A Mohawk's Way

1910 short film by D. W. Griffith From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A Mohawk's Way, also known as The Mohawk's Treasure, is a 1910 short silent black-and-white drama film directed by D. W. Griffith, written by Stanner E.V. Taylor, and based on a novel by James Fenimore Cooper, with cinematography by G. W. Bitzer.[1] It stars Dorothy Davenport and Jeanie MacPherson.[2]

Directed byD. W. Griffith
Based onnovel
by James Fenimore Cooper
CinematographyG. W. Bitzer
Quick facts Directed by, Written by ...
A Mohawk's Way
Directed byD. W. Griffith
Written byStanner E.V. Taylor
Based onnovel
by James Fenimore Cooper
CinematographyG. W. Bitzer
Production
company
Distributed by
  • Biograph Company
  • Unicorn Film Service Corporation (1916 reissue)
Release date
  • September 12, 1910 (1910-09-12) (U.S.)
Running time
17 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageSilent (English intertitles)
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The film portrays American cultural precepts about bloodthirsty savage American Indians,[3][4][5] and assails the cruelty of the white man.[6]

Plot

A Mohawk warrior, driven by both gratitude and a sense of justice, seeks help for his ailing child. After the tribe's medicine man fails to cure the baby, the warrior appeals to Dr. Van Brum, a white physician known for his cruelty. Van Brum refuses and assaults the warrior. Overhearing the plea, the doctor's wife secretly visits the tribe and provides medicine, which quickly cures the child. The grateful tribe views the medicine bottle as a powerful charm, and the squaw wears it as a talisman.

Temporary peace follows, but tension reignites when Van Brum insults the squaw near the river. She brandishes the bottle for protection, and when he mocks her, she threatens him with a dagger. The tribe, learning of the incident, pursues Van Brum, who flees with his wife. The Mohawk intercept the couple, and Van Brum is killed. His wife is taken captive but is saved by the squaw, who invokes the tribe's reverence for the medicine bottle. The warriors relent, and the squaw and her husband escort the woman to safety, ferrying her across the river to a British camp.

Cast

References

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