{{short description|1926 film}} {{Use American English|date=September 2021}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2020}} {{Infobox film | name = The Bonanza Buckaroo | image = | caption = | director = Richard Thorpe | producer = Lester F. Scott Jr. | writer = Betty Burbridge<br />Barr Cross | screenplay = | story = | starring = Jay Wilsey<br />Harry Todd<br />Judith King | cinematography = Ray Ries | studio = Action Pictures | distributor = Associated Exhibitors | released = {{Film date|1926|8|28|''US''|ref1=<ref name=AFI>{{cite web | url=https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/MovieDetails/2952?cxt=filmography | title= The Bonanza Buckaroo | publisher=American Film Institute | accessdate= December 6, 2017 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206211843/https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/MovieDetails/2952?cxt=filmography | url-status=live | archivedate=December 6, 2017}}</ref>}} | runtime = 5 reels | country = United States | language = Silent<br />English intertitles }} '''''The Bonanza Buckaroo''''' is a 1926 American silent Western comedy film directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Jay Wilsey, Harry Todd, and Judith King. It was released on August 28, 1926.
==Plot== When Buffalo Bill Jr. rescues an older woman trapped in a runaway car, she invites him to dine with her and her wealthy husband. At dinner, Bill becomes entranced with the couples' daughter, Cleo. He quickly learns that Andrew Gordon's daughter will only marry someone with the means to support her in the style she is accustomed to. Bill is dismayed until he overhears a plot to snap up the property between Andrew Gordon's mine and that of his chief rival.
With the help of his sidekick, Chewin' Charlie, they subdue Fraction Jack and manage to stake their claim to the land first. Leaving Charlie to guard the claim, Bill heads back to town to register their stake. With the claim in hand, Bill approaches Andrew and they come to an agreement for Gordon to purchase the claim, expanding his holdings. It also satisfies Gordon that Bill has the business sense needed to marry his daughter. Bill arrives back at the claim just in time to save Charlie from claim jumpers.
==Cast== * Jay Wilsey as Bill Merritt (credited as Buffalo Bill Jr.) * Harry Todd as Chewin' Charlie * Judith King as Cleo Gordon (credited as Judy King) * Lafe McKee as Andrew Gordon * Winifred Landis as Mrs Andrew Gordon * Al Taylor as Carney * Slim Whitaker as Fraction Jack (credited as Charles Whitaker) * Denman Maley as Spike (credited as Dutch Maley) * Emily Barrye as the maid * William Ryno as the sheriff (credited as Bill Ryno)
==Production== Production on the film was completed by the end of June 1926. It was the second of the "Buffalo Bill Jr." series for Action Pictures.<ref>{{cite news | newspaper= The Film Daily | title="Bonanza Buckaroo" Ready | date=April 4, 1936 | page=4 | url=https://archive.org/stream/filmdailyvolume669newy#page/776/mode/2up/search/%22The+Big+Game%22 |accessdate=September 12, 2015}}{{Open access}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | newspaper=Motion Picture News | title=Selznick Shapes Assoc. Policy | date=July 10, 1926 | page=135 | url=https://archive.org/stream/motionnew34moti#page/n137/mode/2up/search/%22Bonanza+Buckaroo%22 | accessdate=February 17, 2018}}{{Open access}}</ref> The first of the series was ''Rawhide'', also directed by Thorpe and starring Wilsey.<ref>{{cite news | newspaper=Motion Picture News | title=Buffalo Bill, Jr. | date=August 21, 1926 | page=6| url=https://archive.org/stream/motionnew34moti#page/n635/mode/2up/search/%22Bonanza+Buckaroo%22 | accessdate=February 17, 2018}}{{Open access}}</ref> In November it was part of a number of films which were picked up by Pathe for distribution.<ref>{{cite news | newspaper=Motion Picture News | title=Eschmann Heads Pathe Feature Sales | date=November 6, 1926 | page=1758a | url=https://archive.org/stream/motionpicture34moti#page/n45/mode/2up/search/%22Bonanza+Buckaroo%22 | accessdate=February 17, 2018}}{{Open access}}</ref>
==Reception== ''Motion Picture News'' gave the film a "fair" rating. They enjoyed the flow of the story, and the novelty of the characters' motivations. They also highlighted the cinematography of Ray Reis.<ref>{{cite news | newspaper=Motion Picture News | title= The Bonanza Buckaroo | date=August 21, 1926 | page=761| url=https://archive.org/stream/motionnew34moti#page/760/mode/2up/search/%22Bonanza+Buckaroo%22 | accessdate=February 17, 2018}}{{Open access}}</ref> ''The Moving Picture World'' gave the picture a better review. They enjoyed the way comedy had been intertwined with the action, saying "it leaves little to be desired for this type of entertainment." They felt it elevated the status of the Buffalo Bill Jr. franchise.<ref>{{cite news | newspaper= The Moving Picture World | title="The Bonanza Buckaroo" - Asso. Exhibs. | date=August 21, 1926 | page=487 | url=https://archive.org/stream/movpicwor81movi#page/n443/mode/2up/search/%22Bonanza+Buckaroo%22 | accessdate=February 17, 2018}}{{Open access}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb title|0016671}} * {{TCMDb title|489485}}
{{Richard Thorpe}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bonanza Buckaroo, The}} Category:1926 English-language films Category:1920s Western (genre) comedy films Category:American black-and-white films Category:1926 comedy films Category:1926 films Category:Associated Exhibitors films Category:Films directed by Richard Thorpe Category:American silent Western (genre) comedy films Category:1926 American films Category:English-language Western (genre) comedy films