The Call of the Wild

1908 Comedy Directed by D.W. Griffith

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About The Call of the Wild

George Redfeather comes back from the Carlisle school, where he graduated with honors and starred at football. Lieutenant Penrose gives him a reception. George tells Penrose's daughter Gladys he wants to marry her. She refuses. Her father orders him out. In his room he takes off the evening clothes, puts on buckskin and a war bonnet, and goes back to the plains with a bottle of whiskey. He catches Gladys while she is riding, then lets her go after she tells him a higher power is watching. He watches her ride home.

Cast & crew

More about The Call of the Wild

D. W. Griffith wrote and directed the one-reeler for Biograph. Arthur Marvin photographed it. Interiors were shot in the New York studio. Exteriors were shot in Coytesville, Fort Lee, New Jersey. Biograph released it on 27 October 1908. It is not taken from Jack London's novel. Moving Picture World printed a synopsis on 31 October 1908.

Themes

  • A Carlisle reception
  • A refusal at the dance
  • A capture that he undoes
  • George Redfeather
  • Gladys Penrose
  • Carlisle
  • Griffith
  • Fort Lee
  • Biograph

Making

Griffith shot the reception indoors at Biograph and the ride and the capture outside at Coytesville.

Reviews

Moving Picture World of 31 October 1908 printed the company's synopsis, including the line that he was good enough as a hero but not as a husband.

Look

Arthur Marvin photographed the reception in the New York studio and the horseback chase at Coytesville.

Preservation

A print is in the Library of Congress.

Notes

  • Charles Inslee plays George Redfeather. Florence Lawrence plays Gladys Penrose. Harry Solter plays Lieutenant Penrose. George Gebhardt plays the Indian agent.
  • Mack Sennett, Claire McDowell, John R. Cumpson, and Arthur V. Johnson are in the company.
  • The Moving Picture World line for his humiliation is: good enough as a hero, but not as a husband.
  • A print is in the Library of Congress.

Scenes

  • George asks Gladys to marry him at her father's reception and is ordered out.
  • He tears off the evening clothes and puts on buckskin and a war bonnet.
  • He catches her on the ride, then puts her back in the saddle.

Also available

  • Library of Congress
  • Wikimedia Commons (The Call of the Wild (1908).webm)

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