Wild and Woolly (1917)

Steeped in the opulence of New York, Jeff Hillington, a railroad heir, is infatuated with the gritty charm and untamed spirit of the Wild West. Yet, his visions are romantically rooted in the 1880s, a time when lawlessness and courage intertwined on the dusty streets of towns like Bitter Creek, Arizona. Yearning to immerse himself in this bygone era, Jeff decides to venture westward, drawing a shrewd plan from his protective father. To safeguard his adventurous son, the elder Hillington orchestrates an elaborate ruse. Bitter Creek is transformed into a convincing facsimile of the 1880s, complete with pistol-packing townsfolk. However, to prevent any calamity, these weapons are loaded with harmless blanks. Unbeknownst to the Hillingtons, the local Indigenous people, weary of their circumstances, catch wind of this charade. Seeing an opportunity, they rise in revolt, their guns spitting real bullets, shattering the theatrical tranquility of the town. Caught in a whirlwind of danger, Jeff must navigate through a tempest of gunfire, from the safety of a saloon to his stockpile of weapons. It's a thrilling scramble that tests his mettle, as he must arm the townsfolk and quell the uprising. Amidst the chaos and smoke, will he find the love and heroism that he has always dreamed of in his wild, woolly fantasies of the West? The once-peaceful, now-reviving town holds its breath, as the tale of this rich Easterner's adventure unfolds.

Wild and Woolly is a comedy movie featuring Tom Wilson and directed by John Emerson.

Wild and Woolly is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Kanopy.