The Drummer of the 8th
About The Drummer of the 8th
When the Civil War starts, Billy Durand is too young to go with his older brother, so he runs away and joins the Union army as a drummer. He is wounded, taken prisoner, escapes, and gets a message to his commanding officer. He is killed doing it.
Cast & crew
More about The Drummer of the 8th
Jay Hunt directed. Thomas H. Ince produced. Mutual Film Corporation released it on 28 May 1913 as two reels. Cyril Gardner, billed in some records as Cyril Gottlieb, plays Billy. Mildred Harris plays the younger girl next door. Silent Era says a modern credit that puts Frank Borzage in the brother's part does not match the actor on screen.
Themes
Background
The short was released in 1913, during the fiftieth anniversary years of the Civil War.
Preservation
Silent Era lists a 35mm positive and an abridged 16mm print. The catalog credits an Academy Film Archive preservation in 2007.
Notes
- It was one of the Civil War shorts Ince made around the fiftieth anniversary of the war.
- Prints survive as a 35mm positive and an abridged 16mm reduction.
- The catalog credits a 2007 preservation by the Academy Film Archive.
- Silent Era lists a home-video release on Blu-ray and DVD without naming the label.
- A copy is on the Internet Archive.
Scenes
- Billy, wounded and escaped, gets the message through and is killed.
Also available
- Internet Archive (silent-the-drummer-of-the-8th)
