With Sitting Bull at the Spirit Lake Massacre
(1927)
Drama | 15 June 1927
Director:
Robert North BradburyCinematographer:
James S. Brown Jr.Editor:
Della M. KingProduction Company:
Sunset ProductionsThis film was also known as Sitting Bull at the "Spirit Lake Massacre" and was reviewed in Var under the title Spirit Lake Maccacre. In the opening credits, the phrase "A Thrilling Epic of Frontier Days" follows the title. One reel of six was missing from the print viewed. ...
This film was also known as Sitting Bull at the "Spirit Lake Massacre" and was reviewed in Var under the title Spirit Lake Maccacre. In the opening credits, the phrase "A Thrilling Epic of Frontier Days" follows the title. One reel of six was missing from the print viewed.
Spirit Lake Massacre
In the Midwest, in the 1860s or 1870s, settlements of whites are growing. Although the Sioux Indians have professed their friendliness to one such settlement near Spirit Lake, Iowa, Chief Sitting Bull, whose mere name evokes terror among the whites, surveys the settlement at Spirit Lake from afar and vows to retake the land that belonged to his fathers. He informs a companion that the Great Spirit told him that if he retakes the land, the Great Spirit will send many buffalo and he, Sitting Bull, will be chief of a happy people. Donald Keefe, a resident of the Spirit Lake settlement, rides into town with his brother Bob and meets sisters Celia and Mary Moore. Seeing this, Parson Rogers predicts that there soon will be a double wedding. Meanwhile, the Mulcain family, consisting of Pat, the most disliked man in the settlement, his brother John and Mame, who is known to the Indians as the "White Witch" because of her prophesies, visit Sitting Bull, as Pat wants to trade liquor for pelts. After the trade, Sitting Bull speaks alone to Mame and offers her many pelts and his protection if she will prophesy to his chiefs that they should retake their lands. Some time later, after an attack, Parson Rogers brings Celia to the Mulcain cabin and asks if they will care for her while he goes for help. Mame agrees only after the parson pays her. Meanwhile, the Indians have captured Mary, but Sitting Bull instructs his underling not to let anything happen to her, as he may need a new squaw. At the Mulcain cabin, Pat kisses Celia, who struggles against him before Mame pulls ...
In the Midwest, in the 1860s or 1870s, settlements of whites are growing. Although the Sioux Indians have professed their friendliness to one such settlement near Spirit Lake, Iowa, Chief Sitting Bull, whose mere name evokes terror among the whites, surveys the settlement at Spirit Lake from afar and vows to retake the land that belonged to his fathers. He informs a companion that the Great Spirit told him that if he retakes the land, the Great Spirit will send many buffalo and he, Sitting Bull, will be chief of a happy people. Donald Keefe, a resident of the Spirit Lake settlement, rides into town with his brother Bob and meets sisters Celia and Mary Moore. Seeing this, Parson Rogers predicts that there soon will be a double wedding. Meanwhile, the Mulcain family, consisting of Pat, the most disliked man in the settlement, his brother John and Mame, who is known to the Indians as the "White Witch" because of her prophesies, visit Sitting Bull, as Pat wants to trade liquor for pelts. After the trade, Sitting Bull speaks alone to Mame and offers her many pelts and his protection if she will prophesy to his chiefs that they should retake their lands. Some time later, after an attack, Parson Rogers brings Celia to the Mulcain cabin and asks if they will care for her while he goes for help. Mame agrees only after the parson pays her. Meanwhile, the Indians have captured Mary, but Sitting Bull instructs his underling not to let anything happen to her, as he may need a new squaw. At the Mulcain cabin, Pat kisses Celia, who struggles against him before Mame pulls Pat away. The parson notifies Donald, and they ride back with Bob and their pal, Happy Hartz. They find Celia and Mary's father lying dead outside his house and Mary gone. Donald believes it would be suicide to go to the Indian camp that night, so they return to the settlement. The next day, Donald leads a meeting at the settlement, then goes with a few men to Sitting Bull's camp to find Mary. When Sitting Bull and three other Indians come to the Mulcain cabin for the "White Witch" to read their prophesy, the Indian leader tells Donald to come to the camp that afternoon for proof that they do not have Mary. He then assures Mame that she will be safe in his camp during the subsequent attack on the settlement. He gives her more pelts, then she reads her cards for the others and tells them that the Great Spirit wants Sitting Bull to lead the Indians against the white man. Pat and John Mulcain find Celia eavesdropping at the door and capture her. At the Indian camp, while the Indians do an ominous ghost dance, Donald rescues Mary and other white girls who have been captured, but Pat and his brother see them. Donald and Bob knock out the Mulcains, and Happy sends the girls to warn the settlers that the Indians are on the warpath. After the Indians capture Happy, Donald and Bob rescue him. As Sitting Bull and many braves ride off to fight, Donald sends Bob to bring back soldiers. Meanwhile, after the girls spread the word that the Indians are coming to attack, the settlers fire on the Indians as they ride through town. Bob relays the message at an army post. Sitting Bull and his braves are victorious, but when Pat asks for his share of the plunder, Sitting Bull submits him to the "vengeance of the squaws," who surround and begin to kick him. Sitting Bull's victory is short-lived, as the soldiers win the battle against him. He is shorn of his eagle feathers and put on the reservation, where he continues to dream of power. Finally, Parson Rogers' prophesy of a double wedding comes true.
TOP SEARCHES
Tokyo Joe
According to a 10 Dec 1948 HR news item, 2d unit director Art Black and cameramen Joseph Biroc and Emil Oster, Jr. shot 40,000 feet of background ... >>
The Killer Is Loose
Prior to the 13 Jun 1953 publication of the novelette The Killer Is Loose in The Saturday Evening Post , HR had reported, in ... >>
Zoot Suit
The summary and note for this entry were completed with participation from the AFI Academic Network. Summary and note were written by participant Anjuli M. Singh, an independent ... >>
The Princess Bride
The synopsis and history for this entry were completed with participation from the AFI Academic Network. Synopsis and history were written by Fitrah Hamid, a student at Georgia ... >>
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
The picture begins with actor Matthew Broderick, in the role of “Ferris Bueller,” speaking directly to the audience. His commentary continues intermittently throughout the picture.
A 13 Jun ... >>
