The Royal Rider


The Royal Rider is a 1929 American Synchronized sound Western film directed by Harry Joe Brown and written by Sylvia Bernstein, Jacques Jaccard and Leslie Mason. While the film has no audible dialog, it was released with a synchronized musical score with sound effects using the Vitaphone sound-on-disc sound process. The film stars Ken Maynard, Olive Hasbrouck, Philippe De Lacy, Theodore Lorch, Joseph Burke and Harry Semels. The film was released by Warner Bros. on February 17, 1929.

Cast

Dick Scott leads his roaming troupe of trick riders as they prepare to stage their Wild West show in a small town in Alvania, ruled by a ten-year-old Boy King, Michael XI. The young monarch's innocent curiosity is sparked when the show's advance man announces the upcoming rodeo, prompting the King to command the entire troupe to appear before him, eager to meet the legendary Texas cowboys his American governess, Ruth Elliott, has told him about.
While visiting the palace, Scott overhears the sinister Prime Minister conspiring with his political cohorts to overthrow the government and seize the throne for himself. When the Prime Minister learns that Scott knows of the plot, he devises a plan to eliminate him during a command performance of the rodeo.
The Prime Minister selects his finest horseman to challenge Scott in a thrilling riding contest designed to kill him. Both riders display extraordinary horsemanship in a dazzling duel, but Scott ultimately triumphs by roping and horsing his rival.
Failing to kill Scott or the Boy King, who is now heavily guarded by Scott and his troupe, the Prime Minister initiates a full-scale revolution. Scott valiantly defends the young monarch against overwhelming odds. Just when hope seems lost, Scott's faithful horse, Tarzan, arrives with the rest of the Wild West troupe to turn the tide.
The rebellion is crushed, order restored, and the grateful King gives his blessing to the budding romance between Scott and Ruth Elliott.