The Fighting Shepherdess
(1920) United States of America
B&W : Five reels
Directed by Edward José
Cast: Anita Stewart [Kate Prentice], Wallace MacDonald [Hughie], Noah Beery [Mormon Joe], Walter Long [Pete Mullendore], Eugenie Besserer [Jezebel], John Hall [Tetters], Gibson Gowland [Bowers], Calvert Carter [the mayor], Billie Devall [the banker], Maud Wayne (Maude Wayne) [Beth], Ben Lewis [Lingle], Will Jeffries [the engineer]
Anita Stewart Productions, Incorporated, production; distributed by First National Exhibitors’ Circuit, Incorporated. / Scenario by Frank M. Dazey, from the novel The Fighting Shepherdess by Caroline Lockhart. Cinematography by Tony Gaudio. Presented by Louis B. Mayer. / © 30 November 1920 by Associated First National Film Corporation [LP15849]. Released 1 March 1920. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama: Western.
Synopsis: [The New York Times, 29 March 1920, page 18] Anita Stewart, as herself, with whatever power she has to charm and entertain, is at the Strand this week in “The Fighting Shepherdess,” a photoplay of life as it was, or is imagined to have been, in Wyoming when sheepherders and cattle men were at war and primitive people lived rudely. The shepherdess would be helpless in a hostile environment, but she is a fighter and also has the good fortune to come under the protection of two strong men who are also noble. In the end, of course, she overcomes all obstacles and enemies, and triumphantly married the hero from the East. The best characterizations of the picture are by Walter Long and Eugenie Besserer as the evil ones who threaten to destroy the heroine, and by Noah Beery and Gibson Gowland as the strong men who protect her. The chief merit of the picture is in the scenes composed by the director, Edward José, who except for too many meaningless close-ups too long held, made all of his moving pictures with cinematic skill and an eye for beauty.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 13 October 2010.
References: AFI-F1 n. F1.1335; Keylin-NYTimes p. 66 : ClasIm-240 p. 46 : Website-AFI.
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