The Sword of Valour

Movie Poster, the Sword of Valour, 1924 Colour linocut, initialled 'R.R.' in block lower right, 102 x 38 cm. Linen backed., Text continues 'Snowy Baker with Dorothy Revier and a stellar cast including Boomerang, the wonder horse. Distributed by Mutual Films Pty Ltd., Although The Sword of Valor is a 1924 American film about an American sailor who falls in love with the daughter of a Spanish nobleman, the star, Snowy Baker, was Australian and an Olympian. At the 1908 London Olympics, Baker represented Australasia in swimming and diving, as well as taking part in the middleweight boxing event, in which he won a silver medal. He also excelled in horsemanship, water polo, running, rowing and cricket., Baker became Australia's darling of the screen when his silent movie career took off. His movies included The Enemy Within, The Man from Kangaroo, and The Shadow of Lightning Ridge. During this same time, he was also writing and editing a publication titled 'Snowy Baker's Magazine'. For many years, until he settled in the United States, Baker was Australia's leading actor and matinee idol. Baker moved to California in the 1920s. While residing there as well as acting in some films, he managed a polo club and coached such actors as Douglas Fairbanks in horse riding. He taught Elizabeth Taylor, Shirley Temple, Greta Garbo and Rudolph Valentino how to ride, fence and swim.