Ramona (1910)
** 1/2 (out of 4)
Early version of Hellen Hunt Jackson's novel, which tells the story of Ramona (Mary Pickford), a Spanish woman who goes to stay with relatives in California where she is expected to marry a Spanish man. Ramona eventually falls in love with an Indian (Henry B. Walthall), which sets off racism in the white community. Here's another message picture from Griffith who uses the full title to include "The Story of the White Man's Injustice to the Indian". Griffith often stood up and made these type of pictures to protect the rich or minorities and this film fits into that same mode. Walthall is terrific as the Indian and delivers a very strong performance but Pickford comes off pretty bad with some of her over the top acting. Mae Marsh, Mack Sennett and Jack Pickford also have small parts. There's some nice scenery and some strong photography by G.W. Bitzer but in the end the film drags in too many places to be a total success. There's a terrific shot of the white men burning down the Indian village with Griffith filming it from on top of a mountain. This story has been told in countless films with the most popular being the Fox version from 1936, which features Loretta Young and Don Amche.
** 1/2 (out of 4)
Early version of Hellen Hunt Jackson's novel, which tells the story of Ramona (Mary Pickford), a Spanish woman who goes to stay with relatives in California where she is expected to marry a Spanish man. Ramona eventually falls in love with an Indian (Henry B. Walthall), which sets off racism in the white community. Here's another message picture from Griffith who uses the full title to include "The Story of the White Man's Injustice to the Indian". Griffith often stood up and made these type of pictures to protect the rich or minorities and this film fits into that same mode. Walthall is terrific as the Indian and delivers a very strong performance but Pickford comes off pretty bad with some of her over the top acting. Mae Marsh, Mack Sennett and Jack Pickford also have small parts. There's some nice scenery and some strong photography by G.W. Bitzer but in the end the film drags in too many places to be a total success. There's a terrific shot of the white men burning down the Indian village with Griffith filming it from on top of a mountain. This story has been told in countless films with the most popular being the Fox version from 1936, which features Loretta Young and Don Amche.