Patria (serial)
| Patria | |
|---|---|
Advertisement (1917)
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| Directed by |
Leopold Wharton (chapters 1-10) Theodore Wharton (chapters 1-10) Jacques Jaccard (chapters 11-15) |
| Produced by |
Leopold Wharton Theodore Wharton William Randolph Hearst |
| Written by |
J.B. Clymer Charles W. Goddard Louis Joseph Vance |
| Starring |
Irene Castle Milton Sills Warner Oland |
| Cinematography |
Levi Bacon John K. Holbrook Ray June Lew Tree |
| Distributed by | International Film Service |
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Release date
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Running time
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310 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $90,000 approx. |
Patria (pronounced PAY-tree-uh, as in patriot) is a 1917 15-chapter serial film starring Irene Castle, Milton Sills, and Warner Oland, based on the novel The Last of the Fighting Channings by Louis Joseph Vance. Patria was an independent film serial funded by William Randolph Hearst in the lead-up to the United States' entry into World War I. The film in its original form contained anti-Japanese propaganda and was investigated by a Senate committee. The Argentine title for the film was La Heroina de Nueva York.
Spies from Japan conspire to steal the Channing "preparedness" fortune and invade the United States, beginning in New York, then allying themselves with Mexicans across the border. They are stopped by the efforts of munitions factory heiress Patria Channing and U.S. Secret Service agent Donald Parr.
Patria was financed with "about" $90,000 from William Randolph Hearst. The plot implied that the United States might soon be at war with Japan, despite Japan being an ally of the United States at the time. The original plot involved a Japanese spy ring operating in the United States and seeking gold and munitions. President Woodrow Wilson asked Hearst to modify the serial and remove anti-Japanese material. As a result, Warner Oland's character name in title cards was changed to "Manuel Morales," and the character was shown more frequently dressed in a suit, though the Japanese characters retained their kimonos in early episodes. The action was also moved across the border to Mexico beginning in Episode 11, though as is sometimes erroneously stated, Pancho Villa did not appear in the film, Baron Huroki and a new character, General Nogi, continued on as adversaries to Patria and Captain Parr until Huroki's defeat and suicide in Episode 15.
The serial was based on the novel The Last of the Fighting Channings by Louis Joseph Vance.
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