Griffith had an affinity for RAMONA, having appeared in two stage versions of the novel and having hectored his bosses into paying a hundred dollars for screen rights -- this two-reeler was advertised as the most expensive picture ever made. It falls into the class of Griffith films in which he expresses sympathy for minorities and suggests that the best thing to do with people is to leave them alone. This statement may come as a bit of a shocker to those whose only knowledge of Griffith is knowing, second hand about the racism of BIRTH OF A NATION, but none to those who are familiar with more of his work: BROKEN BLOSSOMS also falls into this category and, to a great extent, so does BOAN.
Although this film is full of fine visual touches -- some excellent deep-focus shots of the characters with the distant mountains behind them dominate the camera-work --and has good performances by Mary Pickford in the title role and a slightly over-the-top performance by Henry Walthall, there is far too much solitary posing and the two reels are too brief for the story. Still, Pickford and Walthall are excellent in their scenes together, Griffith has some lovely landscape to work with and his stock company is up to their usual level of competence.
Although this film is full of fine visual touches -- some excellent deep-focus shots of the characters with the distant mountains behind them dominate the camera-work --and has good performances by Mary Pickford in the title role and a slightly over-the-top performance by Henry Walthall, there is far too much solitary posing and the two reels are too brief for the story. Still, Pickford and Walthall are excellent in their scenes together, Griffith has some lovely landscape to work with and his stock company is up to their usual level of competence.