"1776" or, The Hessian Renegades (1909)

Drama | 6 September 1909

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HISTORY

Filming was done at Cuddebackville, NY, and at the Biograph studios in New York City. ...

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Filming was done at Cuddebackville, NY, and at the Biograph studios in New York City.

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GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS
SOURCE CITATIONS
SOURCE
DATE
PAGE
LCMP
p. 54, column 3
LCPP
p. 216
EMP
p. 293
BIOB2
p. 122
BPL
pp. 118-119
The Daily Worker
p. 59
Moving Picture World
11 Sep 1909
p. 349ts, 356ta, 370tl
Moving Picture World
18 Sep 1909
p. 379r
NYDM
11 Sep 1909
p. 16ta
NYDM
18 Sep 1909
p. 14r
Variety
11 Sep 1909
tr
NFAC3
p. 169
Treasures from the Film Archives
p. 261
DETAILS
Alternate Title:
The Hessian Renegades
Release Date:
6 September 1909
Production Date:

Copyright Info
Claimant
Date
Copyright Number
Biograph Co.
9 September 1909
J131458
Physical Properties:
Silent
Black and White
Length(in feet):
965
Country:
United States
Language:
English
SYNOPSIS

"The incident here depicted shows a young American dispatch bearer, who, surprised by a band of Hessian foragers, seeks shelter in his father's house. The old man has just time to hide the boy in the fireplace when the Hessians enter. After a fruitless search, they express their intention of putting up at the house. As a subterfuge, the daughter takes them upstairs to show them their quarters, while the father hides the boy in a clothes hamper. The Captain, on his return downstairs, sees the basket, and suspicious, asks what it contains; not satisfied with the old man's answer, sends a bullet crashing through into the boy's body, killing him. The poor old man is frantic with grief and vows to avenge his boy's brutal murder, so stealing outside with his daughter, they surprise the sentry and carry him off. The daughter, dressing in the sentry's uniform, takes the post, while the father scurries off in search of help. Knocking at the doors of his neighbors, each is opened by a sympathetic friend, but the young men all away fighting their country's cause, only the old folks and women remain. However, they are ready to aid him, and as all their arms and ammunition have been confiscated they must take up anything at hand. What a motley army they are, old men and young and old women, armed with clubs, axes, scythes, etc., eagerly anxious for the fray. The little band of patriots reach the house just as the identity of the daughter is discovered by the relieving sentry, who is silenced, and the invaders stealthily enter the house by windows and door, taking the Hessians entirely unawares. ...

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"The incident here depicted shows a young American dispatch bearer, who, surprised by a band of Hessian foragers, seeks shelter in his father's house. The old man has just time to hide the boy in the fireplace when the Hessians enter. After a fruitless search, they express their intention of putting up at the house. As a subterfuge, the daughter takes them upstairs to show them their quarters, while the father hides the boy in a clothes hamper. The Captain, on his return downstairs, sees the basket, and suspicious, asks what it contains; not satisfied with the old man's answer, sends a bullet crashing through into the boy's body, killing him. The poor old man is frantic with grief and vows to avenge his boy's brutal murder, so stealing outside with his daughter, they surprise the sentry and carry him off. The daughter, dressing in the sentry's uniform, takes the post, while the father scurries off in search of help. Knocking at the doors of his neighbors, each is opened by a sympathetic friend, but the young men all away fighting their country's cause, only the old folks and women remain. However, they are ready to aid him, and as all their arms and ammunition have been confiscated they must take up anything at hand. What a motley army they are, old men and young and old women, armed with clubs, axes, scythes, etc., eagerly anxious for the fray. The little band of patriots reach the house just as the identity of the daughter is discovered by the relieving sentry, who is silenced, and the invaders stealthily enter the house by windows and door, taking the Hessians entirely unawares. A brief struggle lays most of them low, while the old man singles out the Captain, who had killed the boy, keeping his vow of vengeance.”—11 Sep 1909 Moving Picture World

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GENRE
Genre:
Sub-genre:
War


Subject

Legend
Viewed by AFI
Partially Viewed
Offscreen Credit
Name Occurs Before Title
AFI Life Achievement Award

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