THE VANISHING AMERICAN
starring Richard Dix and Lois Wilson
MOTION PICTURE CLASSIC
December, 1925
This attempt to visualize the tragedy of the dying race of redskins proved keenly disappointing to us. Ever since "The Covered Wagon" was pronounced an epic picture by the critics, motion picture producers have been trying to dash off epics. As you may guess, it isn't possible to make epics on schedule. Not even Hollywood can do it.
To state the facts of the case baldly: the story of Zane Grey does not stand being magnified to the proportions necessary for a superspecial. Grey wrote a romance of an Indian, Nophaie, and a young teacher on the redskin reservation, Marion Warner. Nophaie gets himself in trouble when he attempts to save his own race from the unscrupulous thievery of the whites. But the World War comes along, and Nophaie not only turns over the Indian horses for war purposes but gets most of the reservation to enlist. Nophaie distinguishes himself in Flanders, but, when he returns, he finds that the looting of Indian property has continued in his absence. The Indians rise in rebellion and attack the local settlement, but Nophaie gives his life to save the whites. Thus the picture ends with the tragic death of the redskin hero, altho there is an indication that the broken-hearted teacher may ultimately find solace in the love of a young army officer.
In their attempt to elevate an average story to superform, three reels of film have been tacked on the start of the picture to show the gradual collapse of the Indian race. The romance itself doesn't get under way until the fourth reel, and then it stumbles along, tripped up every now and then by atrociously flowery subtitles.
Richard Dix does very well, considering the difficulties of his role. LoisWilson is so so, the real honors going to a little Indian boy, billed simply as the son of Man Hammer.