The Great White Trail

Plot

In this dramatic silent film, a loving marriage is shattered when a husband becomes convinced that his wife has been unfaithful and that he is not the father of their newborn son. In a fit of rage and misguided honor, he throws both his wife and infant child out of their home. Driven to madness by the trauma and abandonment, the mother temporarily loses her sanity and abandons her baby in a moment of delirium. Upon regaining her senses and realizing the horror of what she has done, she flees north to the harsh wilderness of Alaska to escape her past and begin a new life. However, her husband eventually discovers the truth about her innocence and learns of her whereabouts, leading him to undertake a perilous journey through the great white wilderness of the North to find her and seek redemption.

Historical Background

The Great White Trail was released in October 1917, a pivotal year in American and world history. The United States had entered World War I in April 1917, and the film industry was adjusting to wartime conditions. Many films of this period reflected themes of sacrifice, duty, and redemption that resonated with wartime audiences. The film industry itself was undergoing major changes, with the center of production shifting decisively to Hollywood, California, though regional studios like the Whartons' in Ithaca were still active. 1917 was also a year of significant technological development in cinema, with longer features becoming more standard and the industry establishing more sophisticated production methods. The film's themes of frontier adventure tapped into American nostalgia for a simpler, more rugged past even as the nation was being drawn into international conflict. The representation of Alaska in popular culture was particularly strong during this period, following the Klondike Gold Rush of the 1890s and continued American interest in northern expansion.

Making Of

The Great White Trail was produced during the height of the Wharton brothers' filmmaking career. Leopold and Theodore Wharton had established their studio in Ithaca, New York, taking advantage of the varied local landscapes for filming. The production would have used the natural techniques of the era, with artificial lighting, painted backdrops, and possibly some location shooting in upstate New York winter settings to simulate Alaska. Doris Kenyon, already an established actress by 1917, would have been one of the film's major drawing cards. The film was made during a transitional period in cinema when features were becoming more common than shorts, and when the film industry was consolidating its power in California, though regional studios like Wharton's were still significant producers. The melodramatic story would have been carefully crafted to appeal to the moral sensibilities of 1917 audiences, with clear distinctions between virtue and vice, and ultimately providing moral resolution.

Visual Style

The cinematography of The Great White Trail would have employed the techniques and technology available in 1917. The film was likely shot on 35mm film using hand-cranked cameras of the era. For the Alaskan scenes, the cinematographer would have used filters and special processing techniques to create the illusion of cold, snow-covered landscapes. Interior scenes would have been lit using artificial lighting, probably a combination of arc lights and mercury vapor lamps that were becoming standard in studio production. The visual style would have emphasized dramatic contrasts and clear compositions to ensure the story could be understood without dialogue. Camera movement would have been limited to what was possible with the equipment of the time, though tracking shots and some camera movement were being employed by more ambitious productions by 1917.

Innovations

The Great White Trail does not appear to have introduced any major technical innovations, which was typical for most films of 1917. The film would have utilized standard production techniques of the period, including studio sets, location shooting where practical, and the editing styles common to melodramas of the era. The creation of convincing Alaskan settings would have required technical skill in set design and possibly matte photography or multiple exposure techniques to combine actors with background elements. The film's production by the Wharton Studios represents the technical capabilities of a well-equipped regional studio of the period, able to produce feature-length films that could compete with Hollywood productions in terms of technical quality, even if on smaller budgets.

Music

As a silent film, The Great White Trail would have been accompanied by live musical performance during its theatrical run. The specific musical score is not documented, but theaters of the era typically provided accompaniment ranging from a single piano player to small orchestras, depending on the theater's size and budget. The music would have included popular songs of the period, classical pieces, and specially composed cues that matched the emotional tone of each scene. For the Alaskan sequences, the music might have included musical motifs suggesting cold, wilderness, and adventure. The emotional climax scenes would have been underscored with dramatic romantic music to enhance the melodramatic impact. Large urban theaters might have used cue sheets provided by the film's distributor to guide their musicians, while smaller venues would have relied on the improvisational skills of their accompanists.

Memorable Scenes

• The dramatic opening where the husband throws his wife and child out of the house, establishing the central conflict
• The mother's moment of madness where she abandons her baby, representing the psychological breakdown of the protagonist
• The journey through the Alaskan wilderness, visually representing both physical hardship and spiritual journey
• The final confrontation and reconciliation between husband and wife in the northern setting

What Critics Said

Contemporary reviews of The Great White Trail are difficult to locate today, as many trade publications from 1917 are not digitized or readily accessible. However, films of this type from the Wharton Studios generally received respectful notices in the trade papers of the era, with particular attention paid to the performances of the leading actors. Doris Kenyon was typically praised for her emotional range and screen presence. The film's melodramatic elements and moral clarity would have been viewed positively by critics of the period, who often evaluated films based on their moral and educational value as much as their entertainment quality. Modern critical assessment is limited by the film's apparent rarity or possible lost status, preventing comprehensive reevaluation by contemporary film historians.

What Audiences Thought

Audience reception information for The Great White Trail is not well-documented in available historical records, which is typical for films of this period. However, melodramas with themes of family reconciliation and redemption were generally popular with American audiences in the 1910s. The film's Alaskan setting would have provided exotic appeal, while the story of marital misunderstanding and ultimate reconciliation would have resonated with contemporary viewers' values. The presence of established star Doris Kenyon would have been a significant draw for theatergoers. Like most films of the silent era, its success would have depended heavily on the quality of the musical accompaniment provided by individual theaters, as well as the skill of the theater's projectionist and the overall presentation.

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