In the Land of the Head Hunters / from story written and picture made by Edward S. Curtis ; produced by The Seattle Film Co., Inc. ; produced by Vincent Pirozzi.

Format:

Video

Contributor:

Curtis, Edward S., 1868-1952, director.

Pirozzi, Vincent, producer.

Alexander Street Press.

Milestone Film & Video, production company.

Seattle Film Co., Inc., production company.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Kwakiutl Indians--Social life and customs.

Kwakiutl Indians.

Indians of North America--British Columbia--Vancouver Island.

Indians of North America.

British Columbia--Vancouver Island.

Genre:

Documentary films.

Feature films.

Silent films.

Melodramas (Motion pictures)

Video recordings.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (67 minutes)

Other Title:

In the Land of the Head Hunters : a drama of primitive life on the shores of the North Pacific

Place of Publication:

[Harrington Park, New Jersey] : Milestone Films, [2014]

Language Note:

Silent; intertitles in English.

System Details:

data file

Summary:

In 1911, as part of his massive undertaking, famed Northwest photographer Edward S. Curtis travelled to Vancouver Island, British Columbia, to visit the Kwakwaka'wakw. By the next year, needing money for his project and to add to his research and still photography work, Curtis decided that the best way to record the traditional way of life and ceremonies of the Kwakwaka'wakw was to make one of the first feature motion pictures. Curtis had already shot footage in 1906 of the Hopi Snake dance, which he had previously showed during his talks, but this was to be on a grander scale. It took three years of preparation for this one film including the weaving of the costumes; building of the war canoes, housefronts, poles, and the carving of masks. Assisting on the film was George Hunt, a Kwakwaka'wakw who had served as an interpreter for the famous anthropologist Franz Boas nearly twenty years before. Hunt helped contribute substantial portions of the film's story as well. Selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress, this early Native American drama/documentary released in 1914 is an amazing film produced in collaboration with the tribe members. The story of love and revenge among the Kwakwaka'wakw of British Columbia, Motana, the son of a great chief, goes on a vigil journey. Through fasting and hardships he hopes to gain supernatural strength which will make him a chief as powerful as his father. Curtis showcases the Kwakwaka'wakw's magnifcent war canoes, totem poles, rituals, costumes and dancing.

Notes:

Title from resource description page (viewed December 08, 2016).

OCLC:

971286496

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license.