Back to God's Country (1919)

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, who is the man who killed her father. The captain ... See full summary »

Director:

David Hartford

Writers:

James Oliver Curwood (by), James Oliver Curwood (adopted from his novel "Wapi the Walrus" in Good Housekeeping Magazine),

Stars:

Nell Shipman, Charles Arling, Wheeler Oakman

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Nell Shipman	...	Dolores LeBeau
Charles Arling	...	'Sealskin' Blake
Wheeler Oakman	...	Peter Burke
Wellington A. Playter	...	Capt. Rydal (as Wellington Plater)

Storyline

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, who is the man who killed her father. The captain causes an 'accident' to happen to Peter, so Dolores is all alone and defenseless as they drop anchor in a remote harbor.

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Plot Keywords:

ship | arctic | drowning | gunshot wound | nude swimming | 

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Taglines:

Is the Nude Rude?

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Genres:

Adventure | Romance

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

Canada

Release Date:

27 October 1919 (Canada)

Also Known As:

Il ritorno al paradiso terrestre

Filming Locations:

Kernville, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$67,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Canadian Photoplays Ltd., Shipman-Curwood Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

73 min 73 min

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White (tinted)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

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.

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Quotes

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

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Connections

Featured in Dreamland: A History of Early Canadian Movies 1895-1939 (1974)

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Soundtracks

"Back to God's Country"
Words by Paul M. Sarazan and Jack B. Weil
Music by Paul M. Sarazan

User Reviews

A thrilling outdoor adventure restored

It's a thrill to see this excellent film on video (Milestone, 2000). Nell Shipman was an extraordinary woman and it's great to see her work being made available to a wide audience. The scenes of her with wild animals, part of the menagerie she kept in northern Idaho, are extraordinary, and the climactic chase is very suspenseful. The restoration by D.J. Turner of the National Archives of Canada is wonderful, and the music by Phil Carli is appropriate. Alternate piano scores for this and Something New, Shipman's wacky car chase film, from live performances, available from me.