''Baree, Son of Kazan'' is a 1918 American silent film based on the 1917 adventure novel of the same name by writer

James Oliver Curwood James Oliver Curwood (June 12, 1878 – August 13, 1927) was an American action-adventure writer and conservationist. His books were often based on adventures set in the Hudson Bay area, the Yukon or Alaska and ranked among the top-ten best sell ...

. The film was directed by David Smith, the brother of Albert E. Smith, one of the founders of

Vitagraph Vitagraph Studios, also known as the Vitagraph Company of America, was a United States motion picture studio. It was founded by J. Stuart Blackton and Albert E. Smith in 1897 in Brooklyn, New York, as the American Vitagraph Company. By 1907, ...

studio.

Nell Shipman Nell Shipman (born Helen Foster-Barham; October 25, 1892 – January 23, 1970) was a Canadian actress, author, screenwriter, producer, director, animal rights activist and animal trainer. Her works often had autobiographical elements to them and ...

, an influential female actress and producer, stars in the film. In 1925, David Smith produced a new film based on this novel, starring

Anita Stewart Anita Stewart (born Anna Marie Stewart; February 7, 1895 – May 4, 1961) was an American actress and film producer of the early silent film era. Early years Anita Stewart was born in Brooklyn, New York as Anna Marie Stewart on February 7, 18 ...

. An incomplete or abridged version of the film survives.

Plot

As described in a 1918

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 ...

, McTaggart (Garcia), a

factor Factor, a Latin word meaning "who/which acts", may refer to: Commerce * Factor (agent), a person who acts for, notably a mercantile and colonial agent * Factor (Scotland), a person or firm managing a Scottish estate * Factors of production, suc ...

of the Lac Bain trading post, is infatuated by Nepeese (Shipman), daughter of trapper Perriot (Rickson), a trapper, but is rejected by the girl. On his journey to Perriot's cabin, he trapped a wolfdog pup, whose enmity he aroused by his poor treatment. Nepeese befriends the animal, which she names Baree. McTaggart visits and, stung by the girl's continued rejection, attacks her. Baree springs to her defense but is shot by the factor. Nepeese's father Pierrot returns and grapples with McTaggart but is shot to death. Nepeese flees and, pursued by McTaggart, jumps over a cliff. Baree, abandoned, wanders the north country, but has not forgotten his hatred for McTaggart. The factor traps the wolfdog again, now grown, and leaves it to die. Baree is rescued by outlaw Jim Carvel (Whitman). Homesick, Baree leads his new friend to his former home and is overjoyed to find Nepeese. Learning that she has returned, McTaggart enters her tent at midnight. The wolfdog attacks and kills him, avenging the wrongs done.

Cast

as Nepeese *

Gayne Whitman Gayne Whitman (born Alfred D. Vosburgh; March 19, 1890 – August 31, 1958) was an American radio and film actor. He appeared in more than 200 films between 1904 and 1957. In some early films he was credited under his birth name. He was born ...

as Jim Carvel *

Al Ernest Garcia Allan Ernest Garcia (11 March 1887 – 4 September 1938) was an American actor and casting director, best known for his long association with Charlie Chaplin. Life and career Al Ernest Garcia appeared in over 120 films between 1911 and 1938, mos ...

as 'Bush' McTaggart *

Joe Rickson Joe Rickson (born Oscar Erickson; September 6, 1880 – January 8, 1958) was an American actor of the silent era. He appeared in 90 films between 1913 and 1945. He was born in Clearcreek, Montana and died in Los Angeles, California. Partia ...

as Perriot

Reception

Curwood's adventure books were popular and films based on them were well received. But in this period, city and state film censorship boards often made cuts before allowing screening of films within their jurisdictions. Like many American films of the time, ''Baree, Son of Kazan'' was subject to restrictions and cuts that reduced the violence between the men, attacks on Nepeese, and the sexual suggestiveness of the factor toward her. For example, the Chicago Board of Censors cut, in Reel 2, the intertitle "I guess I'm about through with you"; and made numerous cuts in Reel 4: all but the first and last fight scenes between McTaggart and Nepeese, where he suggestively leers at her; reduces the length by half of the fight scenes between men, cuts the shooting of Perriot, cut all struggle scenes except first and last, the intertitle "From now on you belong to me", and the arson scene.

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Baree, Son of Kazan 1918 films Vitagraph Studios films American silent feature films Films based on American novels 1918 adventure films American adventure films Films based on adventure novels Films directed by David Smith (director) American black-and-white films Northern (genre) films Films about dogs Films based on novels by James Oliver Curwood 1910s American films Silent adventure films 1910s English-language films