The War Bonnet Round Up

synopsis

The camera follows the War Bonnet rodeo in Idaho Falls: horse riding, cattle handling and contests of skill among cowboys and cowgirls. For cinema audiences, a local celebration becomes an image of the American West. The footage preserves both the feats and the spectacle, while also reinforcing the legend surrounding them.

biography

No reliable information about the filmmakers survives; the film print was distributed by Independent Film Exchange. The film is among the earliest cinematic depictions of rodeo, combining sport, local festivities and the idea of the American West into a spectacle for audiences far from the event itself.

film details

producer:

Independent Film Exchange