going. Then one Indian, evidently not to be fooled by the antics of the "Red Devils," springs out and harangues his braves. This breaks the spell and the attack on the travelers is about to be resumed when the soldiers come dashing up and scatter the Indians. The ruse of the "Red Devils" has been successful and the scene closes with the girl clasped in the arms of her soldier lover.
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Domestic
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Worldwide
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GenresComedy
Short
Western
IMDbPro
See more details at IMDbPro
| Filmmakers | Role |
|---|---|
| Sidney Drew | Director |
| Sidney Drew | Writer |
| Sidney Drew | Writer |
| Mark M. Dintenfass | Producer |
| Cast | Role |
|---|---|
| Mrs. Sidney Drew | |
| Sidney Drew |
