''The Scarlet Drop'' is a 1918 American silent

Western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...

film directed by

John Ford John Martin Feeney (February 1, 1894 – August 31, 1973), better known as John Ford, was an American film director and producer. He is regarded as one of the most important and influential filmmakers during the Golden Age of Hollywood, and w ...

and featuring Harry Carey. For several decades, just over 30 minutes of footage of the film was thought to have survived in the Getty Images Archive. In January 2024, academic film historian discovered a complete version in an abandoned warehouse in Providencia, Chile. It was later digitized, and screened at the Valparaiso Recovered Film Festival, organized by Córdova Ortega.

Plot

As described in a

film magazine Film periodicals combine discussion of individual films, genres and directors with in-depth considerations of the medium and the conditions of its production and reception. Their articles contrast with film reviewing in newspapers and magazines whi ...

, "Kaintuck" Ridge (Carey), refused admission to the local militia to fight on the side of Union in the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...

, joins a gang of marauders and at the end of the conflict finds himself a fugitive with a price on his head. He goes west and becomes a bandit. Marley Calvert (Pegg), who kept Kaintuck out of the army, also goes west and takes up mining. Betty Calvert (Schade) is taken captive when Kaintuck holds up a stage coach. His hatred for the Calverts is overcome by his admiration for Molly (Malone) and later, when her honor is attacked by a former suitor, he defends her and wins her love.

Cast

* Harry Carey as Harry "Kaintuck Harry" Ridge * Molly Malone as Molly Calvert * Vester Pegg as Marley Calvert * Betty Schade as Betty Calvert * Millard K. Wilson as Graham Lyons (credited as M.K. Wilson) * Martha Mattox as Mammy *

Steve Clemente Steve Clemente (born Esteban Clemento Morro November 22, 1885 – May 7, 1950) was a Mexican-American actor known for his many villainous roles. He began acting in his teens, signing up for his first movie, '' The Secret Man'', in 1917. His late ...

as Buck (credited as Steve Clemento)

Reception

Like many American films of the time, ''The Scarlet Drop'' was subject to cuts by city and state film censorship boards. For example, the Chicago Board of Censors issued an Adults Only permit for the film and cut, in Reel 2, the shooting of man standing in church yard, Reel 3, placing tree in road, all scenes of coach holdup except where young woman and bandit are conversing, two scenes of outlaws taking spoils from passengers, Reel 5, three fight scenes were man presses knife towards opponent, two scenes of men throwing knives, and man shooting Ridge.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Scarlet Drop, The 1918 films 1918 Western (genre) films 1910s American films 1910s English-language films 1910s rediscovered films American black-and-white films American Civil War films English-language Western (genre) films Films directed by John Ford Rediscovered American films Silent American Western (genre) films Surviving American silent films Universal Pictures films

Plot

Cast

Reception

See also

References

External links