The Spirit of '76 (1917 film): Difference between revisions
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'''''The Spirit of '76''''' ([[1917 in film|1917]]) was a [[silent film]] depicting the early history of the [[United States]]. |
'''''The Spirit of '76''''' ([[1917 in film|1917]]) was a [[silent film]] depicting the early history of the [[United States]] directed by [[Frank Montgomery]]. |
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==Production== |
==Production== |
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The film was |
The film was produced by [[Robert Goldstein]] (born Sept 21, 1883) who was a Jewish immigrant originating from Germany and owned a costume shop. It was considered controversial at the time because of its depiction of the British atrocities during the [[American Revolutionary War]], such as the [[Wyoming Massacre]], which did not fit well with the vast British Empire being now supported by America in a war against the original supporters of American independence which was furthermore squarely against American interest.<ref name='review'>{{cite news | first=Hans J. | last=Wollstein | coauthors= | title=Spirit of '76 (1917) | date= | publisher=New York Times | url =http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/111354/Spirit-of-76/overview | work =Allmovie | pages = | accessdate = 2008-04-15 | language = }}</ref> |
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The film depicted scenes in which British soldiers committed -- not just [[stock character]] atrocities -- such as babies being killed and young women being dragged out to a "terrible fate". The film purportedly also showed [[George III of the United Kingdom|King George III]] hitting [[Benjamin Franklin]] squarely in the face but also having [[Catherine Montour]] as a mistress to George III. A court case followed in which the prosecution argued that the [[World War I]] effort demanded total Allied support. Goldstein was railroaded and jailed for making the film. |
The film depicted scenes in which British soldiers committed -- not just [[stock character]] atrocities -- such as babies being killed and young women being dragged out to a "terrible fate". The film purportedly also showed [[George III of the United Kingdom|King George III]] hitting [[Benjamin Franklin]] squarely in the face but also having [[Catherine Montour]] as a mistress to George III. A court case followed in which the prosecution argued that the [[World War I]] effort demanded total Allied support. Goldstein was railroaded and jailed for making the film. |
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==Aftermath== |
==Aftermath== |
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After the war, the film was finally shown as public opinion, after 116,000 young American war dead, had again turned against the British. Robert Goldstein applied for a US passport in 1921 giving his address as the Hotel Astor in New York and his occupation as "clerk". In 1923 he again reapplied for a new passport giving his occupation as "Agent" for "Goldstein & Company" -giving for the "Company" an address in [[San Francisco, California]], which was his father's home. He perished sometime after 1935 during travel in Europe, when he could not raise the $9.00 to renew his American passport and was later taken to a [[Nazi]] [[concentration camp]]. |
After the war, the film was finally shown as public opinion, after 116,000 young American war dead, had again turned against the British. Robert Goldstein applied for a US passport in 1921 giving his address as the Hotel Astor in New York and his occupation as "clerk". In 1923 he again reapplied for a new passport giving his occupation as "Agent" for "Goldstein & Company" -giving for the "Company" an address in [[San Francisco, California]], which was his father's home. He perished sometime after 1935 during travel in Europe, when he could not raise the $9.00 to renew his American passport and was later taken to a [[Nazi]] [[concentration camp]]. However, in June and July 2000, [[Slate (magazine)|Slate]] published a two-part article ''The Unluckiest Man in Movie History'' which says Goldstein was expelled from Germany in 1938. |
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==Preservation Status== |
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No prints are known to survive, and so the film is now considered a [[lost film]]. |
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== References == |
== References == |
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Revision as of 16:41, 24 January 2010
The Spirit of '76 (1917) was a silent film depicting the early history of the United States directed by Frank Montgomery.
Production
The film was produced by Robert Goldstein (born Sept 21, 1883) who was a Jewish immigrant originating from Germany and owned a costume shop. It was considered controversial at the time because of its depiction of the British atrocities during the American Revolutionary War, such as the Wyoming Massacre, which did not fit well with the vast British Empire being now supported by America in a war against the original supporters of American independence which was furthermore squarely against American interest.[1]
The film depicted scenes in which British soldiers committed -- not just stock character atrocities -- such as babies being killed and young women being dragged out to a "terrible fate". The film purportedly also showed King George III hitting Benjamin Franklin squarely in the face but also having Catherine Montour as a mistress to George III. A court case followed in which the prosecution argued that the World War I effort demanded total Allied support. Goldstein was railroaded and jailed for making the film.
Aftermath
After the war, the film was finally shown as public opinion, after 116,000 young American war dead, had again turned against the British. Robert Goldstein applied for a US passport in 1921 giving his address as the Hotel Astor in New York and his occupation as "clerk". In 1923 he again reapplied for a new passport giving his occupation as "Agent" for "Goldstein & Company" -giving for the "Company" an address in San Francisco, California, which was his father's home. He perished sometime after 1935 during travel in Europe, when he could not raise the $9.00 to renew his American passport and was later taken to a Nazi concentration camp. However, in June and July 2000, Slate published a two-part article The Unluckiest Man in Movie History which says Goldstein was expelled from Germany in 1938.
Preservation Status
No prints are known to survive, and so the film is now considered a lost film.
References
- ^ Wollstein, Hans J. "Spirit of '76 (1917)". Allmovie. New York Times. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help)
See also
External links
- The Spirit of '76 at IMDb
- American Law report on Goldstein Trial
- Federal Reporter on Goldstein's trial
- Article from The Jewish Atlanta Times
- article from Slate Magazine
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