The Canadian (1926)

Remake of the 1917 film of 'The Land of Promise' based on the 1913 play by W. Somerset Maugham. A couple undergo hardship homesteading in Alberta, where they are plagued by bad weather and financial woes.

Director:

William Beaudine

Writers:

Arthur Stringer (story and scenario), Julian Johnson (titles)

Stars:

Thomas Meighan, Mona Palma, Wyndham Standing

Cast

Cast overview:
Thomas Meighan	...	Frank Taylor
Mona Palma	...	Nora Marsh
Wyndham Standing	...	Ed Marsh
Dale Fuller	...	Gertie Marsh
Charles Winninger	...	Pop Tyson
Billy Butts	...	Buck Golder

Storyline

Twenty-year-old Nora Marsh has lived all her sheltered life in the confines of her family's home in London. But, suddenly, seemingly-secure walls come crushing down and Nora loses her parents and goes from rich to destitute. She travels to the only safe haven she knows about, the Canadian farm of her brother Ed. There she meets Frank Taylor, working for her brother as a farm-hand in an effort to overcome his own monetary loss the preceding winter. Nora quarrels with Ed's wife, "Gertie", and she asks Frank to take her away. And just as it appears the newly-weds are about to make a life of their own on his farm, tragedy strikes.

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Plot Keywords:

rich | quarrel | hardship | canadian | brother sister relationship | 

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Taglines:

THRILLS "UP NORTH" (original poster - all caps)

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Connections

Remake of The Land of Promise (1917)

User Reviews

Nicely handled precursor of THE WIND.

This largely forgotten Maugham adaptation proves to be an emotionally scaled down first version of THE WIND, minus the evil seducer and the dust storm. It is surprisingly accomplished.

Impoverished Easterner Palma finds herself shunted to family in the wheat belt and her fancy ways don't go down well, particularly with her relative's wife Fuller, familiar from her Von Strohiem movies and giving the film's most telling performance. To avoid further humiliation, our heroine marries farmer Meighan. He doesn't get what he expected and finds himself held off at rifle point when he tries to assert his rights as husband.

The ending is quite sunny and the film is no competitor for the Seastrom masterpiece but it is still rewarding.

You can see that this one is the work of someone used to doing lightweights but director Beaudinehe manages the shift of tone. He was someone who spent his life turning out routine entertainments generally with more professionalism than his competitors and, as with the Roddy McDowell KIDNAPPED decades later, he could rise to an opportunity.

The film survives in a good black and white copy and got effective presentation at the Pordenone Silent Movie Week.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

None English

Release Date:

27 November 1926 (USA)

Also Known As:

Serás Minha Algum Dia

Filming Locations:

Alberta, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Famous Players-Lasky Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

80 min

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1