''A Cumberland Romance'' is a 1920 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 ...

written and directed by

Charles Maigne Charles Maigne (November 11, 1879 – November 28, 1929) was an American screenwriter and film director of the silent era. He wrote for 32 films between 1916 and 1928. He also directed 18 films between 1918 and 1923. He was born in Rich ...

and starring

Mary Miles Minter Mary Miles Minter (born Juliet Reilly; April 25, 1902Louisiana Birth Certificate, Caddo Parish, No. 119, Book A, Page 97, Birth Date: April 25, 1902, Name: Mary M. Reilly ic – Original Caddo birth record was recorded as "J.H. Riley's Child" ...

and Monte Blue, based on the 1899 novel ''A Mountain Europa'' by John Fox Jr. It is one of approximately a dozen of Minter's features still known to survive today.The Library of Congress/FIAF American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: ''A Cumberland Romance''
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Plot

As described in

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 ...

reviews, Easter Hicks (Minter), a mountain girl, meets Clayton (Bowers), an engineer from the city, when she is on her way to market. Easter is fascinated by the "furriner" from the city, and despite her crude dress and rough mannerisms, Clayton is equally taken with her. Sherd Raines (Blue), a young circuit rider of the mountains, is also in love with Easter. "Pap" Hicks (Oliver), Easter's drunkard father, sees Clayton with Easter and vows to shoot the city man, but Sherd overpowers him. Later, Sherd wrestles with his own jealousy and contemplates shooting Clayton, but his faith will not allow him to take a human life. The next day, when Clayton is about to leave for the city, Easter runs after him and tearfully declares her love. Clayton decides to marry her, and Sherd, putting aside his love for Easter, agrees to perform the marriage ceremony. On the day of the wedding, as Clayton's mother and sister arrive, the contrast between the city folk and the mountain folk could not be clearer. "Pap" Hicks arrives to the wedding drunk, and when Clayton will not share a drink with him, he takes offence and threatens to shoot his future son-in-law. Sherd gets between them to try to save Clayton, but when "Pap" pulls the trigger, it is Easter who is struck with the bullet. Stricken with grief at the thought that he has killed his daughter, "Pap" swears to God that he will never drink again if only Easter should pull through. Easter recovers, and realises that she and Clayton cannot be happy together, as the differences between them are too great. She sends him back to the city and asks to see Sherd, understanding that she loves the circuit rider after all. The September 1920 edition of "Picture-Play" features a detailed fiction adaptation of the film, complete with several stills from the picture. The July 3rd, 1920 edition of

Motion Picture News The ''Motion Picture News'' was an American film industry trade paper published from 1913 to 1930. History The publication was created through the 1913 merger of the ''Moving Picture News'' founded in 1908 and ''The Exhibitors' Times'', founded ...

lists a musical cue sheet for the film.

Cast

as Easter Hicks * Monte Blue as Sherd Raines * John Bowers as Clayton * Guy Oliver as Pap Hicks * Martha Mattox as Ma Hicks * Robert Brower as Mountain Bishop

References

External links

* 1920 films 1920s English-language films Silent American drama films 1920 drama films Films directed by Charles Maigne American silent feature films American black-and-white films 1920s American films {{1920s-drama-film-stub