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Two Men of the Desert
Also known as {Two Men on the Desert}, {Two Men in a Desert}
(1913) United States of America
B&W : Short film
Directed by D.W. Griffith
Cast: Blanche Sweet [the authoress], Henry B. Walthall [the first partner], Walter Miller [the second partner], Alfred Paget [the Indian], Jennie Lee [the old Indian woman], [?] Mae Marsh?
Biograph Company production; distributed by The General Film Company, Incorporated. / Scenario by Stanner E.V. Taylor and D.W. Griffith, from a novel by Jack London. Cinematography by G.W. Bitzer. / Released 23 August 1913. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format. / Reputedly the first motion picture shot in Death Valley, California.
Drama.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? The young authoress had come to the edge of the desert for her mother’s sake. There she met the two young prospectors and a romance began. But the men were about to go across the desert, where they had heard rumors of gold. They decided to play square and before going determined to let the coin decide who should ask the young authoress the all-important question. The flip of the coin decided the older should try his luck first. He learned the girl did not love him. But the other she promised to marry when he should return from the gold lands, and the care of her sick mother, who would then be restored to health, should no longer interfere with her happiness. The young partners soon reached the other side of the desert, where success came to them far beyond their expectations. The girl, however, had met with sorrow on the passing of her mother. The two young men decided to return, but on their journey across the desert the younger fell over a precipice and broke his leg. The water supply gave out and while the older sought water on the desert he himself fell exhausted with thirst. He was found, however, and restored. In like manner the younger partner fell into the hands of friendly but ignorant Indians, who took him to their camp, where through their crude nursing fever set in. His own health restored, the partner sought him, but found him gone. Then came the temptation not to continue the search. He thought of the woman at home and the advantage he might take. He returned and told her the other was dead. At first she could not believe him, but on the persistent urging of the man she gave in. Thus came their stolen happiness in the joy of a child that was to come, but the younger partner, restored after several months, decided to return. He appeared outside of the cabin and would have gone away on the other’s explanation had not the woman heard his voice and come out. He was able to forgive, but the woman told her husband she could have nothing more to do with him after this deception. There was only one thing for her to do, to wait until after the birth of the baby; then the baby came. Her trunk was packed and about to be taken away when she saw the baby lying in the father’s arms. Then her mother heart repented and she stayed.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Keywords: USA: California: Death Valley
Listing updated: 5 October 2023.
References: Barry-Griffith p. 43; Drew-Speaking p. 286; Spehr-American p. 4; Weinberg-Stroheim p. 98 : Website-IMDb.
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