During the Civil War, a father living in a border state leaves to join the Union Army. After he leaves, Confederate troops forage on his property, where a soldier encounters one of his daughters. The father himself is wounded on a hazardous mission and must run for his life, pursued by Confederate soldiers.
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Back in the very early years of film there were more child performers than any other period in film history. Fan magazines were full of articles where child stars told of their favourite doll or pet. Most children earned $3.50 for appearing in a minor role and for most poor families the money was a godsend. Little Gladys Egan was often in American Biographs and "In the Border States" was her movie all the way.When a foraging Confederate soldier happens on a farm "in the border states" he is helped to water by a small child (Egan) whose prejudices are put aside in her sympathy for the thirsty man. You can see the emotions working on Gladys' face - has she done the right thing etc?? - Union soldiers ask her for assistance and she points them in the wrong direction.Meanwhile her father is sent on a perilous mission (he is a Union officer) and returns home shot - at the same time as the soldier whom Gladys had helped has returned with a group of Confederates looking for the wounded man. This time the soldier is able to return the favour, although at the end Gladys takes a bow as she accepts all the praise. While others were acting their heads off, Gladys and her sister were acting natural and just being themselves. Another standout is the camera work from Billy Bitzer - scenes shot looking down a hill as the rebel soldiers, then the wounded soldier make their way up the grassy slope almost into the camera lens.
In the Border States (1910) *** (out of 4) Civil War short has a father (Charles West) joining the Union and going off to war. The father gets sent on a secret mission but he is wounded and barely makes it back home. When his child rushes off to get help a group of Confederate solders come in and its up to one to turn the father in or not. This is a pretty interesting short from Griffith because it's rather low-key and shows the human side of war. The story itself is pretty far fetched but that doesn't really matter because the main thing is its message and the director has no trouble getting this across. The fact that two sides could be fighting for their own beliefs but this shouldn't stand in front of doing the right thing is something Griffith told in many of his movies but the war backdrop here just makes it all the more memorable. Another big plus is the cinematography by G.W. Bitzer is excellent as are the New Jersey locations, which are filling in for a Southern state. Henry B. Walthall, Dorothy West and Mack Sennett are among the cast.
During the Civil War, there were many cases of divided loyalties; obviously, many occurred "In the Border States", where North met South by happenstance of geography. From the border, young father Owen Moore goes off to join the Union Army. Shortly, Confederate soldier Henry B. Walthall, separated from his regimen, wanders onto the enemy's property, desperate for water; he finds a supply where the Unionist's young daughter Gladys Egan sits. When the Yankee soldiers track him down, Little Gladys innocently helps the Confederate hide. Later, when he returns to kill her father, the little girl's kindness is remembered. A sweet, small story from director D.W. Griffith. Location footage and humanity are lovingly displayed. ***** In the Border States (6/13/10) D.W. Griffith ~ Henry B. Walthall, Owen Moore, Gladys Egan
In the Border States is a short Griffith movie with all the standard melodrama typical of the era in which it was filmed. Enjoyable particularly for its portrayal of the human side of war. Father leaves to fight for the Union and while he is away, his younger daughter meets a Confederate soldier who begs for water. Though reluctant to help him, she moves aside and allows him access to her water bucket, then protects him from Union soldiers as he hides in the well. Her father, meanwhile, injured on a dangerous mission, stumbles home with the Confederate army chasing him. His daughters drag him inside and hide him in the bedroom. An enemy soldier bursts in, and lo and behold, it's the very man the youngest daughter helped earlier. She bravely reminds him of this fact and so he hides her father from the other Confederate soldiers that rush in a few moments later. In the Border States has nothing really unexpected to offer, but it's enjoyable particularly for film and history buffs.