Less Than the Dust

Plot

Radha, a young woman raised as a Hindu in British-occupied India, lives under the care of Ramlan, a local sword-maker, and forms a deep bond with Captain Raymond Townsend, a British officer. When Townsend is called back to England to manage the estate of his deceased uncle, Radha is left behind until an anti-British uprising leads to Ramlan's arrest. Before being imprisoned, Ramlan reveals the shocking truth: Radha is not his daughter, but the child of Captain Brooke, a British officer who died of an overdose, and a mother who died in poverty. Armed with proof of her true identity as a high-born Englishwoman, Radha travels to England to claim her inheritance from her late grandfather’s estate, which is the same estate Townsend is managing. Upon her arrival, Townsend is overjoyed to find that his beloved 'Hindu' friend is actually of his own social class and race, leading to a romantic reunion where they merge their fortunes through marriage.

Historical Background

In 1916, the United States was on the brink of entering World War I, and American cinema was beginning to dominate the global market as European production slowed due to the conflict. The film reflects the 'Orientalism' prevalent in Western culture at the time, where Eastern cultures were viewed as exotic, mysterious, and often 'savage' compared to Western 'civilization.' The plot point of Radha being revealed as white is a classic example of the 'blood will tell' trope, which reinforced contemporary racial hierarchies by suggesting that her noble character was a result of her British heritage rather than her upbringing in India.

Making Of

The production was fraught with creative tension between Mary Pickford and director John Emerson. Pickford, who was used to having total control over her image, found Emerson's directing style to be too rigid and lacking in the emotional nuance she preferred. To create the 'Indian' atmosphere, the crew spent weeks in Florida building elaborate sets that included a marketplace and a colonial outpost. The makeup used to darken Pickford's skin for the role of Radha was a source of constant adjustment, as the orthochromatic film stock of the time reacted unpredictably to different shades of brown and tan greasepaint. Despite the internal friction, the film was completed on schedule to meet the high demand for 'America's Sweetheart's' first independent venture.

Visual Style

The film was shot by George Hill, who used natural lighting for the outdoor Florida scenes to create a bright, sun-drenched look for India. The interior scenes utilized the standard 'flat' lighting of the era, but with more attention to shadow and texture in the Indian hovels compared to the bright, clean lines of the English estate. The film features several impressive long shots of the 'Indian' crowds, which were meant to convey the scale of the production.

Innovations

The film utilized advanced set construction for its time, creating a convincing Indian village in the middle of Florida. It also made effective use of 'tinting' in original prints—using amber for daylight scenes and blue for night scenes—to enhance the mood and help the audience track the time of day in the story.

Music

As a silent film, there was no recorded soundtrack. However, original cue sheets were provided to theaters, suggesting a mix of traditional British military marches and 'Orientalist' melodies intended to evoke an Indian atmosphere. The 'Kashmiri Song' was often played by live accompanists during the screening to tie in with the film's title.

Memorable Scenes

• The riot scene where Ramlan is arrested, featuring hundreds of extras and a sense of genuine chaos.
• The transformation scene where Radha sheds her Indian garments for Western Victorian dress upon arriving in England.
• The final reunion between Radha and Townsend in the English garden, symbolizing the reconciliation of her two worlds.

What Critics Said

Contemporary reviews in 1916 were mixed to positive, mostly praising Pickford's charm while criticizing the script. The New York Times noted that while the story was somewhat thin, Pickford's presence made it 'entirely worthwhile.' Variety praised the production values but suggested the film was too long. Modern critics and film historians view it as one of Pickford's lesser works creatively, though it remains a fascinating study of her screen persona and her transition into more mature, dramatic roles.

What Audiences Thought

The film was a massive commercial success, largely due to Pickford's immense popularity. Audiences of the time were captivated by the exotic setting and the 'Cinderella' aspect of Radha's transformation from a poor girl in India to an English heiress. It broke box office records in several cities during its first month of release, proving that Pickford's fans would follow her regardless of the film's critical standing.

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