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The Paleface Princess
Also known as {The Pale-Face Princess}
(1910) United States of America
B&W : One reel / 920 feet
Directed by William F. Haddock
Cast: Edith Storey [White Fawn], Francis Ford [Captain Keen], William Clifford [Dashing Water], Anne Nichols [Captain Keen’s sister]
Méliès Star-Film [American] production; distributed by Méliès Star-Film [American]. / Produced by Gaston Méliès. Scenario by Robert Goodman. Cinematography by William Paley. / Released 26 May 1910. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama: Western.
Synopsis: [The Moving Picture World, 21 May 1910, page ?] In the farewell beams of evening, the pioneer with his wife and child stop the prairie-schooner and strike stakes for the night. Sounds of the Indian war cry disturb the quiet calm, and seen approaching in the distance is a band of savage red men. Terror-stricken, the settler seizes his gun and stands ready to defend his family. At the first volley from the Indians’ rifles he falls dead. The brave wife makes a desperate resistance to protect her child. The poor woman is quickly slain by the hostile savages, leaving the helpless babe to their mercy. The band directs its attention to the settler’s outfit, rifling and helping themselves to its contents. While this is going on, one of the young bucks rushes for what he supposes is a bundle of valuables, but which upon opening he finds to be the baby. Disappointed, he lifts his tomahawk to kill it. The big chief of the tribe sees and arrests the descent of the weapon, lifts the child in his arms, mounts his pony, and takes it back to his squaw and tells her they will adopt it secretly as their own. The child grows up a beautiful girl and she is named “White Fawn, the Paleface Princess.” “Dashing Water,” a young brave, loves the girl “a heap much” and wants her for his wife, therefore his anger and jealousy are aroused when Captain Keen, a handsome young officer of a nearby military post, meets her and falls in love with her at first sight. The young fellow’s sister, who is with him when he meets the princess, objects to his attentions to the Indian girl and tries to separate them, to no purpose, however. The brother manages to meet the girl, and he passes many pleasant hours with her, teaching her to master her books and solve the spell of love. “Dashing Water,” seeing them in each other’s arms, demands the white man’s intentions. Captain Keen tells him to mind his own business, and immediately the Indian throws sand in the air as a challenge and defiance. Captain Keen’s sister has seen “Dashing Water” challenge her brother and observes his threatening glances. She implores the Indian not to kill her brother and then induces him to part with his knife, which she purchases and throws away. “White Fawn,” with Captain Keen and his sister, seek the chief, and the Captain asks for the Princess’ hand in marriage. The chief tells the young man the story of “White Fawn’s” life, and then he gives “White Fawn” a locket containing her mother’s portrait, which he tells her she wore about her neck when he found her a baby on the prairie. The chief joins “White Fawn’s” and the Captain’s hands and blesses them in peculiar Indian fashion. “Dashing Water” approaches in angry mood with hand on his knife. The chief beckons him away. The Captain’s sister clasps “White Fawn” in her arms and Keen grasps the hand of the chief.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Keywords: Native Americans
Listing updated: 6 August 2023.
References: Thompson-Star pp. 90-92, 228 : Website-AFI.
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