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The Indian Runner’s Romance
(1909) United States of America
B&W : One reel / 994 feet
Directed by D.W. Griffith
Cast: Owen Moore [Blue Cloud], Frank Powell [prospector; and a cowboy], Mary Pickford [a squaw], Mack Sennett [a tribe member], [?] Lottie Pickford? [a tribe member], James Kirkwood [the dying man; and a cowboy], Arthur V. Johnson [a cowboy], Anthony O’Sullivan [man at stable]
Biograph Company production; distributed by Biograph Company. / Cinematography by G.W. Bitzer. / © 24 August 1909 by Biograph Company [J130843]. Released 23 August 1909. / Biograph 35mm spherical format. / The production was shot on 29-30 June and 2-3 July 1909 on-location in Cuddebackville, New York. A total of 1183 feet of raw filmstock was shot during production.
Drama: Western.
Synopsis: [Biograph Bulletin, number 268, 23 August 1909, page ?] A THRILLING EPISODE IN THE BLACK HILLS / It was about the year of 1867 when gold was discovered in the Black Hills, and the Sioux Indians were at the time possessors of that territory, and most of the land was unknown to the white man. Lo, the poor Indian. Little did they know what wealth lay buried in those mountains, and later when they found they had exchanged fabulous fortunes for a mere pittance to conniving whites, they became confirmed misanthropes. That is why it is assumed that the Indian in unemotional — they are simply reticent and wary. At the time of our story, an old miner, more venturesome than others, secretly worked a claim, and found it rich with deposits. His age, however, conspired against his being able to withstand the hardships he was necessarily subjected to, and Blue Cloud, the Indian Runner, discovers him dying on the rocks. Grateful for the kindness of the brave, the miner tells him the location of his hidden mine as he dies. Three cowboys come up and want to know the mine’s location, but the Indian refuses to tell. Blue Cloud loves the little squaw, and in consequence of his newly acquired wealth, presses his suit in that quaint Indian fashion, wooing with the blanket, symbolizing protection. He is accepted and approved by her father after leaving his offerings outside the parental tepee. Married, they proceed to Blue Cloud’s wigwam, and while he is away hunting three cowboys come up and try to get from her the mine’s location. She is obdurate, however, so they abduct her to force her to dilvulge its whereabouts. Finding her still adamant in determination, the renegades gamble as to who shall take care of her, the holder of the high card to have her. Meanwhile the Indian has returned, and finding his squaw gone, realizes the true nature of the situation on finding the sombrero of one of the cowboys in the tepee. Starting in pursuit, he tries to borrow a horse, but is refused, so resorts to running capabilities to overtake the hounds. The one whose lot it is to take charge of the girl has brutally bound and thrown her across his horse, and mounting in the saddle, starts for his shack at breakneck speed. Blue Cloud, however, with his knowledge of the trails, by a short cut, and a thrilling dash through the dangerous rapids of the mountain stream, manages to overtake him. Leaping upon the fast galloping horse behind the cowboy, a most exciting combat ensures — a bowie-knife conflict on the back of the horse, with the prostrate form of the squaw alung across its neck. On they gallop, the Indian fighting furiously, until at length the cowboy drops lifeless from the saddle. Drawing the horse up, the Indian dismounts and releases the terror stricken squaw, whom he takes tenderly back to his wigwam. The subject is a most beautiful one in scenic splendor and photographic excellence, with a succession of the most intensely thrilling incidents. // Synopsis available in Usai-Griffith-3 p. 7.
Survival status: Prints exist in the Library of Congress film archive (American Film Institute/Mary Pickford collection) [35mm Biograph nitrate camera negative], (American Film Institute/Tayler collection) [35mm nitrate positive (1994 acquisition)] and (paper print collection) [35mm paper positive].
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Keywords: Crime: Murder - Death: Murder - Gambling - Native Americans - USA
Listing updated: 18 January 2009.
References: Barry-Griffith p. 41; Bohn-Light p. 111; Eyman-Pickford p. 324; Spehr-American p. 2; Usai-Griffith-3 p. 5, 6-8, 10, 13 : Website-AFI; Website-Legacy.
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