The Trail of the Lonesome Pine

From this point on in DeMille's career he was far more interested in history and presenting a usable past. Up until this point his concern was with class, race and ethnicity in a melting pot America.

This film was made just as the US was entering the Great War almost as a call to arms.

Charlotte Walker recreates her role from the stage production and DeMille house players Teddy Robert and Tommy Meighan take the other big roles in this, the first released version of this Moonshiners vs. Revenuers story -- there was a version made in 1914, but it wasn't released until after this one, probably for reasons to do with the rapidly changing copyright laws of the period. This version is set for speed and not for comfort at five reels, quite watchable at 24 frame per second at the Eastman House website.

DP Alvin Wyckoff shoots the films handsomely in what was fast becoming known as 'Lasky Lighting' and takes full advantage of the outdoor settings for some beautiful compositions. Those trees sure are big.