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The Little Indian Martyr
(1912) United States of America
B&W : One reel
Directed by Colin Campbell
Cast: Tom Santschi [Padre Juan], Wheeler Oakman [Padre Fernando], Roy Clark [Chiquito], Al Ernest Garcia (Allan Garcia) [Chiquito’s father], Fernando Gálvez [Chiquito’s uncle], Eugenie Besserer [Chiquito’s mother]
Selig Polyscope Company, Incorporated, production; distributed by The General Film Company, Incorporated. / Produced by William N. Selig. From a screen story by Lanier Bartlett. / Released 29 August 1912. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama: Western.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? This is the story of a little Indian neophyte boy who lived long ago at one of the California missions. The tale is founded on an historic incident. Chiquito, the Indian boy, is a page, or personal attendant, to Padre Juan, the big, manly priest in charge of the mission. Chiquito reverences Padre Juan very much for his godliness and vast knowledge, while Padre Juan loves the child tenderly for his intelligence and sweetness of character. Padre Juan takes special pains to teach Chiquito his lessons, and the boy is constantly begging the good-natured priest to read to him. Chiquito’s own mother thinks he is a good-for-nothing because of his love for the white man’s teachings, and all his playmates look at him askance. But he is in nowise swerved from his devotion to the padre. The time comes when the Indians of this mission determine to revolt, slay the priests and the garrison, and return to their wild mode of life. Chiquito chances to overhear the conspiracy, which is led by his own father and uncle, dragged into the council chamber and threatened with death. The father suggests that the boy shall be appointed to kill Padre Juan with his own hands, as he has easy access to the padre’s cell. If he accomplishes this, his life shall he spared. The boy is in a terrible quandary. He is given a knife and instructed in his duty. The garrison is successfully routed at the appointed time, only a sergeant escaping. Chiquito enters the padre’s cell while the latter is at early morning devotions, and is on the verge of stabbing his beloved priest to death when love and loyalty overcome him, and instead of slaying he warns Padre Juan. The price he pays is his only little life, for the Indians outside, angered at the failure of the boy to slay the padre, fire into the cell and Chiquito falls. The padre is found by the rescuing party kneeling in his cell with the boy in his arms.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 21 December 2024.
References: ClasIm-223 p. 49 : Website-IMDb.
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