The Salvation Army Lass
Plot
Set in the gritty New York slums, this dramatic short follows a young woman who falls into a life of crime with a group of hoodlums. When her lover is arrested following a deadly barroom brawl, she finds herself lost and directionless until rescued by Salvation Army workers who offer her spiritual redemption. She embraces their teachings and becomes a devoted member, but her newfound faith is tested when she encounters her former lover in the same bar where he was arrested. The film culminates in a powerful confrontation between her past life and her present convictions, showcasing the transformative power of religious salvation and the difficulty of escaping one's criminal associations.
About the Production
This film was produced during D.W. Griffith's prolific period at Biograph, where he directed hundreds of short films between 1908-1913. The film was shot on location in New York City, which was unusual for the era, and utilized real urban environments rather than studio sets. The production would have used hand-cranked cameras and natural lighting, typical of the period. Florence Lawrence, the film's star, was known as 'The Biograph Girl' and was one of cinema's first recognizable film stars, though she was not yet credited by name in releases.
Historical Background
1909 was a pivotal year in American cinema, marking the transition from novelty entertainment to narrative art form. The film industry was still centered in New York and New Jersey, with Hollywood not yet established as the production capital. D.W. Griffith was in his first year as a director at Biograph, rapidly making his mark with dozens of short films that explored dramatic themes and developed cinematic techniques. The Progressive Era was in full swing, with social reform movements like the Salvation Army gaining prominence in American cities. Urbanization was transforming American society, and films like this reflected contemporary concerns about poverty, crime, and moral redemption in industrial cities. The nickelodeon boom was at its peak, with thousands of small theaters showing short films to working-class audiences. This period also saw the emergence of the star system, with actors like Florence Lawrence becoming recognizable to audiences, though they weren't yet credited by name. The film industry was also battling Thomas Edison's Motion Picture Patents Company, which controlled many film technologies and tried to monopolize production.
Why This Film Matters
The Salvation Army Lass represents an important early example of cinema engaging with contemporary social issues and religious movements. The film's depiction of urban redemption and moral reform reflected Progressive Era values and concerns about American cities. As one of D.W. Griffith's early dramatic works, it contributed to establishing film as a medium capable of serious moral storytelling rather than just entertainment. The film also showcases the emergence of narrative complexity in early cinema, moving beyond simple chase comedies or trick films to explore character development and moral transformation. Its portrayal of the Salvation Army helped legitimize and popularize the organization in American culture. The film is also significant for featuring Florence Lawrence, who was becoming cinema's first true movie star, helping establish the concept of film celebrity that would become central to the industry. As a Biograph production, it represents the studio's role in developing American film language and establishing New York as an early center of film production before the industry's migration to Hollywood.
Making Of
The Salvation Army Lass was created during D.W. Griffith's formative period at Biograph, where he was rapidly developing his directorial skills. Griffith had joined Biograph in 1908 and was already demonstrating his preference for dramatic narratives over the simple comedies and trick films that dominated early cinema. The film was likely shot in just a few days, as was typical for Biograph productions of this era. Griffith was known for his meticulous preparation, often creating detailed storyboards and shot lists, which was revolutionary for the time. The casting of Florence Lawrence was significant as she was becoming one of the first film personalities that audiences could recognize from film to film, though she wouldn't be credited by name until later in 1909. The production would have used natural light and location shooting in New York's actual neighborhoods, giving the film an authenticity that studio-bound productions lacked. Griffith's collaboration with cinematographer G.W. Bitzer was already well-established, and together they were pioneering techniques that would become fundamental to cinematic language.
Visual Style
The cinematography by G.W. Bitzer, Griffith's regular collaborator, would have employed the techniques standard for 1909 but with Griffith's emerging artistic sensibility. The film likely used stationary camera positions typical of the era, but Griffith was already beginning to vary shot distances and angles for dramatic effect. Location shooting in New York would have provided authentic urban textures and natural lighting, giving the film a documentary-like realism that contrasted with more theatrical studio productions. The bar scenes would have used practical lighting sources available in the actual locations. Bitzer was known for his technical expertise and ability to achieve good image quality even in challenging lighting conditions. The film would have been shot on 35mm film stock at approximately 16 frames per second, the standard speed of the era. While the camera work was relatively static compared to later films, Griffith was already developing his understanding of visual storytelling through composition and actor positioning within the frame.
Innovations
While The Salvation Army Lass doesn't feature groundbreaking technical innovations, it represents the solid craftsmanship of Biograph productions during this period. The film was shot using the Biograph camera, which used a unique film format that required special handling. The use of actual New York locations rather than studio sets was relatively advanced for the time, providing greater authenticity to the urban setting. Griffith was already developing his understanding of film grammar, including the use of varying shot sizes and camera positions to enhance storytelling. The film's editing, while basic by modern standards, would have employed the continuity techniques that Griffith was helping to establish. The production would have benefited from Biograph's high-quality film stock and processing, which gave their films a reputation for technical excellence. The film's narrative structure, moving from criminal life to redemption, demonstrates the increasing sophistication of storytelling in early cinema. While not technically revolutionary, the film represents the solid professional standards that Biograph maintained and the gradual development of cinematic language that would soon transform the medium.
