Back to God's Country (1919)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

David Hartford

Writer:

James Oliver Curwood (story)

Release Date:

27 October 1919 (Canada)

Genre:

Adventure | Romance

Tagline:

Is the Nude Rude?

Plot:

After her father is killed by an outlaw, Dolores marries Peter. While they're at sea in the Arctic, Dolores meets the ship's captain...

Plot Keywords:

Arctic | Ship | Dog | Dog Sled | Pigtail

Cast

Nell Shipman	...	Dolores LeBeau
Charles Arling	...	'Sealskin' Blake
Wheeler Oakman	...	Peter Burke
Wellington A. Playter	...	Captain Rydal (as Wellington Plater)

Runtime:

USA:73 min (18 fps)

Country:

Canada

Color:

Black and White (tinted)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent

Certification:

USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Kernville, California, USA

Company:

Canadian Photoplays Ltd.

Trivia:

Critically ill, lead actor Ronald Byram left the shoot during the first two weeks and was replaced by Wheeler Oakman. It is probable that it is Byram in the close-ups in the sledge in the final chase scenes. 'Roy Laidlaw' is frequently but erroneously referred to as Ralph Laidlaw in the trade press of the time. Edna Shipman did not act in this film as is sometimes claimed. The film opened at the Strand Theater in Owosso, Michigan where it played for three days. Canadian Photoplays Ltd. was a Calgary-based company incorporated 7 February 1919 under the laws of Alberta. Shipman-Curwood Company was later called Curwood-Carver Productions Inc.

Quotes:

Captain Rydal: [titlecard] After a night of evil dreams Rydal's smoldering desire leaps into flame.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Weird Sex and Snowshoes: A Trek Through the Canadian Cinematic Psyche (2004) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Back to God's Country

Derivative of Jack London's "arctic" novels, but interesting

This story is based loosely on a novel, not by Jack London, but similar to his "White Fang" and "Call of the Wild" in genre. It has been freely adapted to give most exposure to Nell Shipman who even in the flat lighting usual in the 1919 era comes across as a very capable "Jane Alexander" type. The simple story of villainy stemming from single-minded lust is confusingly told. That may be the result, though, of the difficulties of "restoration" of the old film. There are some excellent scenes that evoke the dreadful loneliness of the arctic winters. It's not a great old museum piece, but interesting and worth a watch.