The Mountain Rat is a 1914 silent four-reel film directed by James Kirkwood for Biograph. The film—described as "a drama of daring and romance in the Western wilds"[1]—is notable for being one of the biggest early screen appearances of actress Dorothy Gish.[2]
| The Mountain Rat | |
|---|---|
 Contemporary advertisement | |
| Directed by | James Kirkwood Sr. |
| Written by | Mary Rider (story) Frank E. Woods (scenario) |
| Starring | Henry B. Walthall Irene Hunt Dorothy Gish |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Mutual Film |
Release date |
|
Running time | 4 reels |
Plot
editAfter an argument, Douglas Williams' fiancée, Harriet, returns the engagement ring. Discouraged, he soon heads out west, where he meets and falls for a dancer named Nell, known as the Mountain Rat in a dance hall at a mining camp. Nell has been shunned by the more "respectable" women of the community, but Douglas doesn't care; he marries her on the spur of the moment. Drama ensues when Douglas's mother and former fiancée come looking for him and he's forced to choose.[3][4]
Cast
edit- Henry B. Walthall as Douglas Williams
- Irene Hunt as Harriet
- Dorothy Gish as Nell, the Mountain Rat
- Donald Crisp as Steve
- Josephine Crowell as Mrs. Williams
References
edit- ^ "7 Aug 1914, Page 5 - The News Journal at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2019-01-11.
- ^ Motography. 1918.
- ^ "Photo Plays: The Mountain Rat". The Seattle Star. May 18, 1914. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
- ^ "Motion Picture Shows: The Mountain Rat". The Arkansas Democrat. June 24, 1914. Retrieved January 11, 2019.