Join us for a special screening of the newly restored The Best Bad Man, a lively silent Western that plays with outlaw myths and moral ambiguity. The film stars Western icon Tom Mix as a notorious gunslinger whose fearsome reputation conceals unexpected loyalty and restraint, alongside Clara Bow in an early role that hints at her future stardom. Fast-paced action, striking location photography, and touches of wry humor propel the story, while Mix’s athletic charisma and Bow’s magnetic presence bring warmth and energy to the screen. Recorded at the height of the silent film era, The Best Bad Man offers a fresh, entertaining take on heroism in the American West.

Directed by John G. Blystone | Screenplay by Lillie Hayward, from a story by Max Brand | Starring Tom Mix, Clara Bow, and Cyril Chadwick

Live accompaniment by Cliff Retallick

Restored by The Museum of Modern Art with support from The Celeste Bartos Fund for Film Preservation.

The Silent Treatment Film Series  

Watch silent movies the way they were meant to be seen—on the big screen with live musical accompaniment! Showcasing a wide variety of early cinema in the best available formats, “The Silent Treatment” is a long-running silent movie film series curated by film archivists Brandee Cox and Steven Hill.