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The White Desert (1925 film)

{{short description|1925 film by Reginald Barker}}

{{For|the German film|The White Desert (1922 film)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2020}}

{{Infobox film

| name = The White Desert

| image = The White Desert FilmPoster.jpeg

| caption = Theatrical release poster

| director = Reginald Barker

| producer =

| writer = Monte M. Katterjohn
Gordon Rigby
Lew Lipton

| based_on = {{basedon|The White Desert|Courtney Riley Cooper}}

| narrator =

| starring = Claire Windsor
Pat O'Malley

| music =

| cinematography = Percy Hilburn (*French)

| editing =

| distributor = Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

| released = {{Film date|1925|5|4}}

| runtime = 70 minutes

| country = United States

| language = Silent (English intertitles)

| budget =

}}

The White Desert is a 1925 American silent drama film directed by Reginald Barker. The film stars Claire Windsor and Pat O'Malley, with Robert Frazer, Frank Currier, and Sōjin Kamiyama. It is written by Monte M. Katterjohn and Gordon Rigby and adopted from Denver author Courtney Ryley Cooper's novel The White Desert (1922).[http://www.silentera.com/PSFL/data/W/WhiteDesert1925.html Progressive Silent Film List: The White Desert] at silentera.com This B movie was produced to keep the Loew circuit and other cinemas supplied.The American Film Institute Catalog Feature Films: 1921-30 by The American Film Institute, c.1971 The title refers to the snow covered Colorado landscape during winter.

Plot

As described in a film magazine and newspaper reviews,{{Citation |title=New Pictures: The White Desert |journal=Exhibitors Herald |volume=22 |issue=6 |pages=86 |date=1 August 1925 |publisher=Exhibitors Herald Company |location=Chicago, Illinois |url=https://archive.org/details/exhibitorsherald22unse/page/n737/mode/1up |access-date=9 July 2022}} {{Source-attribution}}{{cite news |title=The Screen; Make Fun of the Hero |newspaper=The New York Times |date=8 July 1925 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1925/07/08/archives/the-screen-make-fun-of-the-hero.html |access-date=9 July 2022}} Barry, the engineer for a construction company, criticizes the foreman for the method he is pursuing for tunneling for railroad construction. The snow ledges have been weakened by the constant dynamiting. With the next explosion of dynamite, an avalanche results which destroys the ledges and nearly wipes out the camp. The surviving workers are isolated, desperate and shattered by the disaster, and unable to obtain food. Foster and his wife have no milk for their child. With hard work, Barry strikes out and works his way out and is able to reach a telephone line, which he taps and calls for help. A relief train with snow plows makes its way through the snow pile and arrives with food and assistance. The camp is saved and Barry wins the affection of Robinette, the daughter of the railroad president.

Cast

{{Cast listing|

}}

Production

The film was shot on Rollins Pass, Colorado, at the Corona townsite, during construction of the Moffat Tunnel,{{cite news |last=Bockelman |first=Andy |title=Silent film displays Colorado history |newspaper=Craig Press |location=Craig, Colorado |publisher=Swift Communications, Inc. |date=July 18, 2013 |url=https://www.craigdailypress.com/news/silent-film-displays-colorado-history/ |access-date=9 July 2022}} which commenced in 1923 and was completed in 1928. Corona was a town dedicated to keeping the rail line open during the harsh winter, and was partially underground in a trench along the tracks, and under a snow shed. Claire Windsor was invited to Denver for a celebration and parade on February 26, 1928, for the opening of the Moffat Tunnel.

Preservation

A print of The White Desert was donated by MGM to the George Eastman House.[http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/ihas/loc.mbrs.sfdb.1269/default.html The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: The White Desert]

References

{{reflist}}

External links

{{commons category|The White Desert}}

  • {{IMDb title|0016523}}
  • [https://clairewindsor.weebly.com/the-white-desert.html Lobby cards, stills, and news items from The White Desert] at the Claire Windsor website

{{Reginald Barker}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:White Desert (1925 film), The}}

Category:1925 films

Category:American silent feature films

Category:Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films

Category:1925 drama films

Category:American black-and-white films

Category:Silent American drama films

Category:Films directed by Reginald Barker

Category:1920s American films

Category:1920s English-language films

Category:English-language drama films

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