The Squaw Man (1914)

"The Squaw Man" (1914) tells the story of Captain James Wynnegate, an Englishman wrongly accused of stealing an orphan's fund. To escape prosecution, he flees to the American West, where he finds refuge and a new life amongst Native Americans. He falls in love with and marries Nat-U-Rich, an Indian woman, and through their connection, he gains a deeper understanding of the land and its people. However, his past eventually catches up to him, forcing him to confront the injustice he escaped and the consequences it has for his new family. "The Squaw Man" earns its place among the best of Cecil B. DeMille's filmography for several reasons. As DeMille's directorial debut, it's a foundational piece in his career and a landmark in early Hollywood filmmaking. It established many of the visual and narrative trademarks that would define his later work, including sweeping landscapes, dramatic lighting, and a focus on moral themes, however problematic they might appear today. Furthermore, its box office success essentially launched Hollywood as a major film production center, proving the commercial viability of feature-length films made in California. Despite its problematic depiction of Native Americans, reflecting the biases of its time, "The Squaw Man" remains a significant historical artifact and a key film in understanding the evolution of both DeMille's directorial style and the American film industry.