The Heart of the Blue Ridge (1915) World Film Corp; A Schubert Feature. Distributor: World Film Corporation. Director: James Young. Assistant Director: Edwin L. Hollywood. Cast: Clara Kimball Young, Chester Barnett, Robert Cummings, Edwin L. Hollywood. 5 reels. LOST
This lost film was Clara Kimball Young's last with husband James Young directing. It was reissued in 1917 under the title The Savage Instinct.
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Front lining papers |  |
Back Lining Papers. |
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Frontispiece: "Plutina" |  |
The Lovers on Stone Mountain |
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A Mountain Still. |  |
Joines' Mill |
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After the raid. |  |
Bad Blood Between Rivals |
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When Zeke comes home again. |  |
The Coming of peace. |
A World film production in five parts featuring Clara Kimball Young with an excellent supporting cast headed by Chester Barnett and Robert Cummings. The striking feature of this film is its exterior surroundings and the realistic accompanying scenes, all apparently pictured in the southern mountains bearing the title name. The story centers around the activities of the mountain moonshiners and the efforts so the revenue squad to disrupt their organization. In the story Miss Young is pictured as Plutina, a daughter of the Mountains, who lives with her grandfather. She is loved and is in love with one Zeke (Chester Barnett) the son of a neighbor, but Zeke has a rival in Dan Hodges (Mr. Cummings), the owner of an illicit still which has been bothering the government officials for some time. Hodges carries a heavy role, forcing his attentions on the girl with occasional threats, but after considerable action he is finally eliminated after a hand to hand struggle with Zeke at the edge of a precipice over which his body is hurled. The story is void of the usual complications, but the action is well balanced and constructed in interesting fashion. The mountain scenes are especially well taken with all the natural points cleverly introduced and convincingly photographed. The scenes depicting the whiskey still and the camp of the moonshiners was true to nature even to the minutest detail. Miss Young gave an excellent performance as did Cummings and Barnett, while the balance of the cast were all acceptable of human and natural interest and can hold up as a feature on any program.
"Heart of the Blue Ridge"
World Film Production presenting Clara Kimball Young as Mountain Girl in Story of Moonshiners
Reviewed by Lynde Denig.
Novelty of plot is not a distinguishing feature of this five-part Schubert-World Film drama, written by Waldron Baily and directed by James Young. It is a story of moonshiners and the efforts of a young revenue officer to capture them, particularly the leader of the band who persistently annoys the pretty Plutina. Also it is a story of the hatred existing between this moonshiner and the girl's honest lover, who buys his first pair of boots when he goes to town after his appointment as overseer of a track of lumber. The atmosphere of this picture is true to the promise of the title the characterizations are direct and easily comprehended, the action in the last two reels is exciting and the production always profits by magnificent mountain scenery.
[Photo omitted: Clara Kimball Young restrains a man from attacking another.]
Admirers of Clara Kimball Young no doubt will be delighted by her portrayal of the untutored mountain lass whose chosen companion is a pet bear. Even at the cost of some personal discomfort, Miss Young evidently determined to make her characterization in all respects true to type. The Plutina of the story never possessed either shoes or stockings, so this conscientious actress discarded protecting footwear and ran through rough fields and along rocky passes quite as though sharp stones did not exist. She becomes the central figure in many picturesque scenes and meets the melodramatic action in the concluding reel with fine spirit. Miss Young has played more difficult roles, but few which may be expected to have wider appeal.
Robert Cummings was well chosen for the villainous Dan Hughes, the moonshiner who stops at nothing in his effort to possess Plutina. In the way of stirring action an audience need ask for nothing better than the scene in which the man drags the girl off to a cave. For a concluding thrill, Zeke (Chester Barnett) grapples with his enemy and after a struggle throws him over a cliff. The picture was well directed and convincingly acted.
"Heart of the Blue Ridge"
(Oct. 18--Schubert)--The cast: Clara Kimball Young, Chester Barnett, Robert Cummings
Plutina, a country girl, lives in the moonshine district, when a reward is offered by the Government for information leading to the arrest of the makers of unlicensed whiskey. She is in love with, and is beloved by Zeke, a young farmer, and is happy in the possession of a pet bear. Dan Hodges, who secretly operates an illicit still, falls in love with Plutina, but she repulses him. In revenge he kills Plutina's bear. Zeke gives information about the illicit still, but Dan and his followers escape into the mountains. When Zeke learns of the death of the bear, he swears to punish Dan. He pursues him and the men have a fight. Dan getting the worst of it. But he escapes further into the mountains.
The still is destroyed and Dan vows vengeance on Zeke. He reappears and tells Plutina that he must have her or he will burn her house down and kill her grandfather and sister. Plutina is now genuinely alarmed. Zeke is appointed overseer of a lumber area, and he and Plutina have every prospect of being happily married. Dan Hodges starts another still and swears to get Zeke. Plutina directs the officers to Dan's still, and Zeke goes away. But Dan and his men again escape. Dan meets Plutina and tries to kiss her; she resists and he drags her with him, intending to take her to the mountains with him. Zeke, on his journey, learns of Plutina's plight and hastens back to rescue her. Meanwhile, Dan insists that he will marry Plutina, but she spurns him. Zeke organizes a dog hunt in order to rescue Plutina and arrives in time to confront Dan as he is striking Plutina. There is a fight between the two men on the edge of the cliff, Hodges plunges on to the rocks below and Zeke rescues Plutina from an awful death.
Last revised July 11, 2011