The Americano (1916)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

John Emerson

Writers:

John Emerson (scenario)
Anita Loos (scenario) (titles)

Release Date:

24 December 1916 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy | Romance

Plot:

Doug is an American mining engineer. Pres. Valdez of Paragonia (Aitken) wants him to reopen the country's mines. Doug is not interested ...

Plot Keywords:

Mythical Kingdom | Fictitious Country | Banana Republic | South America | Latin America

Cast

Douglas Fairbanks	...	Blaze Derringer
Alma Rubens	...	Juana de Castalar
Spottiswoode Aitken	...	Presidente de Castalar
Carl Stockdale	...	Salsa Espada
Tote Du Crow	...	Alberto de Castille
Charles Stevens	...	Colonel Gargaras
Mildred Harris	...	Stenographer
Lillian Langdon	...	Senora de Castille
Thomas Jefferson
Tom Wilson	...	Hartod Armitage White
Marguerite Marsh
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Alan Hale

Runtime:

USA:50 min

Country:

USA

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent

Filming Locations:

San Diego, California, USA

Company:

Fine Arts Film Company

Trivia:

While shooting in Tijuana, Mexico, Douglas Fairbanks and the film crew were arrested by Mexican soldiers, but were not told why. It turned out that the soldiers belonged to one of the militias fighting each other for control of Mexico during the Mexican revolution; being short of money, they thought that the American movie company would pay to have their star and crew released. After payment of an appropriate "fine", the film crew packed up, dashed back across the border and resumed filming in San Diego.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Fractured Flickers: (#1.11)" (1963)

South of the Border

In the days before the Great War (aka World War) I), in the Caribbean Sea, the tiny nation of Paragonia nestled. Soon, the "jewel set in the girdle of the earth" would need All-American Douglas Fairbanks to settle unrest.

In the spring of 1910, a New York mining company's contract with the Republic comes up for renewal. Paragonia's "Minister of War" Carl Stockdale (as Salsa Espada) is alone in opposing the renewal; he thinks Americans are "pigs", and wants to rule the Republic. President Spottiswoode Aiken (as Hernando de Valdez) and Premier Tote du Crow (as Alberto de Castille) have their way, and the contract is signed. Meanwhile, Mr. Aiken's comely daughter Alma Rubens (as Juana de Valdez) attracts suitors like Charles Stevens (as Colonel Gargaras).

In New York City, young mining engineer Douglas Fairbanks (as "The Americano") is offered a job in Paragonia. At first, Fairbanks refuses ("Too far from Brooklyn!") -- but, when he sees fetching Ms. Rubens visiting the American Mining Company office, he is smitten. Upon arrival, Fairbanks finds the dictatorial Mr. Stockdale has taken over the country, and thrown its popular president in prison. Moreover, Rubens is being forced into an unhappy marriage…

This was the last, and not the best, of the Fairbanks "Triangle" films supervised by D.W. Griffith. The acclaimed director's influence can be seen occasionally, in the film's relatively elaborate structure, and characterizations. For example, Reubens is introduced petting a bird. And, while it wasn't only Griffith who employed offensive black-faced characters like Tom Wilson (as Harold Armitage "Whitey" White), he created this role for Wilson (who pets his lucky rabbit's foot). The Mexican locale is a highlight.

*** The Americano (12/24/16) John Emerson, D.W. Griffith ~ Douglas Fairbanks, Alma Rubens, Carl Stockdale