Director:
Harold ShawWriter:
Harold ShawProducer:
Harold ShawProduction Company:
African Film Productions, Ltd.Articles in the 9 Mar 1917 and 10 Mar 1917 issues of Var stated that American actor Harold Shaw, “principal director” for African Film Productions, Ltd., had completed work on his first picture for the company. The film, referred to by its original title, De Voortrekkers, was reportedly a commercial success in Pretoria, South Africa.
According to the 31 Mar 1917 Moving Picture World, the film was twelve reels in length with a cast of nearly 10,000, and was to be released in the U.S. as The Pioneers. It was also noted that Shaw married his lead actress and fellow cast member, Edna Flugrath, approximately two months earlier. An item in the 7 Jul 1917 Moving Picture World reported that the film was screened privately in Sydney, Australia, under the title, Winning a Continent. It was also copyrighted in 1924 under that title by Arrow Pictures.
Years later, the 1933-1934 edition of Cinema Quarterly described the picture as the only one of any significance to be filmed in South Africa, and credited historian Gustaf Preller as Shaw’s collaborator.
Copyright records from 1924 indicate that the film may have been cut to six reels.
...
Articles in the 9 Mar 1917 and 10 Mar 1917 issues of Var stated that American actor Harold Shaw, “principal director” for African Film Productions, Ltd., had completed work on his first picture for the company. The film, referred to by its original title, De Voortrekkers, was reportedly a commercial success in Pretoria, South Africa.
According to the 31 Mar 1917 Moving Picture World, the film was twelve reels in length with a cast of nearly 10,000, and was to be released in the U.S. as The Pioneers. It was also noted that Shaw married his lead actress and fellow cast member, Edna Flugrath, approximately two months earlier. An item in the 7 Jul 1917 Moving Picture World reported that the film was screened privately in Sydney, Australia, under the title, Winning a Continent. It was also copyrighted in 1924 under that title by Arrow Pictures.
Years later, the 1933-1934 edition of Cinema Quarterly described the picture as the only one of any significance to be filmed in South Africa, and credited historian Gustaf Preller as Shaw’s collaborator.
Copyright records from 1924 indicate that the film may have been cut to six reels.
The Pioneers
Winning a Continent
In 1837, Dutch settlers in the Cape Colony decide to establish a Free Dutch Republic in Natal. Among those preparing to make the journey are Jan Faber, a Boer youth, and Sabuzu, a Zulu warrior converted to Christianity. An advance party led by Piet Retief, the newly designated President of the Dutch Republic, goes to the kraal of Zulu chief, Dingaan, in an attempt to make a treaty, but they have been preceded by two renegade traders, Jenke and Janos, who have turned the chief against them. Dingaan dispatches a band of warriors to attack the settlers, only to be repelled by the superior firepower of the Boer rifles. Sabuzu kills Dingaan, and the settlers are free to realize their dream of a new ...
In 1837, Dutch settlers in the Cape Colony decide to establish a Free Dutch Republic in Natal. Among those preparing to make the journey are Jan Faber, a Boer youth, and Sabuzu, a Zulu warrior converted to Christianity. An advance party led by Piet Retief, the newly designated President of the Dutch Republic, goes to the kraal of Zulu chief, Dingaan, in an attempt to make a treaty, but they have been preceded by two renegade traders, Jenke and Janos, who have turned the chief against them. Dingaan dispatches a band of warriors to attack the settlers, only to be repelled by the superior firepower of the Boer rifles. Sabuzu kills Dingaan, and the settlers are free to realize their dream of a new nation.
Viewed by AFI
Partially Viewed
Offscreen Credit
Name Occurs Before Title
AFI Life Achievement AwardTOP SEARCHES
The Long Haul
Onscreen credits contain the following written acknowlegment: "The producer gratefully acknowleges the assistance and facilities made availabe to the producer by Leyland Motors Limited." Tom Morahan's onscreen credit reads ... >>
The Terminator
A full-page advertisement in the 24 Feb 1984 DV announced the recent start of principal photography, referring to the film by its working title, Terminator. ... >>
That Forsyte Woman
The working title for this film was The Forsyte Saga . According to a pre-release news item in Time magazine, M-G-M decided to change the title ... >>
Pretty Baby
The summary and note for this entry were completed with participation from the AFI Academic Network. Summary and note were written by participant Jeremy Carr, Visiting Research Fellow ... >>
