D.W. Griffith's SCARLET DAYS (1919) Title Lobby Card Silent Film Western Drama

Description

This is a vintage original 11×14 in. US title lobby card from the teens silent film western drama,
SCARLET DAYS
, released in 1919 by Artcraft Pictures Corporation and
directed by D.W. Griffith
.
A romantic bandit named Alvarez (Richard Barthelmess), wanted for raids on the
mining camps of the California gold rush in 1849, is reformed by the love of a
good woman (Clarine Seymour).
The image features an exterior close shot of the film’s protagonist, King Bagley, AKA Knight of the Black Stain (
Walter Long
), holding his pistol while he crouches from behind a large rock as a covered wagon and horses slowly maneuver the rough terrain in the background. It is unrestored in good- condition only with a chip of varying sizes on the left corners and on the top border; one pinhole in the center of both side borders and in the center of the background area; and some small circular water stains in the left half of the image.
Scarlet Days
is
a 1919 American silent western film produced and directed by D. W.
Griffith and released through Paramount/Artcraft Pictures, Artcraft
being an affiliate of Paramount Pictures. Richard Barthelmess stars in a role
for which Griffith had screen-tested Rudolph Valentino. The character
of Alvarez was suggested by the exploits of the bandit Joachin Murrieta. The
film opened in New York on 9 Nov 1919. According to modern sources, James Smith
was the film editor. In today’s time, this film is considered by many to be one
of Griffith’s worst films though it might have worked better as a short film. This
film was unlike others created by D.W. Griffith. According to an article
written for the “Cincinnati Inquirer”, written on the 16 of November 1919:
“Unlike other recent Griffith production, Scarlet Days is a
story of the old West, of the gold rush days of 49- Bret Harte transferred
to the screen!” The Western film genre was expanding at this time
and
Scarlet Days
fits into
this category. Western films were popular for this time.
Considered a lost film, a print was found in the State
Film Archives of the Soviet Union, which donated it to the Museum of Modern
Art in 1969. The film was screened to the public for the first time
since its rediscovery on March 24th and 25th, 1969.
Scarlet Days
was
shown alongside another missing film,
A
Romance of Happy Valley
, at the Museum of Modern Art’s auditorium with
titles still printed in Russian. English titles were later created by the
Department of Film at the Museum of Modern Art.
Public response to this film was overwhelmingly positive
during its release in November of 1919. Many news sources in 1919 published
review articles complimenting and comparing Scarlet Days to other
films created by D.W.Griffith. News outlets such as the “New-York
Tribune”, “San Francisco Chronicle”, “Cincinnati
Enquirer”, and more were including reviews on Scarlet Days as
well as announcing local showtimes for this film. A review article from the
“Cincinnati Enquirer” stated that: “The latest D.W. Griffith
production soon will be ready for local release. Griffith as usual has
assembled a sparkling cast for his new picture.”
Scarlet Days
traveled across the country to show in various
theaters after its release date on November 9, 1919. Prior to the actual
showing, news articles would be released to inform readers of short plot
summaries and events in the production.
On an opposing view written for
Variety
magazine
wrote on
Scarlet Days
negatively, and claimed that: “
Scarlet
Days
as a story was not worthy of Griffith’s direction in picturization.
It is entire too commonplace.” For current day moviegoers, this film
is one of the least popular of D.W. Griffith’s directed pictures.
Scarlet
Days
was considered to be made too late in the era where Western films
were becoming popular. Though some new sources gave positive feedback in
response to the release of this film, opposing viewpoints claimed that:
“Outside of [the lack of plot depth] there is nothing more to say except
that it is a surprise that Griffith should at this late date take to filming
rip-snorting Western mellers with a lot of harum-scarum rough stuff with gunplay.”