The Covered Wagon

• J. Warren Kerrigan: Will Banion
• Lois Wilson: Molly Wingate
• Alan Hale Sam Woodhull
• Ernest Torrence: Jackson
• Tully Marshall: Jim Bridges
• Ethel Wales: Mrs. Wingate
• Charles Ogle: Mr. Wingate
• Guy Oliver: Dunston
• Johnny Fox: Jed Wingate

The Caravan ( Original: The Covered Wagon ) is an American Western by James Cruze from the year 1923.

Action

The plot is set in 1848. Two caravans of emigrants unite in Kansas and travel 2000 miles west to start a new life in Oregon. Along the way they endure a series of hardships such as hunger and bad weather. Moreover involved Sam Woodhull, the leader of the caravan, the settlers in clashes with Indians and wakes up in some the gold fever, when the news of gold discoveries reached the settlers. They have a row and many leave the caravan and move to California. Sam Woodhull, who has tangled with Will Banion in a power struggle for leadership of the caravan as well as the favor of the young Molly Wingate, is shot in self-defense. His rival Will Banion receives the hand of Molly and reached with her father and a few others the goal.

Background

The film, also under the alternative title was The covered wagon in Germany, based on a novel by Emerson Hough. The caravan was the first major success of director James Cruze and the breakthrough for Lois Wilson. 3,000 extras were involved in the shooting. The film was the first turned big-budget westerns and he revived the genre again. The work of Dorothy Arzners as an editor is the only one of the silent film era was officially stated. The film was a box office earnings of $ 3.8 million, the eight most successful silent film of all time.

Criticism

Reclams film leader 's opinion of the film: "The script is undoubtedly the weakest part of the film. But James Cruze, who until then had turned comedies and dramas, some trivial, let these shortcomings forgotten by his production. He boasted that in this film, everything is real, there is not even seen a fake mustache on the canvas. In fact, his image of the Old West looks authentic and genuine. But even more important was his sure eye for the optical values ​​of the landscape, his feel for the rhythm of the assembly, which suddenly had to be in a new world, a melodrama for the most epic of conquest, of new beginnings. "

Awards

1923 The caravan was the Photoplay Award for Best Film. A 1925 Kinema Jumpo price.