The Crisis

About the production

This was an ambitious production for Selig, utilizing actual Civil War-era locations in St. Louis. The film required extensive period costumes and props, including authentic military uniforms from both Union and Confederate forces. Battle sequences were filmed on a large scale for the time, employing hundreds of extras and featuring cavalry charges and artillery displays. The production faced challenges recreating 1860s St. Louis, as the city had significantly changed since the Civil War era.

Themes

Themes & topics

Historical background

Made around 1916, The Crisis engaged audiences already fluent in stephen brice, a young lawyer in civil war-era st as a screen subject.

Why this film matters

Restorations and festival bookings keep The Crisis visible among classic-film communities.

Making of

The production of 'The Crisis' was a major undertaking for the Selig Polyscope Company, representing their push toward more prestigious literary adaptations. Colin Campbell, known for his efficiency and visual storytelling, worked closely with the art department to ensure historical accuracy in costumes and settings. The film required extensive research into Civil War-era St. Louis, with the production team consulting historical photographs and documents. Battle scenes were particularly challenging to film, requiring coordination of hundreds of extras, horses, and artillery pieces. The cast underwent military training to handle weapons and execute military formations authentically. George Fawcett, though in a supporting role, served as an unofficial mentor to younger cast members, drawing on his extensive theatrical experience. The production faced weather delays during outdoor sequences, with autumn in the Midwest proving unpredictable. The film's emotional climax, where Brice must decide Colfax's fate, required multiple takes to achieve the desired dramatic intensity.

What critics said

Specialist critics today emphasize preservation when a viewable copy of The Crisis survives.

Did you know?

• The film was based on Winston Churchill's bestselling 1905 novel of the same name, which was especially popular Civil War novels of its time
• Director Colin Campbell was one of Selig Polyscope's most prolific directors, having directed over 200 films by 1916
• George Fawcett, who played a supporting role, would later become one of Hollywood's most recognizable character actors in the sound era
• The film was released just months before the United States entered World War I, making its themes of national division particularly resonant
• Selig Polyscope Company was one of the first motion picture companies in America, established in 1896
• The production used some actual Civil War veterans as extras and technical advisors for authenticity
• This was among the costliest productions in Selig's 1916 slate, reflecting the company's attempt to compete with larger studios
• The film's battle sequences were praised for their realism, using actual artillery pieces from the period
• Bessie Eyton was one of Selig's most popular actresses and had been with the company since 1911
• The novel 'The Crisis' had been adapted for the stage multiple times before version

Awards & recognition

• No major awards were given for films in 1916, as the first Academy Awards wouldn't be established until 1929

Visual style

The cinematography by Harry W. Gerstad employed the sophisticated techniques developing in the mid-1910s. The film utilized location photography in and around St. Louis to establish authentic period atmosphere. Battle sequences employed wide shots to capture the scale of military engagements, while intimate scenes used closer framing to emphasize emotional moments. The film made effective use of natural lighting for outdoor sequences, particularly in the battle scenes where the contrast between sunlight and shadow added dramatic impact. Interior scenes demonstrated careful lighting design to create the 19th-century ambiance. The camera movement, while limited by the technology of the period, included some tracking shots during cavalry sequences. The film's visual style balanced historical authenticity with dramatic effect, using composition and lighting to reinforce the narrative's emotional beats.

Innovations

While not groundbreaking in technical innovation, 'The Crisis' demonstrated several advanced techniques for its period. The film's battle sequences featured coordinated action across multiple focal planes, requiring careful planning and execution. The production employed some early special effects techniques for creating the illusion of artillery fire and battlefield explosions. The film's length of seven reels was substantial for 1916, requiring careful pacing to maintain audience engagement. The use of actual historical locations and artifacts added authenticity that few productions of the era could match. The film demonstrated sophisticated editing techniques, particularly in the battle sequences where cross-cutting between different action elements created tension and excitement. The production's ability to coordinate large numbers of extras, animals, and equipment for the war scenes represented a significant logistical achievement for the Selig company.

Music

As a silent film, 'The Crisis' would have been accompanied by live musical performance during theatrical exhibition. The original score was likely composed by a Selig staff musician and would have included popular songs of the Civil War era, such as 'Dixie' and 'Battle Hymn of the Republic,' to establish period atmosphere. The musical accompaniment would have varied by theater size and location, with larger houses employing full orchestras and smaller venues using piano or organ. The score would have followed the dramatic conventions of the period, with romantic themes for the love story, martial music for battle sequences, and somber melodies for moments of conflict and decision. Musical cues would have been synchronized with on-screen action to enhance emotional impact. Some theaters may have used compiled scores of existing classical and popular pieces rather than original compositions.

Famous quotes

'In times of war, the heart must choose between love and country'

'A man's convictions are his own, but his actions belong to history'

'When brother fights brother, the true enemy is hatred itself'

'Some battles are won not with weapons, but with mercy'

Memorable scenes

• The dramatic confrontation between Brice and the captured Colfax, where Brice must decide his rival's fate; The initial meeting between Stephen Brice and Virginia Carvel at a St. Louis society gathering; The大规模 battle sequence featuring cavalry charges and artillery bombardment; The emotional farewell scene as Virginia chooses her Southern allegiance over her love for Brice; The final scene showing the aftermath of war and the possibility of reconciliation

What audiences thought

Audiences in 1916 responded positively to 'The Crisis,' particularly in regions with strong Civil War connections. The film's romantic elements appealed to female viewers, while its battle sequences attracted male audiences. Veterans of the Civil War, though elderly by 1916, reportedly appreciated the film's attention to historical detail. The film performed well in major urban markets and was particularly successful in St. Louis, where much of the story was set. Audience letters published in trade papers indicated that viewers connected with the themes of divided loyalty and the possibility of reconciliation. The film's release timing, just before America's entry into World War I, gave its wartime themes added relevance for contemporary viewers. However, some Southern audiences reportedly felt the film was too sympathetic to the Union perspective, reflecting ongoing regional sensitivities about Civil War representation.

Film connections

Influenced by

• Winston Churchill's 1905 novel 'The Crisis'
• D.W. Griffith's 'The Birth of a Nation' (1915)
• Contemporary stage adaptations of Civil War literature
• Thomas Dixon's works on Civil War themes
• Popular historical novels of the early 20th century

This film influenced

• Later Civil War films of the silent era
• Selig's subsequent historical dramas
• War romance films of the 1920s
• Films exploring divided loyalties in wartime

Film restoration

Unfortunately, 'The Crisis' (1916) is considered a lost film. Like approximately 75% of American silent films, no complete copies are known to survive in any archive or private collection. The film was likely lost due to the decomposition of nitrate film stock, studio neglect, or the 1937 Fox vault fire that destroyed many Selig productions. Only a few production stills and contemporary reviews remain to document the film's existence. This loss is particularly significant given the film's adaptation of Churchill's popular novel and its representation of Civil War themes in early cinema.

Where to watch

• is currently unavailable for viewing as it is considered lost. No complete copies are known to exist in any film archives or collections. Film enthusiasts can access information about the film through historical film databases, contemporary reviews in trade publications like Variety and The Moving Picture World, and production stills that may be preserved in historical archives or museum collections.