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The Daughter of Dawn  (1920) / Buffalo Dance  (1894) / White Fawn's Devotion  (1910)

The Daughter of Dawn (1920)
November 12, 2014 - 7:30 pm

Note:  Live musical accompaniment will be provided by Cliff Retallick.

Print courtesy of the Oklahoma Historical Society.

West Coast Premiere!

The Daughter of Dawn (1920)


Directed by
Norbert Myles.

Recently rediscovered, director Norbert Myles’ film concerns a rivalry between two braves for the hand of one woman, amidst an inter-tribal conflict.  Cast entirely with Kiowa and Comanche people who provided their own teepees, apparel and everyday objects for the production, the film’s romantic narrative was the most sensitive portrayal Native audiences might expect in its time and stands now as a glimpse into ways of living extant since pre-Reservation days.

Texas Film Company.  Producer: Richard Banks.  Screenwriter: Richard Banks, Norbert Myles.  Cast: Hunting Horse, Oscar Yellow Wolf, Esther LaBarre, White Parker, Wanada Parker.

35mm, b/w, silent, 80 min.

Preceded by

Buffalo Dance (1894)


Directed by
William K. Dickson.

A haunting artifact from the Edison Manufacturing Company, this dance, with others filmed on the same occasion, may mark the first filmed appearance of Native American people.

Edison Manufacturing Company.  Producer: William K. Dickson.  Cinematographer: William Heise.  Cast: Hair Coat, Parts His Hair, Last Horse.

35mm, b/w, silent, 1 min.

White Fawn's Devotion (1910)


Directed by
James Young Deer.

A white settler journeys away from his Native American bride to receive an inheritance, setting up a tragic misunderstanding.  The film, named to the National Film Registry in 2008, is a fascinating social document by James Young Deer, whom many consider the first Native American director.

Pathé Frères.  Screenwriter: James Young Deer.

35mm, b/w, silent, 11 min.