Synopsis (contains spoilers)
Jode McWilliams wants to marry Peg Owens, but her father (and Jode’s employer) won’t allow it. Jode writes Peg a love letter, but it is stolen by an Indian. The Indian delivers the letter to Peg. Her father finds the letter and kidnaps Jode, he escapes and marries Peg.Read More »
1911-1920
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John Ford – By Indian Post (1919)
1911-1920John FordSilentUSAWestern -
Karl Heinz Martin – Von morgens bis mitternachts AKA From Morn to Midnight (1920)
1911-1920GermanyHorrorKarl Heinz MartinSilentWeimar Republic cinemaStill shocking even today, From Morn to Midnight remains one of the boldest examples of German expressionist cinema. Based on a play by one of the era’s most respected expressionist writers, Georg Kaiser, the story centres on a bank cashier (Ernst Deutsch) who steals money after becoming enraptured by an elegant customer (Erna Morena). Driven by lust, he begs the customer to come away with him, but she laughs in his face. Distraught at having to return home to his drab family life, the cashier goes on the run, determined to seek out the pleasure and passion he has been missing. But he is continually haunted by visions of death, and his relationship with the stolen money soon sours.Read More »
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Robert Wiene – Genuine [43 Minutes Version] (1920)
1911-1920GermanyHorrorRobert WieneSilentWeimar Republic cinemaGerman suspense/horror film, not about vampires in the modern sense. A ‘Vampire’ or ‘Vamp’ in 1920 was a purely sexual woman who lured men to their deaths. (Theda Bara was probably the most famous) This is an expressionist film, make on the heals of ‘Cabinet of Dr. Caligari’ by the same director, cameraman and art directors. The title Genuine, is the name of the lead character, played by Fern Andra.Read More »
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John Ford – The Last Outlaw (1919)
1911-1920John FordSilentUSAWestern -
Lev Kuleshov – Proekt inzhenera Prayta AKA The Project of Engineer Prite (1918)
1911-1920ExperimentalLev KuleshovRussiaSilentA young and dynamic engineer, Mack Prite, whose talents have helped him rise above humble origins, struggles against an old entrenched capitalist whose oil company’s profits are threatened when Prite develops a plan to turn peat into usable energy.Read More »
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D.W. Griffith – The Massacre (1912)
1911-1920D.W. GriffithSilentThe Birth of CinemaUSAWesternAs the woman he loved lay dying, the former suitor swore to protect the child of the other man, just killed in battle. The baby grown to womanhood, the man’s love for the mother was felt again, but a stranger claimed the girl’s love. So the man with his trust left for the far Northwestern country and joined in the government wars against the Indians. There again he met the life which he had sworn to protect. How well he succeeded, the returning young husband could most appreciate, after one of the most deadly massacres and Indian battles of the period.Read More »
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D.W. Griffith – The Lesser Evil (1912)
1911-1920D.W. GriffithDramaSilentThe Birth of CinemaUSAA young woman’s peaceful existence is shattered when she is abducted by the crew of a boat of smugglers, who then also turn against their captain.Read More »
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D.W. Griffith – Friends (1912)
D.W. Griffith1911-1920Short FilmThe Birth of CinemaUSAWesternAt the mining-camp of Golden Creek, the little orphan girl of the late proprietor of Golden Creek Inn is the pet of all the miners. Her father had long been their great friend and adviser, and hence his little daughter always commanded their greatest respect. She becomes greatly infatuated with Dandy Jack, who is considered by all as her sweetheart. Jack decides to leave the camp for other diggings, and the little one is almost heartbroken. As he is leaving, he meets Bob, his old chum, who has just arrived at the camp. Their greeting shows clearly the value of that little word “friends.” Later on, Bob comes to the Inn and falls deeply in love with the little orphan, who has realized by this time that her feeling for Jack was infatuation rather than love. Hence she and Bob are engaged to be married. Shortly before the day set for the wedding, Jack returns and is twitted by the boys about the apparently fickle girl, whereupon he wagers that he can win her back, not knowing, of course, who the successful suitor is. The outcome is a revelation to all.Read More »
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D.W. Griffith – The Last Drop of Water (1911)
D.W. Griffith1911-1920SilentThe Birth of CinemaUSAWesternA wagon train heading west across the great desert runs out of water, and is attacked by Indians. One man — their last hope — is sent out to find water.Read More »