The Indian Runner's Romance (1909)

User Rating:

(awaiting 5 votes)

Director:

D.W. Griffith

Writer:

Stanner E.V. Taylor (writer)

Release Date:

23 August 1909 (USA)

Genre:

Western | Short

Plot:

An Indian comforts a dying prospector in his last moments. In exchange, the prospector tells him the location of his gold claim. A group of cowboys tries to get the information and go as far as kidnapping the Indian's wife. |

Plot Keywords:

Native American

Cast

Owen Moore	...	Blue Cloud
Frank Powell	...	The Old Prospector
Mary Pickford	...	Blue Cloud's Wife
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Arthur V. Johnson
James Kirkwood	...	Cowboy / Dying Man
Marion Leonard
Anthony O'Sullivan	...	At Stable
Lottie Pickford	...	Indian (unconfirmed)
Mack Sennett	...	Indian

Runtime:

11 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent

Filming Locations:

Cuddebackville, New York, USA

Company:

Biograph Company

Colourful Characters

There doesn't seem to be any chemistry between the characters in this eleven minute offering. The protagonist is a one-dimensional neurotic who can't seem to control his emotions. He is overly emotion rather than emotionally unstable, meaning that he is overly playing the part instead of bringing some humanity to the role. There doesn't seem to be any humour in this short film which is something that you need to pull you through the lull periods of a story. The love interest lacks credibility. I believe that there was a potential romance there that could work, but the horizontal protagonist and poor directing hindered any progress that the love interest could have had.