Fighting Cressy is a lost 1919 silent Western film directed by Robert Thornby and starring Blanche Sweet. It was produced by Jesse D. Hampton and distributed through Pathé Exchange.
The film is adapted from Bret Harte's 1889 novel Cressy with a story that unfolds during the California Gold Rush era.
Two families from KentuckyâÂÂthe McKinstrys and the HarrisonsâÂÂhave migrated west and are squatting on neighboring land claims in search of gold. A long-standing and bitter feud erupts between them over disputed property boundaries, fueling ongoing hostility and tension in the rugged mining community.
At the center of the drama is Cressy McKinstry (Blanche Sweet), a spirited and strong-willed young woman from the McKinstry clan. As the family conflict escalates, Cressy becomes involved in the turmoil, displaying the "fighting" spirit suggested by the title. Romantic complications arise as a suitor (Russell Simpson) enters the picture, falls in love with her and is drawn into the dangerous family rivalry.