The Rough Neck (1919): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1919, The Rough Neck is a drama film directed by Oscar Apfel, running about 50 minutes.

What it’s about. John Masters leaves his lumber mining camp when he is summoned East by his dying father, a political boss who wishes to turn over the position he has won. The father dies and leaves his son papers that could convict the rest of his gang of henchmen. John falls in love with Frances, the daughter of Armitage, another politician. Frances is not interested in John, but marries him to save her father from exposure. The gang tries to get the papers away from John, who has taken his wife back to the woods. When John exposes the crooked politicians, including his own father, he wins Frances' respect and love. John staves off the revengeful ward gangsters with a single gun until Frances rounds up the other lumberjacks who come to his rescue.

Who’s in it. The Rough Neck stars Montagu Love as John Masters, Robert Broderick as Horace Masters, George De Carlton as Armitage and Barbara Castleton as Frances, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 10.0/10, The Rough Neck sits among the best-reviewed titles in the catalogue.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Rough Neck page.

If you liked it. Fans of The Rough Neck tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.