The Squaw Man | |
---|---|
A scene from The Squaw Man
|
|
Directed by |
Oscar Apfel Cecil B. DeMille |
Produced by | Cecil B. DeMille Jesse L. Lasky |
Written by | Beulah Marie Dix (scenario) |
Story by | Beulah Marie Dix |
Based on |
The Squaw Man by Edwin Milton Royle |
Starring | Dustin Farnum |
Cinematography | Alfred Gandolfi |
Edited by | Mamie Wagner |
Distributed by | Famous Players-Lasky Corporation |
Release date
|
|
Running time
|
74 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | Silent English intertitles |
Box office | $244,700 |
The Squaw Man (known as The White Man in the UK) is a 1914 silent western drama film starring Dustin Farnum and directed by Cecil B. DeMille and Oscar Apfel. It was DeMille's directorial debut.
James Wynnegate (Dustin Farnum) and his cousin, Henry (Monroe Salisbury), are upper class Englishmen and have been made trustees for an orphans’ fund. Henry loses money in a bet at a derby and embezzles money from “the fund” to pay off his debts. When war office officials are informed of the money missing from “the fund," they pursue James, but he successfully escapes to Wyoming. There, James rescues Nat-U-Ritch (Lillian St. Cyr), daughter to the chief of the Utes tribe, from local outlaw Cash Hawkins (William Elmer). Hawkins plans to exact his revenge on James, but has his plans thwarted by Nat-U-Ritch, who fatally shoots him. Later, James gets into an accident in the mountains and needs to be rescued. Nat-U-Ritch tracks him down and carries him back to safety. As she nurses him back to health, they fall in love and later have a child. Meanwhile, during an exploration of the Alps, Henry falls off a cliff. Before he succumbs to his injuries, Henry signs a letter of confession proclaiming James’ innocence in the embezzlement. Before Henry's widow, Lady Diana (Winifred Kingston), and others arrive in Wyoming to tell James about the news, the Sheriff recovers the murder weapon that was used against Cash Hawkins inside of James and Nat-U-Ritch's home. Realizing their son was not safe, the couple sends him away, leaving them both distraught. Facing the possibilities of losing both her son and her freedom, Nat-U-Ritch decides to take her own life instead. The movie ends with both the chief of the Utes tribe and James embracing her body.
The main character James Wynnegate played by Dustin Farnum, was cast as the hero for the film. His wife in real life Winifred Kingston was also a well-known actress. She played the English love interest.Red Wing (real name Lillian St. Cyr) was born into the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska on the Winnebago Reservation, and she played the American Indian wife.