Daniel Boone (1907 film)

Daniel Boone; or, Pioneer Days in America is a 1907 American silent film directed by Wallace McCutcheon and Edwin S. Porter for the Edison Manufacturing Company.^[1] It starred Florence Lawrence, often called "the first movie star."

Plot

Famed American pioneer and frontiersman Daniel Boone's daughter befriends an Indian maiden as Boone and his companion start out on a hunting expedition. While he is away, Boone's cabin is attacked by the Indians, who set it on fire and abduct Boone's daughter. Boone returns, swears vengeance, then heads out on the trail to the Indian camp. His daughter escapes but is chased. The Indians encounter Boone, which sets off a huge fight on the edge of a cliff. A burning arrow gets shot into the Indian camp. Boone gets tied to the stake and tortured. The burning arrow sets the Indian camp on fire, causing panic. Boone is rescued by his horse, and Boone has a knife fight in which he kills the Indian chief.^[2]

Cast

• William Craven as Daniel Boone
• Florence Lawrence as Boone's daughter
• Susanne Willis
• Mrs. William Craven

Production and release

Film historian Charles Musser writes that the production was haphazardly shot in Bronx Park as weather and talent schedules permitted. Florence Lawrence kept notes of her first experiences in the film, which show that Porter did not delegate much of the work, which led to a slow shooting schedule.^[3] Porter created a fire effect in the film by hand-painting portions of the negative.^[3]

See also

• Edwin S. Porter filmography

References

1. Niver, Kemp (1967). Motion Pictures From The Library of Congress Paper Print Collection 1894-1912. University of California Press, ISBN 978-0520009479
2. Edison Manufacturing Company. (April 20, 1907). Advertising copy: "Boone's daughter befriends an Indian maiden. Boone and companion start out on a hunting expedition. Boone's cabin attacked by the Indians. The desperate defense. Burning cabin. Abduction of Boone's daughters. Boone's return. The oath of vengeance. On the trail. The Indian camp. Escape of Boone's daughter. Discovery and pursuit. A friend in need. The fight. Defeat of the Indians. Capture of Boone. Surprising an Indian Picket. The fight on the cliff. Death of the Indian. Shoots the burning arrow into the Indian camp. Boone tied to the stake. War dance. Torturing Boone. Burning arrow lands in Indian camp. Indians become panic stricken. Rescue of Boone by his faithful horse. Desperate Bowie knife duel between Boone and Indian chief. Death of Indian chief. Tableau." Moving Picture World
3. Musser, Charles (1991). Before the Nickelodeon: Edwin S. Porter and the Edison Manufacturing Company. University of California Press, ISBN 9780520060807

External links

• Daniel Boone at IMDb