The Chechahcos (1924)

A fire engulfs a shipload of prospectors and adventurers making their way to Alaska. In the confusion, Mrs. Stanlaw is separated from her young daughter, who ends up in the care of '... See full summary »

Director:

Lewis H. Moomaw

Writer:

Lewis H. Moomaw (story)

Stars:

William Dills, Albert Van Antwerp, Eva Gordon

1 win.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
William Dills	...	'Horseshoe' Riley
Albert Van Antwerp	...	Engineer Bob Dexter
Eva Gordon	...	Mrs. Margaret Stanlaw (as Miss Eva Gordon)
Baby Margie	...	Baby Ruth Stanlaw
Alexis B. Luce	...	Gambler Richard Steele
Gladys Johnston	...	Ruth Stanlaw

Storyline

A fire engulfs a shipload of prospectors and adventurers making their way to Alaska. In the confusion, Mrs. Stanlaw is separated from her young daughter, who ends up in the care of 'Horseshoe' Riley and Bob Dexter. Mrs. Stanlaw is told by gambler Richard Steele that her daughter is lost. Flash forward 10 years; Riley and Dexter are running a prosperous gold mine, and Steele has just come to town to run the local saloon. Ruth, meanwhile, has grown into a beautiful young woman, and finds herself falling in love with Dexter. Between Steele sending his henchman Pierre to kill Dexter, Dexter discovering that Steele tried to kill him on the ship, and the reunion of Mrs. Stanlaw and Ruth, there's plenty of drama even without the dramatic Alaskan scenery, including the majestic glaciers.

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Plot Keywords:

ship | prospector | glacier | alaska | fire | 

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

USA

Release Date:

15 May 1924 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Alaska, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Alaska Moving Picture Corp.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min 87 min

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The first feature film produced entirely in Alaska. True to an intertitle's claim, all of it was filmed there. Nothing was shot in Hollywood.

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Goofs

When Bob Dexter gets up from his table at the dance hall, the number of patrons and girls behind him, standing at the bar, changes between shots. A lot of them dissappear, then reappear in different positions.

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Soundtracks

"There's No Place Like Home (Home, Sweet Home)"
Music partly composed, and arranged by H.R. Bishop from a Sicilian air
Lyrics by John Howard Payne (1823)
Sung by Eva Gordon on ship with some lyrics in the intertitles

User Reviews

An early, home-grown look at the Alaskan gold rush

Quite well done when you ignore the melodramatic aspects of the plot. Interesting as an almost contemporary look at the Alaskan Gold Rush culture. The crossing of the Chilcoot pass scenes probably were borrowed from by Chaplin in 'The Gold Rush 1925)' and by other directors as well.

Supposed to be the first feature shot in Alaska. Chechahco means tenderfoot or greenhorn in one of the Alaskan native languages.