Sioux brave James Kirkwood is sweet on Sioux maiden Marion Leonard, but she's sweet on White Man Arthur Johnson. Soon they have a child, but Kirkwood keeps an eye on matters. Eventually Johnson goes courting a White woman, Linda Arvidson...
It will come as no surprise to anyone familiar with silent movies that D.W. Griffith was a racist by modern standards. What may surprise people who stop with that appraisal is that he did not hold the White race blameless. Here it is Johnson (who offers a performance that looks like a modern, surly adolescent out to shock his parents), who behaves badly throughout.
Mr. Kirkwood had quite a career in the movies. He joined Griffith's company in 1909, branched out into directing in 1915 and had his last motion picture role in 1961 in a John Ford western. Not quite the Donald Crisp level -- Crisp had joined Griffith the year before and his last big-screen role was in 1963), but impressive!
It will come as no surprise to anyone familiar with silent movies that D.W. Griffith was a racist by modern standards. What may surprise people who stop with that appraisal is that he did not hold the White race blameless. Here it is Johnson (who offers a performance that looks like a modern, surly adolescent out to shock his parents), who behaves badly throughout.
Mr. Kirkwood had quite a career in the movies. He joined Griffith's company in 1909, branched out into directing in 1915 and had his last motion picture role in 1961 in a John Ford western. Not quite the Donald Crisp level -- Crisp had joined Griffith the year before and his last big-screen role was in 1963), but impressive!