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Romantic Redskins
(1910) United States of America
B&W : One reel / 950 feet
Directed by Thomas Ricketts (Tom Ricketts)
Cast: Dot Farley, J. Warren Kerrigan, Josephine Ricketts, Randolph Grey
American Film Manufacturing Company production; distributed by Motion Picture Distributing & Sales Company. / Scenario by Allan Dwan. / Released 14 November 1910. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format. / The first production from American Film. The film was delayed from its announced 2 November 1910 release date. [?] The production company is listed by George Katchmer in ClasIm-223 p. 48 as the St. Louis Motion Picture Company, and as Gilbert P. Hamilton was associated with both companies, this may be a separate production or the reference to the St. Louis company is in error and Website-IMDb incorrect in repeating the error.
Comedy: Western.
Synopsis: [The Moving Picture World, 29 October 1910, page ?, and Nickelodeon, 1 November 1910, page ?] Two old chiefs, Eagle Eye and War Scar, of time-honored tribes, and close neighbors and friends, had each a beautiful daughter, that of Eagle Eye being Minette, whilst the daughter of War Scar was called Folette. Now these old chaps were most jealous of their daughters, guarding them with rigorous care against the efforts of the lovelorn youth to capture the susceptible maidens. Two young braves of neighboring tribes came many miles in their bark canoes to ask for the daughters in marriage. Baptiste loves Minette and asks her hand of War Scar. Both chiefs are obdurate. The girls are heartbroken. The young braves determine to win the girls and depart. The old chiefs, after a conference, decide to each marry the other’s daughter and so keep them for all time. With threats and whipping, they drag them before the mission priest, Father McCann, who upon seeing the true state of affairs sends them off about their business, refusing to marry them. The wily old chiefs then conceive the scheme of taking their tents and belongings, including the girls, to a desolate island, and there, by starving, strive to force them into subjection. The poor girls are in an extreme state of suffering and despair when the young lovers discover the place of isolation and run to the old priest for counsel. They come upon him as he is striving with laudanum drops and whiskey to allay a jumping toothache. The youths tell their story. A merry twinkle dances in the eyes of the dear old fellow, as he thinks of a plan to help the lovesick youngsters. He puts the drops into the bottle of whiskey and, knowing the craze of the Indian for the firewater, gives it to the twain with instructions to see that the old men drink it and, whilst they sleep insensibly, to ‘steal the daughters and bring them to me.’ The boys depart full of hope and adventure, while our friend Father McCann forgets the agony of his sore tooth. The lovers reach the island and surprise the girls, who soon enter into the plot. The old men get the bottle and, without waiting explanations as to how it came there, are soon in a highly hilarious state, followed by deep unwakable sleep. The youngsters, to get doubly even, take not only their daughters, but their tepees, canoes, and all their possessions, leaving them marooned. Father McCann marries them and gives them his blessing, and then we see them happy in their own tepees, living as they should live in love and happiness, with the conditions reversed, the men caring for and waiting upon their wives. Upon the island, the two old reprobate chiefs, having recovered from their debauch, are holding their heads and crying and sobbing and scolding, each accusing the other of being the cause of all their present misery.
Reviews: [The Moving Picture World, 26 November 1910, page ?] An Indian comedy drama with many humorous situations. It keeps the audience in good humor from beginning to end, and at the same time discloses some characteristic traits of Indian character. The acting is clear-cut and sympathetic, and the photographer has done his part well in addition. The audience did not hesitate to express its approval of the film very vigorously, where the writer saw it, which should be encouraging to this new concern.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Keywords: Native Americans - USA
Listing updated: 29 June 2023.
References: Lahue-World p. 62; Lyons-American pp. 64, 217 : ClasIm-223 p. 48 : Website-AFI; Website-IMDb.
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