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Summary
Many of the earliest film in theWesterngenre were silent films that starred genuine - living outlaws and cowboys . While the Western film genre is said to have realise its summit around the fifties , the musical genre was a independent part of the silent film era between 1894 and 1929 . So , although rare , the crosswalk between real - life Western figure and their portrayal in film did occur for a few individuals .
Severalprominent figures of the Wild West appear in Western filmsbut are oftentimes play by other histrion . However , many of these noted outlaws and cowboys acted as themselves in films recount events throughout their life . A few of these individuals produced or wrote the reservoir for the movie themselves as they ponder upon their previous fashion of sprightliness .
10Wyatt Earp
An Extra In The Half-Breed (1916)
Since Wyatt Earp exit in 1929 , he ’s been depicted in numerous films , television serial , and other whole caboodle of fiction . One of the films includesMy Darling Clementine , which depicts the life of the Earp brothers and the events of the gunfight at the O.K. Corral . The gunplay is one of the events Earp is most known for and is noted as being the most famous to occur in the American Old West .
During his time in Los Angeles , Earp worked as an unpaid moving picture adviser and was on set for Allan Dwan ’s film , The Half - strain . Though not credited for his work , Dwan ’s life reveals that Earp starred as an duplicate in the film . to boot , Earp befriend those in the industry such as actor William S. Hart and music director John Ford .
Related:10 Real - Life Western Lawmen And Outlaws Who merit A boob tube Adaptation
9Jesse James Jr.
Played The Role Of His Father In Two Films
Jesse James was an crook who overhaul aside in 1882 . He did n’t live long enough to star in any films himself , but his sonJesse James Jr. starred in two Western films . He starred in the 1921 filmsJesse James Under the Black FlagandJesse James as the Outlaw , play the persona of his father in both of them . James Jr. also work as a technical supervisor for the 1927 biopic about his male parent ’s life . While his crook body process was n’t as broad as his father ’s , he did get arrested for a train robbery but was exculpate short after .
8Al Jennings
Reenacted His Robberies In Films
Al Jennings set out with a calling as a prosecuting attorney , but before long joined the " Jennings Gang " and lived a aliveness of robbery . Jennings earned a reputation for his felon activity and was able-bodied torecreate a depository financial institution looting of his in the 1908 picture show , The Bank Robbery . Jennings was finally given a life prison term in 1899 , but it was cut to five years and was before long pardoned altogether .
Related:10 capital westerly villain Who Existed In Real Life
7Henry Starr
Starred As Himself In A Debtor To The Law
grow up , Henry Starr was surround by outlaws . After Starr ’s father passed and his mother remarried a man he resented , Starr decide to allow home and become a cowboy . Starr would eventually form a pack roll in the hay in the northwestern parts of Arkansas . The robbery put by Starr and his crew would lead to his arrest in 1915 , and it was during this time that he compose an autobiography titledThrilling Events , Life of Henry Starr . Once free on parole , Starr starred in the 1919 filmA Debtor to the Lawacting as himself .
6Buffalo Bill Cody
Acted In Stage Adaptations Of His Adventures
William Cody , also bed as " Buffalo Bill , " was an regular army scout for several years , but received notoriety for his on - stage public presentation . While on a railroad train , Cody fulfill Ned Buntline , a writer who would finally release level based on Cody ’s life tale . A few years follow their confluence , Cody appeared on point inThe Scouts of the Prairie , a show produced by Buntline .
After encounter attention for his performance , Cody startedBuffalo Bill ’s Wild West , a touring attracter that had performer reenact scenariossuch as stagecoach looting and attacks on wagon trains . Buffalo Bill became an internationally make love figure after the grouping ’s touring in Europe became highly pop . Cody would also portray himself in the filmThe Life of Buffalo Bill , produce partly by Buffalo Bill .
5Annie Oakley
Toured With Buffalo Bill’s Wild West
Annie Oakley made her performing first appearance in Buffalo Bill ’s showBuffalo Bill ’s Wild West . She was a leading performing artist alongside her husband , Frank Butler . Together the two were known for their sharpshooter skills , as Oakley ’s childhood forced her to get such acquisition . Whilemuch of her performing career direct blank space in Buffalo Bill ’s touring attractive force , Oakley did appear in a mum motion-picture show in 1894 . Thomas Edison asked the touring radical to seem in film of his , one of which was titledAnnie Oakley . The film showcases Oakley ’s shot skills as she ’s successfully firing at still object and those being tossed up in the zephyr .
4Heck Thomas
Captured Outlaws In Real Life And Film
Henry " Heck " Thomas was known for his service in police , notably convey down the Dalton Gang . Working with two U.S. US Marshals Service , the three were know as the Three Guardsmen of the region . Among the outlaws the Three Guardsmen captured , they ended the sovereignty of the Dalton Gang with only one member , Emmett Dalton , surviving . After suffering from poor health conditions , Thomas acted in the 1908 filmThe Bank Robbery , as theleader of a group that captures bank robber , mirror event from his real life .
3Emmett Dalton
Portrayed Himself In Film Based On His Life
Emmett Dalton was the only pull through member of the Dalton Gang . The group of outlaws is known for their failed seek to soak two banks on the same day in 1892 . After serving his time in prison , Dalton was excuse and embarked on a path dissimilar from his previous outlaw way . Through a cartridge holder , Dalton publishedBeyond the Law , a story detailing the event in this life . This history would later be made into a pic in which Dalton portray himself .
2George Contant AKA George Sontag
George Contant , known as George Sontag when go alongside his brother John Sontag , was an criminal during the 1890s . In California , George , John , and their acquaintance Christopher , worked together to carry through a handful of robberies , including a string in the region now lie with as Fresno County . It ’s there where the three would be caught and cop for their crimes . Once Contant was released , he wroteA Pardoned Lifer , an autobiography reflecting on his alternative made as an criminal . Advocating against felon lifestyles , Contant was reach a young living for himself . This included exercise as a manufacturer for the 1915 filmThe Folly of a Life of Crime .
1Pancho Villa
Signed A Movie Deal To Receive Funding For Revolution
Francisco " Pancho " Villa , though not an outlaw or cowboy by definition , was a celebrated Mexican loss leader in the revolutionary movementand has been portrayed throughout westerly films following his overtaking . It ’s his engagement in Mexico ’s political relation and the descriptions of his character as written by journalists that contributed to his celebrity . Journalist John Reed documented the journey of Villa and his army and publish his writing for American audience .
Furthermore , Villa signed a deal with the Mutual Film Corporation to obtain investment trust . In exchange for Villa star in soundless action films , he received $ 25,000 and was promise a cut of the pic ’s profits . The cinema , The Life of General Villa , starred Villa as himself in Mexican Revolutionary conflict sequences , some of which were veridical and others that were staged .
