The Girl from Arizona (1910)

Western | 16 May 1910

Director:

Louis Gasnier

Writer:

Hal Reid

Production Company:

Pathé Frères
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HISTORY

According to the 14 May 1910 Moving Picture World, The Girl from Arizona was Pathé Frères' first American company production, “posed for by American actors with American scenes, and under the stage management of one who is stated to be the highest priced producer in the world.” Film Index added that the film, from Pathe's studios in Bound Brook, NJ, "is the first attempt of a French producer to turn out an American subject. In the matter of scenic effects, action and photography, there is little left to be desired....Especially thrilling is the scene in which the villain, unmasked and facing death, falls backward over a 300-foot cliff, to roll dead and mangled at the bottom." The 28 May 1910 Moving Picture World agreed: "The scene showing the fall from the precipice is one of the most thrilling and sensational scenes ever taken by a camera and is sure to make a great hit.”
       Different ads for The Girl from Arizona in Moving Picture World and Film Index give varying lengths, from 935 to 950 feet.
       Filming was probably done in New York or New Jersey. ...

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According to the 14 May 1910 Moving Picture World, The Girl from Arizona was Pathé Frères' first American company production, “posed for by American actors with American scenes, and under the stage management of one who is stated to be the highest priced producer in the world.” Film Index added that the film, from Pathe's studios in Bound Brook, NJ, "is the first attempt of a French producer to turn out an American subject. In the matter of scenic effects, action and photography, there is little left to be desired....Especially thrilling is the scene in which the villain, unmasked and facing death, falls backward over a 300-foot cliff, to roll dead and mangled at the bottom." The 28 May 1910 Moving Picture World agreed: "The scene showing the fall from the precipice is one of the most thrilling and sensational scenes ever taken by a camera and is sure to make a great hit.”
       Different ads for The Girl from Arizona in Moving Picture World and Film Index give varying lengths, from 935 to 950 feet.
       Filming was probably done in New York or New Jersey.

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SOURCE CITATIONS
SOURCE
DATE
PAGE
Film Index
21 May 1910
p. 5, 13, 14, 16
Moving Picture News
21 May 1910
p. 13tl
Moving Picture World
14 May 1910
p. 767ta, 777ar
Moving Picture World
21 May 1910
p. 848ts, 849tl, 850tl
Moving Picture World
28 May 1910
p. 889tr
CAST
NAME
CREDITED AS
CREDIT
PRODUCTION CREDITS
NAME
PARENT COMPANY
PRODUCTION COMPANY
DISTRIBUTION COMPANY
NAME
CREDITED AS
CREDIT
DIRECTOR
WRITER
Story
DETAILS
Alternate Title:
La fille d'Arizona
Release Date:
16 May 1910
Production Date:

Physical Properties:
Silent
Black and White
Length(in feet):
935, 950
Length(in reels):
1
Country:
United States
Language:
English
SYNOPSIS

“Lucy, the handsome and impetuous daughter of a ranchman in Arizona, is much admired and there is much jealousy between Bob Skilly, one of her father's cowboys, and John Mason, a neighboring ranchman. Lucy however tells Bob she wants none of him and he goes away swearing vengeance. Lucy then mounts her broncho and, accompanied by her faithful Indian maid, meets John and they plight their troth in the shade of the big redwood trees. In the meantime, Bob has killed an Indian and disguised himself as a redskin, and the rest of the tribe, suspecting John of the deed, take him captive after he has left Lucy and lead him back to their camp a prisoner. In the meantime, Lucy has discovered John's horse wandering without its master and the body of the dead Indian. While her faithful servant goes for help, she follows the tracks and arrives just at the moment when the Indians have tied John to a post and are dancing a war dance preparatory to killing him. Taking in the situation at a glance and without hesitating, she shoots at two of the Indians, and while the others, caught unawares temporarily, draw back, she rushes in and cutting the ropes that hold her lover, they both take to their horses, pursued by the Indians, among whom is Bob, still disguised. Luckily they meet a posse of cowboys, who at the call of the trusty servant, have come to the rescue, and while some are chasing the Indians accompanied by Lucy, eventually capture Skilly, the cause of the trouble, and they are about to lay hands on him when, backing from his captors, he falls ...

More Less

“Lucy, the handsome and impetuous daughter of a ranchman in Arizona, is much admired and there is much jealousy between Bob Skilly, one of her father's cowboys, and John Mason, a neighboring ranchman. Lucy however tells Bob she wants none of him and he goes away swearing vengeance. Lucy then mounts her broncho and, accompanied by her faithful Indian maid, meets John and they plight their troth in the shade of the big redwood trees. In the meantime, Bob has killed an Indian and disguised himself as a redskin, and the rest of the tribe, suspecting John of the deed, take him captive after he has left Lucy and lead him back to their camp a prisoner. In the meantime, Lucy has discovered John's horse wandering without its master and the body of the dead Indian. While her faithful servant goes for help, she follows the tracks and arrives just at the moment when the Indians have tied John to a post and are dancing a war dance preparatory to killing him. Taking in the situation at a glance and without hesitating, she shoots at two of the Indians, and while the others, caught unawares temporarily, draw back, she rushes in and cutting the ropes that hold her lover, they both take to their horses, pursued by the Indians, among whom is Bob, still disguised. Luckily they meet a posse of cowboys, who at the call of the trusty servant, have come to the rescue, and while some are chasing the Indians accompanied by Lucy, eventually capture Skilly, the cause of the trouble, and they are about to lay hands on him when, backing from his captors, he falls over a precipice down into the ravine 800 feet beneath. The trouble being now ended, Lucy and John fall into one another's arms and no doubt live happily for many years.”—28 May 1910 Moving Picture World

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

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