The Greaser's Gauntlet (1908)

Overview

This film with a highly offensive and racist title tells the story of Jose, a handsome young Mexican, who leaves his home in the Sierra Madre Mountains with a cross-embroidered gauntlet from his mother. In a border tavern, he is falsely accused of theft after a Chinese servant frames him. A lynch mob attempts to hang Jose, but Mildred West, a romantic newcomer, discovers the real thief and saves Jose just in time. Grateful, Jose cuts the gauntlet in half, giving Mildred the wrist portion as a pledge of lifelong protection. Over the next five years, Jose falls into alcoholism due to his hopeless love for Mildred, who is now the wife of engineer Tom Berkeley. The villainous Bill Gates recruits Jose to attack the couple and kidnap Mildred and, during the assault, Jose discovers Mildred’s dropped gauntlet token. Recognizing his savior, Jose turns on Gates, kills him in a fierce battle, saves Mildred, and returns reformed to his mother.