THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS-1920-This silent film is a little masterpiece of it's kind and holds up very well for being made nearly 100 years ago! It's also fairly faithful to Jame Fenimore Cooper's novel (part of a trilogy) but the character of Hawkeye (Harry Lorraine), usually the main emphasis in later versions takes a back seat to Uncas (Alan Roscoe), the title Mohican and his relationship with Cora (Barbara Bedford), the white English woman who's father is a Colonel leading an army against the French and their "bad Indian" companions. Wallace Beery is top billed as the evil Magua who wants Cora (or her sister) all to himself.
The violent and graphic (for the day) Indian massacre scene still packs a wallop and Boris Karloff is seen briefly as a brave who kills baby! It all ends tragically of course.
It had two directors: Clarence Brown and Maurice (father of Jacques Tourneur). Co-stars Roscoe and Bedford were married at the time and were big stars in the Silent Era. Unfortunately both their careers went into decline on the advent of sound. Beery became a big star in the Sound Era winning a 1931 best actor Oscar for THE CHAMP. He actually "tied" with Fredric March who also won for DR. JEYKLL AND MR HYDE.
Weirdly, a German version was made the same year that featured Bela Lugosi!
Thanks for reading!
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