Baree, Son of Kazan | |
---|---|
Directed by | David Smith |
Based on | Baree, Son of Kazan by James Oliver Curwood |
Cinematography | Charles R. Seeling |
Distributed by | Vitagraph Company of America |
Release date |
|
Running time | 50 minutes; five reels (4,271 feet) |
Country | United States |
Language | Silent (English intertitles) |
Baree, Son of Kazan is a 1918 American silent film based on the 1917 adventure novel of the same name by writer James Oliver Curwood. The film was directed by David Smith, the brother of Albert E. Smith, one of the founders of Vitagraph studio. Nell Shipman, an influential female actress and producer, stars in the film. In 1925, David Smith produced a new film based on this novel, starring Anita Stewart. [1]
An incomplete or abridged version of the film survives. [2]
As described in a 1918 film magazine, [3] McTaggart (Garcia), a factor of the Lac Bain trading post, is infatuated by Nepeese (Shipman), daughter of trapper Perriot (Rickson), a trapper, but is rejected by the girl. On his journey to Perriot's cabin, he trapped a wolfdog pup, whose enmity he aroused by his poor treatment.
Nepeese befriends the animal, which she names Baree. McTaggart visits and, stung by the girl's continued rejection, attacks her. Baree springs to her defense but is shot by the factor. Nepeese's father Pierrot returns and grapples with McTaggart but is shot to death. Nepeese flees and, pursued by McTaggart, jumps over a cliff.
Baree, abandoned, wanders the north country, but has not forgotten his hatred for McTaggart. The factor traps the wolfdog again, now grown, and leaves it to die. Baree is rescued by outlaw Jim Carvel (Whitman). Homesick, Baree leads his new friend to his former home and is overjoyed to find Nepeese. Learning that she has returned, McTaggart enters her tent at midnight. The wolfdog attacks and kills him, avenging the wrongs done.
Curwood's adventure books were popular and films based on them were well received.
But in this period, city and state film censorship boards often made cuts before allowing screening of films within their jurisdictions. Like many American films of the time, Baree, Son of Kazan was subject to restrictions and cuts that reduced the violence between the men, attacks on Nepeese, and the sexual suggestiveness of the factor toward her.
For example, the Chicago Board of Censors cut, in Reel 2, the intertitle "I guess I'm about through with you"; and made numerous cuts in Reel 4: all but the first and last fight scenes between McTaggart and Nepeese, where he suggestively leers at her; reduces the length by half of the fight scenes between men, cuts the shooting of Perriot, cut all struggle scenes except first and last, the intertitle "From now on you belong to me", and the arson scene. [4]
James Oliver Curwood was an American action-adventure writer and conservationist. His books were often based on adventures set in the Hudson Bay area, the Yukon or Alaska and ranked among the top-ten best sellers in the United States in the early and mid 1920s, according to Publishers Weekly. At least one hundred and eighty motion pictures have been based on or directly inspired by his novels and short stories; one was produced in three versions from 1919 to 1953. At the time of his death, Curwood was the highest paid author in the world.
Nell Shipman was a Canadian actress, author, screenwriter, producer, director, animal rights activist and animal trainer. Her works often had autobiographical elements to them and reflected her passion for nature. She is best known for making a series of melodramatic adventure films based on the novels by American writer James Oliver Curwood in which she played the robust heroine known as the ‘girl from God’s country.'
Joe Rickson was an American actor of the silent era. He appeared in 90 films between 1913 and 1945. He was born in Clearcreek, Montana and died in Los Angeles, California.
Three Mounted Men is a 1918 American silent Western film directed by John Ford and featuring Harry Carey. The film is considered to be lost.
The Woman in the Web is a 1918 American drama film serial directed by Paul Hurst and David Smith. It was the 9th of 17 serials released by The Vitagraph Company of America. This World War I period serial about a Russian princess and the overthrow of the Tsar introduced the concept of the Red Menace to serials. The serial is now considered to be a lost film.
The Mystery Ship is a 1917 American adventure film serial directed by Harry Harvey and Henry MacRae. The film is considered to be lost.
The Bull's Eye is a 1917 American film serial directed by James W. Horne. It is now considered to be a lost film.
The Hidden Hand is a 1917 American film serial directed by James Vincent. This is a lost serial.
The Legion of Death is a 1918 American silent drama film directed by Tod Browning, and released by Metro Pictures Corporation.
You Can't Believe Everything is a 1918 American silent drama film directed by Jack Conway and starring Gloria Swanson. It is not known whether the film currently survives, and it is likely to be a lost film.
Baree, Son of Kazan (1917) is an American novel by James Oliver Curwood. About a wild wolfdog pup who bonds with a girl living with her trapper father on the frontier, it is the sequel to Kazan.
Men was a 1918 American silent drama film directed by Perry N. Vekroff based upon a play by Harry Sophus Sheldon. It starred Anna Lehr, Charlotte Walker, and Robert Cain. It is considered to be a lost film.
The Love That Lives is a 1917 American silent drama film produced by Famous Players Film Company and distributed through Paramount Pictures. The film stars Pauline Frederick and was directed by Robert G. Vignola. The film is based on the story "Flames of Sacrifice", by Scudder Middleton.
The Bride's Awakening is a 1918 American silent drama film released by Universal Pictures and produced by their Bluebird production unit. Robert Z. Leonard directed the film and his then-wife Mae Murray was the star. A print of the film is housed at the EYE Institute Nederlands.
The Hell Cat is a 1918 American silent Western film produced and distributed by Goldwyn Pictures. Reginald Barker directed and Geraldine Farrar starred. It is not known whether the film currently survives.
Baree, Son of Kazan is a 1925 American silent drama film produced by the Vitagraph Company of America and distributed by Warner Bros., which acquired Vitagraph. It was based on a 1917 novel by James Oliver Curwood. The film starred Anita Stewart and is a remake of a 1918 version starring Nell Shipman.
Who Is Number One? is a 1917 American silent mystery film serial directed by William Bertram and written by Anna Katharine Green. The film stars Kathleen Clifford, Cullen Landis, Gordon Sackville, Neil Hardin, Bruce Smith, and Ethel Ritchie. The film serial was released on October 29, 1917, by Paramount Pictures. It is presumed to be a lost film.
The Law of the North is a 1918 American silent drama film directed by Irvin Willat, and written by Ella Stuart Carson, John Lynch, and R. Cecil Smith. The film stars Charles Ray, Doris May, Robert McKim, Gloria Hope, Charles K. French, and Manuel R. Ojeda. The film was released on September 29, 1918, by Paramount Pictures. It is not known whether the film currently survives.
The Woman Who Gave is a lost 1918 American silent melodrama film directed by Kenean Buel and starring Evelyn Nesbit, a former Gibson Girl, "It girl" model and showgirl involved in a 1906 "trial of the century" that involved a killing and an allegation of rape – whose films often exploited the fame of her life story. The film was produced and distributed by the Fox Film Corporation. The film went into release the day before fighting in World War I ended.
New York is a 1916 American silent comedy drama film directed by George Fitzmaurice and starring Florence Reed. It was adapted by Ouida Bergère from a 1910 William J. Hurlbut play of the same title. The film was distributed by the Pathé Exchange company.