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The Campbells Are Coming
(1915) United States of America
B&W : Four reels
Directed by Francis Ford
Cast: Francis Ford [Nana Sahib], Grace Cunard [Mary McLean, the Scotch lassie], E.J. Denecke (Ervin Denecke) [Colin Campbell], Duke Worne [Azimooah, Nana’s agent], Harry Schumm [Mary’s sweetheart], Lew Short [Mary’s father], Mark Fenton, Jack Ford (John Ford), Jack Holt, [?] Eddie Polo?
The Universal Film Manufacturing Company, Incorporated, production; distributed by The Universal Film Manufacturing Company, Incorporated [Gold Seal; A Broadway Universal Feature]. / Produced by Francis Ford. Scenario by Grace Cunard, from an adaptation by Grace Cunard of a short story by Emerson Hough. Presented by The Universal Film Manufacturing Company, Incorporated. / © 6 October 1915 by The Universal Film Manufacturing Company, Incorporated [LP6569]. Released 18 October 1915. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format. / Eddie Polo worked on props (nets) for the film.
Drama: Historical.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? On ascending the throne, after father’s death, Nana Sahib is informed that the pension given his father during his rule by Queen Victoria of England is stopped, and he sends his agent, Azimoah, to see Queen Victoria and intercede for him. On arriving in England. Azimoah sees Queen Victoria, who refuses the petition on the grounds that Nana Sahib was only an adopted son of the former ruler. Azimoah, on his return trip to India, meets a little Scotch lassie, who is on her way to join her father, a missionary in India. Azimoah becomes infatuated with the lassie, but on his arrival loses track of her until Nana Sahib sees her and desires her for his harem. The uprising breaks out in India against England. The treachery of the Sepoys, the brutality of Nana Sahib and his followers, the extreme cruelty exercised upon the women and children and the anguish and suffering of the English followed closely upon her arrival. During the rebellion the lassie and her father are taken prisoners and thrown into a fort. Nana Sahib sees her there and takes her by force to his palace and makes her the favorite of his harem, much against her will. She, realizing the usefulness of fighting him, pretends to like him and therefore is given her way in the palace. While he is out with his men, by a ruse, makes her escape and informs her father and the English colonel of the plans of Nana Sahib and his men. They are able, with her information, to make some headway against the Sepoys, but she is again captured by Nana and taken back to his palace. When Campbell arrives to relieve Lucknow, with the lassie’s sweetheart, who she had left in Scotland, Nana Sahib is taken prisoner, but escapes and returns to his palace to kill the lassie before her sweetheart can save her, but her sweetheart gets there before Nana and rescues her. Nana escapes, but is driven to the jungle, where he is left a prey to the wild beasts without food or drink. The lassie is reunited with her father and sweetheart and returns to Scotland with them, happy. • Additional synopsis available in AFI-F1 n. F1.0582.
Reviews: [Variety, 1 October 1915, page 19] A Universal (Broadway Feature) four-reeler, founded on the historical Sepoy uprising in 1857, when “the day was saved” by the timely arrival of the famous Scotch regiment. The scenario is by Grace Cunard and was produced by Francis Ford, who also have the leading roles. The love story is subordinated to the numerous sanguinary conflicts between the English army and the Sepoys, which create furious action almost from the start. These battles permit the photographing of vast exteriors with remarkably effective perspectives and nothing could possibly be more thrilling than the bareback riding of the natives. Trained acrobats have undoubtedly been employed for dangerous falls from horses while going at full speed. The English, while defending a garrison, are artistically made up to depict the horrors which they are undergoing in defense of their womenfolk. Ford plays the sinister, treacherous, murderous Nana Sahib in a manner to make one’s blood run cold and Miss Cunard handles effectively the sweet Scotch lassie who undergoes untold tortures in anticipation of being consigned to the harem of the unconscionable villain. Hundreds of people are employed to portray the English soldiers and natives, and all of them are well drilled to create violent conflict. “The Campbells Are Coming” is a corking picture. Jolo
Survival status: The film is presumed lost.
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Keywords: Crime: Murder (Attempted) - Escapes - Espionage: Spies - India: Lucknow - Rescues - Scots
Listing updated: 26 January 2025.
References: AFI-F1 n. F1.0582; Braff-Universal n. 1143; Lahue-Continued p. 29; Tarbox-Lost pp. 235, 254 : ClasIm-224 p. 43; Variety-19151001 p. 19 : Documentary-Slide : Website-AFI; Website-IMDb.
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