13 VINTAGE NATIVE AMERICAN INDIAN FILMS MOVIES (3 DVDs)

Disc 1

White Fawn's Devotion (1910, 11 min, B&W Silent)

This film was the very first movie produced by a Native American director. Told from a Native American viewpoint in memory of Wounded Knee, it tells the story of a settler living with his native wife and child. He discovers that he's inherited a fortune, but when he tells his wife, she kills herself and the local Indian tribe blame him!

The Invaders (1912, 41 min, B&W Silent)

This rare is a, politically incorrect film for its time. It tells of how the government broke a non-infringement treaty with the Sioux to build the transcontinental railroad through their land. This historic film represents changing views of the relationship between the United States and the Native Americans.

The Last of the Mohicans (1920, 71 min, B&W Silent)

This is the classic adaptation of James Fenimore Cooper's novel set in the French and Indian War. Famous actors Wallace Beery (Magua), Lillian Hall (Alice Munro) and Harry Lorraine (Hawkeye) bring Cooper's wonderful characters to stunning life. Thought-provoking and filled with action, it's a pride to include this film!

Buffalo Dance (c. 1894, 22 sec, B&W silent)

Clearly one of the earliest motion pictures ever made, this short piece demonstrates a buffalo dance.

Navajo Canyon Country (1954, 12 min, Color & Sound)

This film documents the lifestyle of the Navajo people, or the Dine. We see their architecture, husbandry, and how they remember the Long Walk of 1864. 

Disc 2

Nanook of the North (1922, 55 min, B&W Silent)

Widely considered the first anthropological documentary film in cinematic history!

After the destruction of Robert Flaherty's footage detailing his explorations in Canada, Flaherty returned the wild country, where Nanook, the master hunter of the Inuits, allowed him to film their daily lives. In this fascinating film, you'll see how the Inuits traveled, built kayaks and igloos and hunted. These people clearly know how to live in the frozen North!

Hunger (1930, 138 min, B&W Silent with Spoken Introduction)

Contains one of the earliest usages of a zoom lens in cinematic history!

Produced by Souix Chief Yellow Robe, this film documents the migration of the Chief's people north into Canada. The cast is entirely Native American, and the movie features authentic rituals, clothing and traditions. It's hard to make a more realistic reenactment than this! Chief Yellow Robe died four months before this film was released.

Disc 3

Pueblo Heritage (1950, 20 min, Color & Sound)

This documentary traces the history of the Pueblo tribe of Native Americans from the Mesa Verde people to the modern Taos, Acoma, and the Zuni. It also takes you to Gallup, New Mexico for the Native American festival. This has beautiful scenes of architecture, art, jewelry and dress, both ancient and modern.

Spirit in the Earth (1951, 26 min, Color & Sound)

Why does the Old Faithful geyser in Yellowstone erupt? The Native Americans can answer that for you, by telling the story of the newly created world. The contrast between chiefs Red Cloud and Yellow Bow is striking, especially considering that the rituals they perform are actual Native American rituals.

Seminoles of the Everglades (1950, 20 min, Color & Sound)

Not all Native Americans lived in the eastern forests or the desert southwest. The Seminoles lived in the everglades alongside alligators, herons and water moccasins. And they have their own reaction to the modern world. This film will teach you about this important and under-represented tribe.

Miracle on the Mesa (1951, 20 min, Color & Sound)

Here you will learn of the Hopi tribe, an agricultural people who live in a harsh, plant-unfriendly environment: the desert! Dependant on rain for the survival of their crops and livestock, there are only two places for them to turn when drought strikes: the gods and the US Department of Indian Affairs.

Geronimo Jones (1970, 21 min, Color & Sound)

Young Geronimo Jones is an Apache, direct descendant of the famed warrior Geronimo. His grandfather is a medicine man, and his cousin a modern astronomer, so he's caught between his history and the future. His grandfather gives him an ancient talisman, but he's swindled by a shopkeeper into trading it for a television set for his grandfather. And what should be the very first thing that they see when they turn it on, but... an old western.

The Paleface (1922, 21 min, B&W Silent)

When greedy oil sharks steal the deed to a local Indian tribe's land and attempt to evict them, the Indians decide to get even by killing the first white man they see. And who should appear moments later but poor, clueless Buster Keaton, come to catch butterflies. When they try to burn him at the stake, comic chaos ensues. Never one to hold a grudge, Buster decides to help the Indians and reclaims the land deed... completely by accident!

Historic Photograph Slideshow (c. 1900, 14 min)

This slideshow features the famous Edward S. Curtis photograph collection. Includes authentic Native American music, recorded on wax cylinders circa 1900.

That's Fourteen Features On This Three-Disc Set!

These are critically acclaimed films which have...

Won the Columbus Film Festival “Golden Christopher” Award
Premiered at Radio City Music Hall in New York
Won the Oakland Film Festival “Humanities Award”
Won the National Educational Film Festival Award
Won the San Francisco film festival Award
And won the Cine Golden Eagle Award

This brand new NTSC DVD set is playable in all regions.

Please note that some of these films and photographs are more than 100 years old! As such, they do not have the same video or sound quality as a modern feature film would.