''The Devil's Trail'' is a 1919 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. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...

that is set in the woods of the Pacific Northwest. It was directed by

Stuart Paton Stuart Paton (23 July 1883 – 16 December 1944) was a British film director, director, screenwriter and actor of the silent film, silent era. Paton mostly worked with Universal Pictures, Universal, and is accredited with directing 67 films ...

and stars

Betty Compson Betty Compson (born Eleanor Luicime Compson; March 19, 1897 – April 18, 1974) was an American actress and film producer who got her start during Hollywood's silent era. She is best known for her performances in ''The Docks of New York'' and '' ...

.Progressive Silent Film List: ''The Devil's Trail''
at silentera.com It is not known whether the film currently survives.The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: ''The Devil's Trail''
/ref>

Plot

As described in a film magazine, Dibec (Malatesta), a whiskey smuggler who trades liquor to the Indians for blankets and furs, is being pursued by the Royal Northwest Mounted Police. Dubec stops at the post where Mrs. Delisle, wife of Sergeant Delisle, is alone with her daughter Nonette and her baby sister Julie. Dubec kills Mrs. Delisle and abducts Nonette. Twelve years later, Julie (Compson) is celebrating her 16th birthday. The men of the Royal Mounted attend this function, and while the dinner is in progress, Sergeant MacNair arrives. He at once falls in love with Julie, and she with him, and this love persists even though MacNair is to succeed Julie's father as commander of the post. The post is located at Chino Landing, and Sergeant Delisle has been unable to curb the lawless element brought by the gold rush. After twelve years Dubec has returned from the gold camp and is accompanied by Nonette. She is now a woman of the dance halls, and at first she succeeds in keeping her identity secret from her father. But when Delisle's life is endangered by the lawless element and Julie is kidnapped by Dubec, Nonette reveals her secret. While MacNair, who has also been taken prisoner, fights to save Julie, Nonette brings her father and others to the scene. Dubec is captured and there is a happy reunion.

Cast

as Julie Delisle *

George Larkin George Larkin (November 11, 1887 – March 27, 1946) was an American film actor of the silent era. He appeared in more than 150 films between 1910 and 1931. He was born and died in New York, New York. He was married to actress Ollie Kirkby. ...

as Sergeant MacNair * William Quinn as 'Dutch' Vogel *

Fred Malatesta Fred Malatesta (April 18, 1889 – April 8, 1952) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 110 films between 1915 and 1941. He was born in Naples, Italy, and died in Burbank, California. Selected filmography * ''Sherlock Holme ...

as Dubec *

Claire Du Brey Claire Du Brey (born Clara Violet Dubreyvich, August 31, 1892 – August 1, 1993) was an American actress. She appeared in more than 200 films from 1916 to 1959. Her name is sometimes rendered as Claire Du Bray or as Claire Dubrey. Early y ...

as Dubec's Wife *H. C. Carpenter * Joseph J. Franz *

Howard Crampton Howard Crampton (January 12, 1865 – June 15, 1922) was an American actor of the silent era. He appeared in more than 70 films between 1913 and 1922. He was born in New York City. Partial filmography * ''Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'' (1913) ...

Robert F. McGowan Robert Francis McGowan (July 11, 1882 – January 27, 1955) was an American film director and producer, best known as the senior director of the ''Our Gang'' short subjects film series from 1922 until 1933. Career Before moving to Los Angeles, ...

''unbilled'' *Alberta Franklin

Production

''The Devil's Trail'' during production had the

working title A working title is a preliminary name for a product or project. The usage is especially common in film and TV, gaming, music and publishing. It is often styled in trade publications as (wt) and is synonymous with production title and tentative ...

of ''Rose of the Border'', which would have reflected the name of Compson's role, then named Rose.

References

External links

*
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1919 films 1919 drama films 1919 lost films 1910s American films 1910s English-language films American black-and-white films American silent feature films English-language drama films Films directed by Stuart Paton Lost American drama films Lost silent American films Silent American drama films World Film Company films {{1910s-drama-film-stub