A Romance of the Redwoods
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About
Set during the California Gold Rush, A Romance of the Redwoods follows Jenny Lawrence, a young orphan who travels west to join her uncle. Upon her arrival, she discovers that he has been murdered and that the outlaw “Black” Brown has assumed his identity. Compelled to conceal his deception, Jenny gradually develops romantic feelings for Brown and attempts to persuade him to renounce his criminal activities. When he subsequently resumes his life of robbery and becomes the target of a vigilante committee, Jenny must find a way to prevent his execution. Directed by Cecil B. DeMille and featuring Mary Pickford, the film combines elements of the Western, romantic drama, and melodrama. Its portrayal of Jenny as an ostensibly innocent yet resourceful heroine reflects Pickford’s established screen persona, while its Gold Rush setting and emphasis on outlawry, redemption, and vigilante justice situate the narrative within the conventions of early American Western cinema. The film exemplifies the development of the Western feature as a popular Hollywood genre during the silent era.
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