Raoul Walsh — Real Tales About Reel Folk (1914) 🇺🇸

Raoul Walsh, heavy lead for the Reliance and Majestic, is a soldier of fortune and one of the most striking figures in films. At fifteen, he ran away from home and worked his way on a cattle boat to South Africa. Two years later, he turned up in Peru, where a wealthy Englishman was starting a rebellion, and became an officer in the insurgent’s forces. The leader was shot, and Walsh barely escaped with his life.

Thence he went to Mexico where he took up bull-fighting for a pastime, and later became a professional in the Chihuahua arena. In one exhibition, however, he was wounded beneath the horns of an infuriated bull, and after several months in a native hospital, crossed the Rio Grande into Texas.

Walsh was chosen to play the part of the youthful Villa in the Mutual production, “The Life of Villa”, in which all his intimate knowledge of Mexican life was turned to strong dramatic account. He was starred in “The Dishonored Medal”, and has played many other vigorous, adventurous characters.

The characteristic pose, here reproduced, shows to what extent his athletic build and power of expression — even to the clenched fist — make him one of the foremost “heavies” appearing in pictures.

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Raoul Walsh used to be a soldier of fortune

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Athletics are a live feature of the life at Thanhouser. It is the only studio which has a rowing crew, and recently a football team was organized. Dave Thompson is manager.

Collection: Reel Life Magazine, October 1914

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see also

• all entries of the Real Tales About Reel Folk series
• Raoul Walsh — Biographical Sketch (1927)
• Raoul Walsh — He Envies His Actors (1929)