William S. Hart portrays the title character in the Thomas Ince production of "Square Deal Sanderson" (Paramount-Artcraft 1919), directed by Hart and Lambert Hillyer from a story by Charles Alden Seltzer (scenario by Hillyer).

Original publicity still No. A79-18, 8x10 inches.

In this scene, Mary Bransford (Ann Little) has a whole new outlook now that she has discovered Sanderson isn't her long-lost brother after all.

Koszarski (1980) notes that rather than shooting scenes sequentially, Ince grouped scenes together by location — shooting all scenes that called for one location, then the next location, then the next location — which became standard practice in the industry but hitherto wasn't (pg. 111).

Davis (2003:127) writes:

From Koszarski (1980:111):

Produced by William S. Hart Productions; advertised as "supervised by Thomas H. Ince"; distributed by Paramount-Artcraft; released June 15, 1919; ©June 6, 1919; five reels (4800 feet).

Directed by William S. Hart and Lambert Hillyer; screenplay by Lambert Hillyer from a story by Charles Alden Seltzer; photographed by Joe August; art director, Thomas A. Brierley; art titles by Irwin J. Martin.

CAST: William S. Hart (Square Deal Sanderson/"Will Bransford"); Ann Little (Mary Bransford); Lloyd Bacon (Will Bransford/ "Barney Owen"); Frank Whitson (Alva Dale); Andrew Robson (Judge Graney); Edwin Wallach (Sheriff Maison).

SYNOPSIS: Square Deal Sanderson comes upon the bodies of two men in a wild ravine and finds on one a letter from Mary Bransford to a brother she has not seen since a little child, but whom she hopes soon to meet, as she is being persecuted by Alva Dale, rejected suitor and villainous gang leader in a nearby town. Sanderson rides straight to her rescue and comes upon an act of cruelty in front of her house, where Dale is to hang one of her men, Barney Owen, for a trivial offence. She mistakes Sanderson for the brother she expects, and he allows her to think so until he disposes of her persecutors. Thereafter he attempts to tell her the truth in vain.

Sanderson finds he is up against a very powerful leader in Dale, who gets his true identity when Barney Owen, [Mary's real brother, is in his cups. While the crooked sheriff jails Sanderson on false charges] the villains poison the water holes and destroy all of Mary Bransford's cattle.

Sanderson breaks jail, Owen hauling the window bars out with a mule team, and the two escape. Sanderson catches the banker, a tool of Dale's, and forces restitution of ninety thousand dollars in cash to pay for the cattle. He shoots two of the poisoners and follows Dale to the house of Mary Bransford, but he is caught in a trap and tied by Dale and his confederates. Dale dismisses them that he may triumph over Mary with Sanderson sitting by. The struggle takes them beyond a partition. Sanderson edges up to a stove, burns his bonds, mounts the partition and throws a noose over Dale's head. He drags him up taut, half strangling him before Mary's eyes. The explanations which follow bring about an engagement between Sanderson and Mary [Moving Picture World, June 28, 1919]

REVIEW: Once in a while Hart tries something different but seemingly he has proven to his own satisfaction that folks are best satisfied when he sticks to the sort of cowboy characters that he has made famous. Hart's pictures have one big point in their favor. They are melodramatic enough to suit the taste of the most sensation-loving crowd in the cheaper neighborhoods, but equally they appeal to another and more critical public that wants to see things done right and is quick to detect small flaws in a production. This is expertly constructed to prevent inconsistencies in the plot, also it is staged in a way that carries faithfully the atmosphere of the West of a more romantic period. ... Considering the hundreds of thousands of feet of cowboy melodrama that have been produced since the days of Broncho Billy Anderson, it is something of an accomplishment to find a new stunt for a thrilling climax. Bill Hart found one for Square Deal Sanderson and it goes over big [Wid's, June 21, 1919]