A Romance of the Western Hills (1910) User Reviews

The 35 Year Old D.W. Griffith

[Single-Black-Male · 31 October 2003]

This film was shot in Pasedena, which is the notable thing about it. Apart from that, I found it dull to watch, but then most (if not all) of Griffith's original works were dull. His adaptations were far superior and stood the test of time better.

He should not trifle with her

[deickemeyer · 22 April 2015]

Any film which depicts subjects in which Indians are shown is interesting, partly because the photography must be done outdoors, and partly because there is a great interest in Indian subjects. It can be said, too, without fear of correction, that much good is accomplished by these films which show how the Indian has been abused and mistreated. In this picture the white man who trifles with the Indian girl should have been severely punished. Indeed, it was the girl who suffered through his perfidy. Obviously the white man could not love an Indian girl sufficiently to marry her, but he should not trifle with her. Even though the girl in this instance goes hack to her own people, one feels that the man should be punished for deceiving her. The acting and staging are both good, and the photography is clear and accurate in tonal qualities - The Moving Picture World, April 23, 1910

Griffith and Pickford

[Michael_Elliott · 26 February 2008]

Romance of the Western Hills, A (1910)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

D.W. Griffith film about a young Indian girl (Mary Pickford) who dreams that she can live in the white man's world. One day she's given her opportunity and she meets a white man and quickly falls in love but she's about to be thrown for a twist. Here's another Griffith tale where the Indians are shown as sympathetic folks who have been thrown to the side in today's culture. Pickford is good in her role but the film is pretty lazy in the directing department.

You can view this film in Grapevine's D.W. Griffith: The Director series.