| Back to God's Country | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | David Hartford |
| Produced by | James Oliver Curwood Ernest Shipman (uncredited) |
| Written by | James Oliver Curwood Nell Shipman |
| Cinematography | Dal Clawson Joseph Walker |
| Editing by | Cyril Gardner |
| Release date(s) | October 27, 1919 |
| Country | Canada |
| Language | Silent film English intertitles |
Back to God's Country is a 1919 Canadian drama film directed by David Hartford. It is one of the earliest Canadian feature films. The film starred Canadian actress Nell Shipman. With an estimated budget of over $67,000, it became one of the first major Canadian pictures.
The film is noteworthy as it starred Nell Shipman and was produced by her husband, Ernest Shipman. It was the most successful silent film in Canadian history. Nell Shipman was one of the first women to do a nude scene on screen in the movie.[1]
In 1918, Nell Shipman created a production company called Shipman Curwood Producing Company to produce Back to God’s Country . The film would be the only film the company would produce. This film was based on a short story written by Curwood.
Curwood's work was adapted to the screen by Nell herself. Nell also was the lead of the film, which featured her in a controversial nude scene. She adapted the protagonist of the film from the Great Dane, Wapi to the female lead, Delores. Shipman also shaped her character into a heroine, who saves the lead man. Curwood was infuriated with Nell because she changed the scenario of his short story. Commercially, the film was extremely successful, posting a 300% profit by grossing a million and a half dollars.
The film has been re-made twice by Hollywood, but the original version was believed to have been lost. However, a print of the original film was recently found in Europe, restored and re-released.
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After her father is killed by an outlaw, Dolores (Nell Shipman) marries Peter. While they are at sea in the Arctic, Dolores meets the ship's captain, who is the man who killed her father. The captain causes an 'accident' to happen to Peter, so Dolores is all alone and defenceless as they drop anchor in a remote harbour.[2]