Oh, You Tony + The Teeth

Tom Mix, one of the most famous actors in the history of the Western film genre, gained devoted fans in many countries, but there is ample evidence to suggest that his fan base in First Republic Czechoslovakia was particularly strong. Thanks in part to this, a remarkable number of copies of films featuring Tom Mix (and his faithful horse Tony) found their way into the collections of the National Film Archive. It is interesting that Mix filmed with the genre’s leading classic, John Ford, only once (North of Hudson, 1923); most of the other films in his incredible catalog of about 270 were directed by experienced veterans. It is delightful to see how Czech distributors managed to convey everything essential right in the titles. Audiences, especially teenagers, could hardly resist when the poster outside the theater proclaimed: Tom Mix, the Gentleman Cowboy, or Tom-Tony-Tiger!