You might be, asking. How can anybody from the modern era, write a review for a lost film that nobody has seen, in 100 years? Well, this is how. With some research, using the Library of Congress, newspapers like the New York Times, & other synthesizing written sources, including those firsthand accounts, whom work on the project. I will recreate, what the film might have look, like, in my laptop, using storyboards, photographs and still frame, in order to give, you a just-worthy, analysis of this movie as historic accurate as possible. Let's begin with a little backstory. Banking on the reputation of swimming sensation Annette Kellerman, whom years earlier, gain international fame for advocating the right of women to wear a one-piece bathing suit, as well, trying to be the first women to swim the English Channel; Fox Film Corporation greenlight, 'A Daughter of the Gods' the first million-dollar film production, hoping to gain the same success as Universal Pictures did, with 1914's aquatic fantasy film 'Neptune's Daughter'; which also, starred Kellerman. The producers, even hired, the same director of the "Neptune's Daughter', Herbert Brenon to direct/ write/ steer the production, their way. For the most part, filming was a success, as there was few delays and some of the film, was well-shot, however, the production did go over budget, due to the large amount of sets, costumes, special effects, and mosquitos nettings. It got so bad, that Studio head William Fox wanted to remove Brenon's name from the film. However, Brenon sued to have his name restored to the film's credits, and won. Nevertheless, I think Brenon was a little too-ambitious on fantasy world-building, that he made a film, too complex, and adult-driven for a simple children movie. Without spoiling the story, too much, the best way, I can describe it, is 'the silent movie version of HBO show, 'Games of Thrones', just set in a fictional Mesopotamia type oasis-like settling. The plot is not for children at all, as much, as Brenon believes it is. The film is full of semi-offensive racial & sexual themes of violence, sex, suicide and slavery; that it really surprised me, this movie, ever got made in that era. First off, you got Anitia (Annette Kellerman), a demi-sea-goddess who finds herself, in a struggle for leadership, after being kidnapped, by an evil sheik (Edward Boring) and sold in sex-slavery, where she was later, bought by the Sultan (Hal De Forrest), in order, to become his haram. Meanwhile, another haram, Zarrah (Violet Horner), whom happens to be, the daughter of the Sheik, become envy of all the attention, Anitia is getting from the Sultan, that she framed her, for a crime, she didn't commit, with the help of the evil witch (Ricca Allen), in order to win the throne, when he dies. However, what she doesn't know, is that, the witch is also playing both sides, as the old woman is promising the Sultan, to bring back, his long-lost dead son, Prince Omar (William E. Shay) back from the dead, in exchange, for the death of the Goddess, and the exile of Zarrah. As the movie goes on, each faction finds themselves, leading an army, against each other, until one can, called themselves, the leader of that nation. It's a very complicated story & that's not including, all of the exotic magical filler & somewhat pointless scenes, with gnomes, mermaids, fairies, and yes, heavenly angels that weight and muddled the film, down to a 3 to 4 hour, run time. It's far, too long and multifarious, to be made into a movie, if production started, a few years, later. The Hay Codes would certainly forbid it, due to its cinematic depictions of nudity, in addition to such things as drug use, miscegenation, and "white slavery." It wouldn't surprise me, if the original film suffer, later from censorship cuts, before getting lost in the scuffle. Since, many silent films exist only in second- or third-generation copies, often copied from already damaged and neglected film stock. I really doubt, we will find, a good copy, even if it is found. Nevertheless, it's also a bit sad, that this film is best remember, as today, as the first movie to have a movie star appear nude. It's hardly anything worth praising about; seeing how there has been older films with nudity in it, like 1911's 'Dante's Inferno" or 1915's 'Inspiration'. Plus, there wasn't much, expose, seeing how Kellerman's hair, cover her private areas. It's far from being pornography. Also, Kellerman deserve better, as she was far, more talented, than the average body model. While, I wouldn't call, Kellerman, a strong actresses, since she used simplistic, yet campy body language, rather than a subtle and naturalistic performance. I can say, she was a wonderfully stunt woman, and swimmer. Her diving scene in this film sound, pretty impressive to me. As for the film sets & costumes, with the dated special effects. It probably, look, a bit corny & fake-looking, however, probably unique enough for the time, to stand out, like 1916's 'Intolerance'. Still, it's a weird choice of location, Jamaica. How in the earth, the crew was able to filmed, desert scenes, on a tropical Caribbean island, is way beyond me!? Another odd thing, is how this film, was 'supposedly' influence by David Belasco and John Luther Long's 1902 Broadway play 'The Darling of the Gods'. Seeing how both works, don't have much, connected to each other, besides the tropical settling. After all, I don't see a Japanese samurai who was forced by the Emperor to relinquish his sword, in order to rescue the princess who he loved, in this film, at all. However, I can say, that this movie climax really does suck, with the forced cop out, happy ending. Regardless of that, I can only hope that, this movie will one day, be found. Why, because films like this, deserve to be watch, even if a bit mediocre.
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