The Valley of the Giants
About The Valley of the Giants
Bryce Cardigan comes home from college to the redwood grove called the Valley of the Giants, where his mother is buried. His nearly blind father, who built the town of Sequoia, is about to lose the land to Colonel Pennington. Pennington's foreman Jules Rondeau fells the tree over the grave, and Bryce thrashes him. Bryce saves Pennington and his niece Shirley Sumner from a runaway logging train. Pennington still will not haul Cardigan logs. With railroad agent Buck Ogilvy, Bryce pretends to build a line to the transcontinental. Shirley switches sides and helps them get the franchise to cross Pennington's tracks. Pennington tries to bribe the mayor. He is exposed, the valley stays with the Cardigans, and Bryce marries Shirley.
Cast & crew
More about The Valley of the Giants
James Cruze directed. Marion Fairfax wrote the scenario from Peter B. Kyne's 1918 novel. Frank Urson photographed. Jesse L. Lasky produced; Adolph Zukor is also listed as producer on Wikidata. Famous Players-Lasky / Artcraft production, distributed by Paramount. Released 31 August 1919. Copyright 24 July 1919, LP14010. Five reels, 4,625 feet. Shot in Humboldt County, California. Alternate title In the Valley of the Giants.
Themes
Making
Paramount sent the company to the redwoods of Humboldt County for the grove and the logging-train scenes.
Look
Frank Urson photographed the Humboldt County redwood locations, including the runaway logging train.
Preservation
A copy is on Wikimedia Commons.
Notes
- Wallace Reid plays Bryce Cardigan. Grace Darmond plays Shirley Sumner. Charles Ogle plays the father. Ralph Lewis plays Colonel Pennington.
- Alice Terry is billed as Alice Taafe in the role of Mrs. Cardigan. Jack Hoxie, billed Hart Hoxie, plays Jules Rondeau. Noah Beery plays Black Minorca.
- William Brunton plays Buck Ogilvy. Also cast: Kay Laurell, Guy Oliver, William H. Brown, Richard Cummings, Virginia Foltz, Ogden Crane, and Lillian Mason.
- Kyne's novel was filmed again in 1927 (Milton Sills, Charles J. Brabin, First National) and in 1938 (Wayne Morris, William Keighley, Warner Bros.). The Big Trees (1952) is a further version.
- A file is on Wikimedia Commons.
Scenes
- Bryce thrashes Jules Rondeau after the tree over his mother's grave is cut.
- He stops a runaway logging train with Pennington and Shirley aboard.
- Pennington's bribe of the mayor is exposed and Bryce keeps the valley.
Influenced by
- Peter B. Kyne's 1918 novel The Valley of the Giants
Influenced
- The Valley of the Giants (1927)
- The Valley of the Giants (1938)
- The Big Trees (1952)
Also available
- Wikimedia Commons (The Valley of the Giants (1919) by James Cruze.webm)