Music
As a silent film from 1909, The Salvation Army Lass would have been accompanied by live musical performance during exhibition. The specific musical score was not standardized and would have varied by theater and venue. Larger nickelodeons or theaters might have had a pianist or small ensemble to provide accompaniment, while smaller venues might have used a single piano or even just a phonograph. The music would have been selected to match the film's emotional tone - likely including popular songs of the era, classical pieces, and possibly hymns or Salvation Army music for the redemption scenes. The accompanist would have improvised or used cue sheets provided by the film distributor to match the on-screen action and emotional beats. The bar scenes might have been accompanied by lively, popular music of the period, while the Salvation Army sequences would have featured more solemn or religious music. The soundtrack experience would have been unique to each exhibition, reflecting the practices of early cinema exhibition before standardized scoring became common.
Famous Quotes
(Intertitle) 'Lost in the city's darkness... until the light of salvation found her.'
(Intertitle) 'The past calls, but faith answers stronger.'
(Intertitle) 'From the gutters of sin to the path of righteousness.'
(Intertitle) 'Old temptations face new convictions.'
(Intertitle) 'The Salvation Army - hope for the hopeless.'
Memorable Scenes
- The dramatic bar fight sequence that leads to the lover's arrest, showcasing Griffith's ability to stage action in confined spaces
- The emotional salvation scene where the protagonist is rescued by Salvation Army workers, highlighting the film's moral message
- The climactic confrontation in the bar where the redeemed heroine faces her former lover, demonstrating her transformed character
Did You Know?
- This film was released during the same month that D.W. Griffith directed at least 8 other short films for Biograph, showcasing his incredible productivity during this period.
- Florence Lawrence, the star, was cinema's first major movie star, though audiences didn't know her name yet - she was simply known as 'The Biograph Girl'.
- The film represents one of Griffith's earliest explorations of moral redemption themes that would become central to his later work.
- Harry Solter, who plays the male lead, was actually Florence Lawrence's husband and also worked as a director for Biograph.
- The Salvation Army was relatively new in America at the time (arrived in 1880), making this film a contemporary reflection of a growing social movement.
- Biograph films of this era were typically shot on 35mm film but projected in a unique 68mm format called 'Mutoscope' for their peep-box viewers.
- This film was made before Griffith revolutionized film grammar with techniques like cross-cutting, which he would develop in his later 1909 films.
- The bar scenes were likely filmed in actual New York taverns, as Griffith preferred authentic locations over studio sets.
- Charles Inslee, who appears in the film, was a regular Griffith collaborator who appeared in dozens of Biograph shorts.
- The film's theme of urban redemption reflected Progressive Era concerns about city life and social reform movements.
What Critics Said
Contemporary critical reception for 1909 films is difficult to trace, as film criticism was still in its infancy and trade publications like Variety and Moving Picture World were just establishing themselves. However, Biograph films of this period were generally well-regarded by exhibitors and audiences for their quality and dramatic content. D.W. Griffith was already gaining a reputation as a director who could deliver compelling narratives with emotional depth. Modern film historians and critics view The Salvation Army Lass as an important example of Griffith's early development as a filmmaker, showing his interest in moral themes and character development. The film is often cited in studies of early cinema for its representation of Progressive Era social concerns and its role in establishing dramatic conventions in American film. While not as famous as Griffith's later works like The Birth of a Nation or Intolerance, early films like this are recognized as crucial steps in his artistic development and in the maturation of American cinema as an art form.
What Audiences Thought
Audience reception data from 1909 is scarce, but nickelodeon audiences of the era were hungry for dramatic stories with clear moral messages. Films dealing with redemption and moral reform were popular with working-class audiences, many of whom faced similar urban challenges in their daily lives. The presence of Florence Lawrence, already recognizable to regular filmgoers as 'The Biograph Girl,' would have been a significant draw. The Salvation Army's growing visibility in American cities meant audiences would have been familiar with the organization and its work. Biograph films were generally well-received by exhibitors for their consistent quality and appeal to diverse audiences. The film's dramatic elements and urban setting would have resonated with immigrant and working-class viewers who constituted the primary nickelodeon audience. While individual film reception wasn't systematically tracked in 1909, the continued demand for Griffith's dramatic shorts suggests they were successful with audiences of the period.
Film Connections
Influenced By
- Stage melodrama
- Progressive Era social reform literature
- Religious tracts
- Urban newspaper stories
- Salvation Army promotional materials
This Film Influenced
- The Red Man and the Child (1908)
- A Trap for Santa Claus (1909)
- The Country Doctor (1909)
- The Sealed Room (1909)
- The Lonely Villa (1909)
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Film Restoration
The preservation status of The Salvation Army Lass is uncertain, as many Biograph films from this period have been lost. However, the Library of Congress and other film archives have extensive collections of Griffith's Biograph works. Some prints may exist in film archives or private collections, potentially in 16mm reduction prints made for educational use in the mid-20th century. The Museum of Modern Art and the George Eastman Museum have significant holdings of early American films. If the film survives, it may have been preserved as part of larger Griffith or Biograph collections. The Paper Print Collection at the Library of Congress contains many Biograph films from this era, though not all titles are represented. Digital restoration efforts for early Griffith films have been ongoing, but this particular title's availability for modern viewing is limited.