The Pioneering Spirit of William S. Hart: The First Western Movie Cowboy

William S. Hart, often overshadowed by later Hollywood legends like Clint Eastwood, was the first to set the template for the Western movie cowboy. Hart's lived experiences in the American Old West heavily influenced his on-screen persona and storytelling, making him a precursor to and inspiration for many iconic Western figures in cinema.

The Western Life

William S. Hart was born in upstate New York in 1864 but was not altogether an Easterner. He spent his early years in the old West, especially in Dakota, among the Sioux Indians. This immersive environment helped shape his perspective and later his portrayal of Western characters in film.

He remarked, 'I was brought up in Dakota, lived among the Sioux Indians until I was 15 years old… As my childhood was passed in an atmosphere where a Colt was the court of last appeal, I could not help being an impressed observer.'

Early Homicides and Lessons from the West

During his youthful years, Hart was present at shocking events that left a lasting impression on him. 'I saw two men killed at Sioux City, and some men half-rushed out of a saloon shooting. My father gripped my shoulder and said, "Stand still."'

He explained, 'If near a gunfight and the weapons are wielded by amateurs, run for your life. If professionals are handling the trigger, stand still—they know where they are shooting.'

Acting and Early Career

After his formative experiences in the West, Hart transitioned to a life on the stage. In his early 20s, he trained as an actor and made his professional stage debut performing Shakespeare. He went on to act in various plays like Ben-Hur before popularizing the role of the villainous Messala.

Becoming a Western Star

William S. Hart broke into films as a cowpoke in 1914 when he was 49. He quickly became a star, and his two-reel Westerns were quickly supplanted by features. Hart made 8 to 10 features a year during and after World War I, and he was as popular as other Hollywood legends like Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, and Douglas Fairbanks.

The Classic Western Style

William S. Hart is known for his gritty, realistic portrayal of Western characters. He often depicted a bad man who worked hard to become good, with a woman and/or Bible often present to help him along the path to righteousness. Examples of his films, such as Tumbleweeds, are now considered classics, even though they were not initially box office hits.

The Legacy of William S. Hart

By the early 1920s, Hart’s style of Western was being supplanted by more flashier, less realistic cowboy types like Tom Mix, who favored embroidered shirts and six-guns. Hart was dropped by Paramount Pictures in the mid-1920s, and his last feature film, Tumbleweeds, was released in 1925. Hart retired to his ranch in Newhall, California, and passed away there 21 years later.