His Trust (1911)

User Rating:

5.5/10   

Director:

D.W. Griffith

Writer:

Emmett C. Hall (writer)

Release Date:

16 January 1911 (USA)

Genre:

Short | Drama | War

Plot:

A Confederate officer is called off to war. He leaves his wife and daughter in the care of George, his faithful Negro servant...

Plot Keywords:

Morality | American Civil War | Racial Stereotype | Blackface

Cast

Wilfred Lucas	...	George
Dell Henderson	...	Col. Frazier
Claire McDowell	...	Col. Frazier's wife
Edith Haldeman	...	The Fraziers' child
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Linda Arvidson
Dorothy Bernard
Kate Bruce
Adele DeGarde
Gladys Egan
Francis J. Grandon	...	Confederate soldier
Joseph Graybill	...	Union soldier
Guy Hedlund	...	Black servant
Grace Henderson
Harry Hyde
Adolph Lestina	...	Black servant / Confederate soldier
Jeanie Macpherson	...	Woman at farewell
Violet Mersereau
W. Chrystie Miller	...	Man at farewell
Alfred Paget	...	Messenger / Confederate soldier
Lottie Pickford	...	Woman at farewell
Vivian Prescott	...	Woman at farewell
W.C. Robinson	...	Union soldier
Mack Sennett	...	Confed. soldier delivering sword, death notice
Kate Toncray	...	Black servant (unconfirmed)
Charles West	...	Man at farewell
Dorothy West

Runtime:

14 min | 14 min (18 fps)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent

Filming Locations:

Fort Lee, New Jersey, USA

Company:

Biograph Company

Movie Connections:

Followed by His Trust Fulfilled (1911)

His Master's Voice

Subtitled "The faithful devotion and self-sacrifice of an old Negro servant", this early film portends the director D.W. Griffith's future "Birth of a Nation". When the Civil War breaks out, Confederate Del Henderson goes into battle, leaving his wife (Claire McDowell) and daughter in the hands of their beloved slaves. Patriarch of the household slaves is George (Wilfred Lucas); among other things, he plays "horsey" with the child by letting her ride on his back. When Yankees try to burn down the Master's house, George must spring into action. However intentioned, "His Trust" is a racist film. The loyal slaves are played by white actors in "black-face" makeup, and they look ridiculous. Didn't Griffith know any real "People of Color"; or, he didn't think they could act? Weren't there any darker skinned people in the USA who could play these roles?

** His Trust (1/16/11) D.W. Griffith ~ Wilfred Lucas, Claire McDowell, Dell Henderson