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The Indian Land Grab
(1910) United States of America
B&W : One reel / 970 feet
Directed by (unknown)
Cast: (unknown)
The Champion Film Company production; distributed by Motion Picture Distributing & Sales Company. / Produced by Mark M. Dintenfass. / Released 20 November 1910. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama: Western.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? “Rush the Indian Land Grab Bill through at once if you want to save them.” Thus writes the agent of Arthur Smighting, the lobbyist. The Indians are sending a young chief with companion to Washington as representative before the President and cabinet, to secure justice and proper redress for the fraudulent barter of their lands, to which outrages they have been subjected, owing to their helplessness to prevent it. Smighting is very much perturbed at this possible hindrance which threatens to upset his apparently successful land fraud, and he immediately convenes a caucus at the capitol of those legislators of his brand who can be “approached” for the ultimate motive of securing the passage of the bill. To doubly ensure the accomplishment of his desire, he enlists the services of his family, in that he instructs his daughter to exert her charm over the young Indian so as to possibly keep him away from the object of his visit. Their efforts are successful and the young Indian is installed as a guest at the palatial home of the lobbyist. The young chief becomes enthralled at the beauty and charm of the girl and it is no difficult matter to make him dance attendance on her constantly. His task is an important one, however, and he manages to fulfill his mission in presenting his people’s grievances at the capitol, and he so forcibly asserts the injustice of the enactment of this bill that the weaker element of the opposing forces are compelled to pause. They, therefore, arrange a conclusive meeting for the following day at one o’clock. The meeting is actually held at 1 a.m., and not at 1 p.m., as the Indian had naturally supposed. By this trick they lost what probably might have been averted had they been present at the essential moment. To clinch the situation, the lobbyist’s daughter held a ball at their home in honor of the guests. In the midst of the dancing, however, an attaché at the capitol appears and apprises the Indian of the deception. Spurning the girl who tries to detain him he reaches the rendezvous only to find that the bill has been passed. He argues and denounces, entreats and implores his adversaries, but of no avail. Despondent and humiliated, he returns to his people. It had required this sudden change of affairs to bring as a shock the realization to the girl that she intensely loves the red man. Determined to undo the wrong perpetrated in the part she played, with earnest entreaties for the righting of wrong, she prevails upon them for a signed statement that will leave the Indians their land. Hurrying westward she arrives in time to prevent the summary death sentence being inflicted on the young chief by those whose cause he lost, through her machinations. Leaving the parchment with the tribe, she follows the young red man into the woods, and at his request to return to her people, she refuses. Finally he is overcome by her witchery and womanly love and her promise to become his squaw among his people.
Reviews: [The Moving Picture World, 10 December 1910, page 1360] The political machinations portrayed in this film are unhappily too prevalent, but whether that portion representing the white girl following the Indian to the wilderness and there insisting upon becoming his squaw is desirable, is a question. There is something so repugnant about a conception of this sort that even though the dramatic strength of the picture is admitted, there is a feeling that this isn't quite right. It is well that the girl seeks to make reparation for the wrong she has done these Indians. And to have her follow the chief to his home with the paper guaranteeing the integrity of the tribe's lands is good, but it would be better if the story stopped there. It would improve it to leave off the rest of the picture. Perhaps she did love him. But there is an inseparable racial gulf which it is repugnant to see crossed. Better change that portion. It would then make an excellent picture.
Survival status: Print exists.
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA]
Listing updated: 4 May 2025.
References: Website-AFI; Website-IMDb.
Home video: Blu-ray Disc, DVD.
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