False Evidence (1919 film)
{{short description|1919 silent film directed by Edwin Carewe}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox film
| name = False Evidence
| image = False Evidence (1919) - 1.jpg
| alt = Newspaper ad for the American drama film False Evidence (1919) with Viola Dana, on page 11 of the January 17, 1920 Duluth Herald.
| caption = Newspaper advertisement for False Evidence (1919 film)
| director = Edwin Carewe
| producer =
| writer = Finis Fox
| screenplay =
| story =
| based_on = {{Based on|the novel, Madelon|Mary E. Wilkins Freeman}}
| starring = Viola Dana
Wheeler Oakman
Joseph King
| narrator =
| music =
| cinematography = John Arnold
| editing =
| studio = Metro Pictures
| distributor =
| released = {{Film date|1919|4|21|US|ref1={{cite web | url=https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/2011 | title=False Evidence | publisher=American Film Institute | access-date=August 30, 2018}}}}
| runtime = 5 reels
| country = United States
| language = Silent (English intertitles)
| budget =
| gross =
}}
False Evidence, originally titled Madelon of the Redwoods, is a 1919 American silent drama film that was directed by Edwin Carewe. It stars Viola Dana, Wheeler Oakman, and Joseph King, and was released on April 21, 1919.
Cast
- Viola Dana as Madelon MacTavish
- Wheeler Oakman as Burr Gordon
- Joseph King as Lot Gordon
- Edward J. Connelly as Sandy MacTavish
- J. Patrick O'Malley as Richard MacTavish
- Peggy Pearce as Dorothy Fair
- Virginia Ross as Samanthy Brown
Production
The movie was originally titled Madelon of the Redwoods, but was renamed False Evidence in April 1919.{{cite news|title=Untitled |url=https://mediahistoryproject.org/reader.php?id=exhibitorstrader00newy |newspaper=Exhibitor's Trade Review |date=April 19, 1919 |pages=1530 |accessdate = June 25, 2023}} The film was the first adaptation of any sort of one of Mary E. Wilkins Freeman novels.{{cite news|title=Viola Dana Starred in "False Evidence" |url=https://mediahistoryproject.org/reader.php?id=exhibitorstrader00newy |newspaper=Exhibitor's Trade Review |date=April 19, 1919 |pages=1498 |accessdate = June 25, 2023}} On March 17, 1919, the Santa Cruz Evening News reported that Viola Dana and Wheeler Oakman, for Metro Pictures, had finished filming on location at Hopkins' Big Trees in Felton and were headed south to film the interior segments of Madelon of the Redwoods.{{Cite news|title=Metro Players Finish Today|date=1919-03-17|work=Santa Cruz Evening News}} According to Derek Whaley, Metro repurposed defunct buildings in a part of the park called Welch Grove to serve as a "pioneer town" for the film.{{Cite web|url=https://www.santacruztrains.com/2018/02/curiosities-big-trees.html|title=Curiosities: Big Trees|last=Whaley|first=Derek|access-date=2019-02-19}}
Reception
Exhibitors Herald, while they found the storyline dark and grim, praised the performances of Oakman and King, and while they felt it was far from Dana's best performance, they felt she did it "faithfully and effectively". They felt the picture was done very realistically.{{cite news|title=Viola Dana in False Evidence |url=https://mediahistoryproject.org/reader.php?id=exhibitorsherald08exhi |newspaper=Exhibitors Herald |date=May 10, 1919 |pages=47 |accessdate = June 25, 2023}} The Tampa Sunday Tribune gave the film a good review, calling it "a gripping romance of the redwoods, giving Viola Dana a role that reflects all her vivid personality and dramatic powers."{{cite news|title=False Evidence Tomorrow, Grand |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/127068992/ |newspaper=The Tampa Sunday Tribune |date=May 4, 1919 |pages=8A |via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = June 25, 2023}} The Nashville Banner also gave the film a good review, highlighting the performances of both Dana, and her supporting cast.{{cite news|title=False Evidence Tomorrow, Grand |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/127069297/ |newspaper=Nashville Banner |date=May 18, 1919 |pages=8 |via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = June 25, 2023}} The Sacramento Star enjoyed the film as well, "a radiant story because Viola Dana takes the stellar role, which is one of laughter and pathos."{{cite news|title=T&D |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/127069676/ |newspaper=The Sacramento Star |date=August 6, 1919 |pages=6 |via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = June 25, 2023}}
Preservation
A complete print of False Evidence is held by the Cinematheque Royale de Belgique.[https://memory.loc.gov/diglib/ihas/loc.mbrs.sfdb.556/ The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: False Evidence]
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category|False Evidence (1919 film)}}
- {{IMDb title|0010111}}
- {{TCMDb title|493358}}
- {{AFI film|2011}}
- [http://emovieposter.com/agallery/archiveitem/6835970.html lobby poster]
Category:Films directed by Edwin Carewe
Category:Films based on American novels
Category:American silent feature films
Category:American black-and-white films
Category:Silent American drama films