Until They Get Me
Plot
Kirby, a desperate man racing to reach his dying wife's bedside, is forced to kill another man in self-defense during his journey. He is arrested by Selwyn, a compassionate member of the North West Mounted Police, who permits him a final farewell to his wife. After this emotional goodbye, Kirby manages to escape custody and becomes a fugitive, constantly evading the law while maintaining an annual pilgrimage to visit his young son. During one of these secret visits, he encounters Margy, a young farmhouse servant who has fled her life of servitude and hardship. Their meeting develops into a tender relationship complicated by Kirby's status as a wanted man, forcing him to choose between freedom with Margy and his responsibilities as a father.
Director
About the Production
Until They Get Me was produced during the peak years of Triangle Film Corporation, one of the early major Hollywood studios. The film was part of Triangle's strategy to produce quality pictures with established directors like Frank Borzage. The production utilized authentic Western locations in California to enhance the film's frontier atmosphere. As with many silent films of this era, the movie was likely shot quickly on a tight schedule to meet the studio's demanding release calendar.
Historical Background
Until They Get Me was released in 1917, during a pivotal year in world history as the United States entered World War I. The film industry was rapidly evolving from nickelodeons to feature-length productions, with Hollywood establishing itself as the global center of cinema. Triangle Film Corporation, the studio behind this film, represented one of the first attempts at creating a vertically integrated major studio system. The Western genre was particularly popular during this period, reflecting America's ongoing fascination with frontier mythology and the closing of the American West. The film's themes of duty, sacrifice, and redemption resonated strongly with wartime audiences. 1917 also saw significant technological advancements in filmmaking, including improved lighting techniques and more sophisticated camera movements, which directors like Borzage were beginning to incorporate into their visual storytelling.
Why This Film Matters
Until They Get Me represents an important transitional work in Frank Borzage's filmography, showing the early development of his distinctive approach to melodrama and romantic themes. The film exemplifies the silent era's fascination with Western settings as backdrops for stories of moral conflict and redemption. Its portrayal of the North West Mounted Police reflects early American cinema's interest in Canadian law enforcement as symbols of order and justice. The film's themes of a fugitive father torn between family and freedom anticipate many later Western and melodrama conventions. Though now lost, the film contributes to our understanding of how the Western genre evolved from simple action stories to more complex moral dramas. The work also demonstrates Triangle Film Corporation's role in developing director-driven cinema during Hollywood's formative years.
Making Of
The production of Until They Get Me took place during a transformative period in Hollywood's development. Frank Borzage, still early in his directorial career, was developing his signature style that would later earn him two Academy Awards. The film was shot on location in California, taking advantage of the state's diverse landscapes to create convincing Western settings. Working with Triangle Film Corporation provided Borzage with substantial resources compared to his earlier independent productions. The casting of Pauline Starke proved prescient, as she would become one of the era's most respected actresses. The film's production team faced the typical challenges of silent filmmaking, including the need for exaggerated physical acting to convey emotions without dialogue. The North West Mounted Police uniforms and props were likely authentic or carefully replicated to maintain historical accuracy, reflecting Triangle's commitment to quality productions.
Visual Style
The cinematography of Until They Get Me was handled by a Triangle staff cinematographer, likely utilizing natural lighting and location shooting to create authentic Western atmosphere. The film employed the visual techniques common to 1917 cinema, including medium shots for dialogue scenes and longer shots for action sequences. The camera work would have been relatively static compared to later films, but with careful composition to frame the emotional beats of the story. Location shooting in California's varied landscapes provided visual diversity and authenticity to the frontier setting. The film's visual style would have emphasized the contrast between the harsh outdoor environments and the intimate domestic scenes, reinforcing the protagonist's divided existence between freedom and family responsibility.
Innovations
While Until They Get Me was not particularly innovative technically, it demonstrated the professional polish that Triangle Film Corporation was known for. The film utilized location shooting effectively, creating authentic Western settings that enhanced the story's credibility. The production likely employed the latest lighting equipment available in 1917, allowing for better exposure in outdoor scenes. The film's editing would have followed the continuity style that was becoming standard in Hollywood, with clear narrative progression and logical scene transitions. The North West Mounted Police uniforms and props showed attention to historical accuracy, reflecting Triangle's commitment to quality productions. The film's runtime of 50 minutes was typical for feature films of this period, representing the industry's shift toward longer, more developed narratives.
Music
As a silent film, Until They Get Me would have been accompanied by live musical performance during its theatrical run. The score would have been compiled from standard photoplay music libraries, with selections chosen to match the emotional tone of each scene. Action sequences would have featured dramatic, fast-paced pieces, while tender moments between Kirby and his family would have been accompanied by romantic or melancholic themes. The musical accompaniment would have been provided by theater orchestras in larger venues or by piano players in smaller theaters. The score would have followed the conventions of silent film accompaniment, with recurring leitmotifs for main characters and thematic material that evolved with the story's emotional arc.
Did You Know?
- This was one of Frank Borzage's early directorial efforts before he became renowned for his romantic dramas in the late 1920s and 1930s
- The film was produced by Triangle Film Corporation, which was co-founded by Harry Aitken and D.W. Griffith
- Pauline Starke, who played Margy, would later become a prominent silent film star and receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress
- Jack Curtis, who played Kirby, was a prolific character actor who appeared in over 150 films during his career
- The film's title 'Until They Get Me' reflects the common practice of using dramatic, action-oriented titles for Western films in the silent era
- Triangle Film Corporation, the production company, would go bankrupt just two years after this film's release in 1919
- The North West Mounted Police depicted in the film was the precursor to the modern Royal Canadian Mounted Police
- This film is now considered lost, like approximately 75% of American silent films
- Frank Borzage would go on to win the first Academy Award for Best Director for his work on '7th Heaven' (1927)
- The film's themes of redemption and sacrifice would become hallmarks of Borzage's later, more famous works
What Critics Said
Contemporary reviews of Until They Get Me were generally positive, with critics praising Frank Borzage's direction and the performances of the lead actors. The Motion Picture News noted the film's 'strong emotional appeal' and effective use of Western settings. Variety highlighted Pauline Starke's performance as particularly compelling, noting her natural screen presence. Critics appreciated the film's balance of action elements with more intimate family drama, which was somewhat unusual for Western films of the period. Modern critical assessment is limited due to the film's lost status, but film historians consider it an important example of Borzage's early work and his developing directorial style. The film is often cited in scholarly works about Triangle Film Corporation and the evolution of the Western genre in silent cinema.
What Audiences Thought
Audiences in 1917 responded positively to Until They Get Me, particularly appreciating its emotional storyline and Western setting. The film's themes of family devotion and moral struggle resonated strongly with contemporary viewers, many of whom were dealing with the uncertainties of wartime America. The combination of action sequences with tender family moments provided entertainment that appealed to a broad demographic. Movie theaters reported good attendance for the film, especially in Western states where the setting had particular relevance. The film's success contributed to Pauline Starke's growing popularity and helped establish Frank Borzage as a director to watch in the emerging Hollywood studio system. Audience word-of-mouth likely emphasized the film's emotional climax and the moral dilemmas faced by the protagonist.
Film Connections
Influenced By
- D.W. Griffith's narrative techniques
- Contemporary Western literature
- Popular dime novels about the West
- Earlier Triangle Film Corporation productions
This Film Influenced
- Later Frank Borzage melodramas
- Subsequent films featuring fugitive protagonists
- Later Western films with family themes