''Swords and Hearts'' is a 1911 American silent

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super ...

directed by D. W. Griffith and released by the

Biograph Company The Biograph Company, also known as the American Mutoscope and Biograph Company, was a motion picture company founded in 1895 and active until 1916. It was the first company in the United States devoted entirely to film production and exhibition, ...

.Progressive Silent Film List: ''Swords and Hearts''
at silentera.com

Plot summary

Hugh Frazier, a Confederate officer during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states ...

, is trailed by Union soldiers while stopping to visit his sweetheart Irene Lambert. Jenny Baker, a poor young woman who is a not-so-secret admirer of the officer, puts on his overcoat and takes his horse and rides away, causing the Union soldiers to follow. After the war, Jenny and Hugh are reunited.

Cast

Wilfred Lucas Wilfred Van Norman Lucas (January 30, 1871 – December 13, 1940) was a Canadian American stage actor who found success in film as an actor, director, and screenwriter. Early life Lucas was born in Norfolk County, Ontario on January 30, 1871,US ...

as Hugh Frazier *

Claire McDowell Claire McDowell ( MacDowell; November 2, 1877 – October 23, 1966) was an American actress of the silent era. She appeared in 350 films between 1908 and 1945. Early years Claire MacDowell was born in New York City on November 2, 1877, the ...

as Irene Lambert * Dorothy West as Jenny Baker * William J. Butler as Old Ben * Charles West as The Suitor *

Verner Clarges Verner Clarges (January 9, 1846 – August 11, 1911) was a stage actor who later appeared in silent films. He appeared in more than 60 films between 1909 and 1911. Clarges was born in Bath, Somerset, England, and came to America in 1883 as ...

as Hugh's Father *

Francis J. Grandon Francis J. Grandon (1879 – July 11, 1929) was an American silent film actor and director who acted in almost 100 films and directed over 100. Frank Grandon's obituary, printed in newspapers from coast-to- coast, called him "the father of mov ...

as Jennie's Father * Alfred Paget as Bushwacker *

Donald Crisp Donald William Crisp (27 July 188225 May 1974) was an English film actor as well as an early producer, director and screenwriter. His career lasted from the early silent film era into the 1960s. He won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor ...

as Bushwacker *

Kate Bruce Kate Bruce (February 17, 1860 – April 2, 1946) was an American actress of the silent era. She appeared in more than 280 films between 1908 and 1931. She was born in Columbus, Indiana and died in New York City. In 1885, Bruce left Boone, I ...

as At Lambert House (uncredited) *

as At Frazier House / Bushwacker (uncredited) * Frank Evans as Bushwhacker (uncredited) * Guy Hedlund as At Frazier House / Union Soldier (uncredited) *

Florence La Badie Florence La Badie (born Florence Russ; April 27, 1888 – October 13, 1917) was an American-Canadian actress in the early days of the silent film era. She was a major star between 1911 and 1917. Her career was at its height when she died a ...

as Undetermined Role (uncredited) *J. Jiquel Lanoe as Union Soldier / Bushwhacker (uncredited) *

Charles Hill Mailes Charles Hill Mailes (25 May 1870 – 17 February 1937) was a Canadian actor of the silent era. Biography Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 1870, Mailes appeared in 290 films between 1909 and 1935. He married the actress Claire McDowell ...

as Bushwhacker (uncredited) *

W. Chrystie Miller William Chrystie Miller (August 10, 1843 – September 23, 1922) was an American silent film actor. He appeared in 139 films between 1908 and 1914. Miller frequently appeared in films directed by D.W. Griffith and was known to film audienc ...

as Minor Role (uncredited)

Commentary

Jenny Baker is fearless after she dons the officer's overcoat and takes his horse to divert the Union soldiers. Her horsemanship is emphasized over the other male riders, as soon as she is on the horse she rides at full speed and she alone among the riders has her horse rear up on its hind legs.

Preservation

Copies of ''Swords and Hearts'' are held by the

Museum of Modern Art The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is an art museum located in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, on 53rd Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. It plays a major role in developing and collecting modern art, and is often identified as one of ...

and

BFI National Archive The BFI National Archive is a department of the British Film Institute, and one of the largest film archives in the world. It was founded as the National Film Library in 1935; its first curator was Ernest Lindgren. In 1955, its name became the N ...

References

External links

* * 1911 films 1910s war drama films American Civil War films American war drama films American silent short films Biograph Company films American black-and-white films Articles containing video clips 1911 drama films Films directed by D. W. Griffith 1910s English-language films 1910s American films Silent American drama films Silent war drama films {{1910s-short-drama-film-stub