The End of the Feud
The End of the Feud is a 1914 American silent drama film directed by Allan Dwan and featuring Murdock MacQuarrie, Pauline Bush, and Lon Chaney.[1] The film is now considered lost.[2]
| The End of the Feud | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Allan Dwan |
| Produced by | Rex Film Co. |
| Written by | Richard Rosson |
| Starring | Murdock MacQuarrie Pauline Bush Lon Chaney |
| Distributed by | Universal Film Manufacturing Company |
Release date |
|
Running time | 20 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | Silent English intertitles |
Plot
The hillbilly families of Hen Dawson and Jed Putnam have been engaged in a deadly feud for fifty years. Dawson lives with a daughter named June, and a nephew named Wood Dawson (who is in love with his cousin June). Jed Putnam has only a son named Joel, who has been secretly romancing June.
One day a new preacher moves into the territory and convinces the two patriarchs to stop their senseless feuding. They lay down their arms and declare a truce. Then Wood learns that Joel Putnam has been wooing his cousin June in secret. Wood starts spreading rumors that the two lovers have been engaged in immoral acts. The two rivals fight it out, and in the melee, Joel kills Wood Dawson.
Enraged over the death of his nephew, Hen Dawson forgets his oath and sets out to kill Joel Putnam. However, when he finds Joel, June is with him, getting ready to elope. Violence is averted at the last moment. The preacher once again gets the two warring clans to declare a truce by marrying June and Joel, thus uniting the two families forever.
Cast
- Murdock MacQuarrie as Hen Dawson
- Pauline Bush as June Dawson
- Lon Chaney as Wood Dawson
- William Lloyd as Jed Putnam
- William C. Dowlan as Joel Putnam
Reception
"Motion Picture News" stated "Drama of the South, beautiful scenery throughout....A good love story with unusual ending." [3]
"Moving Picture World" said "A mountain feud story that works up into some gripping situations...Some excellent scenic effects heighten the interest of the film. The story is old in subject matter, but handled in a convincing manner." [4]
References
- Bodeen, DeWitt (1970). Focus on Film, Issues 1-12. Tantivy Press. p. 31.
- Lombardi, Frederic (2013). Allan Dwan and the Rise and Decline of the Hollywood Studios. McFarland. p. 30. ISBN 978-0-786-43485-5.
- Blake, Michael F. (1998). "The Films of Lon Chaney". Vestal Press Inc. Page 16. ISBN 1-879511-26-6.
- Mirsalis, Jon C. "The End of the Feud". Lonchaney.org. Retrieved October 4, 2020.