The Heart of an Indian

Thomas Ince leased 17,000 acres of spectacular California land to produce rugged westerns like The Heart of an Indian, also known as The Indian Massacre (1913). With the men, livestock and wagons of the Miller Brothers 101 Wild West Show, it has the genuine and unglamorous “feel” of the frontier. The reissue British main title erroneously credits J. Barney Sherry in the lead; it is actually Francis Ford (made up as an Indian), with Ann Little, William Eagleshirt, Art Acord and Bob Kortman. This is one of approximately a dozen Ince productions acquired as original negatives by Paul Killiam from Harry Aitken, once President of Ince’s original distribution company. Blackhawk purchased Killiam’s 35mm master some fifty years after it was copied for (but never used in) Killiam’s “Movie Museum.” Music by Rodney Sauer. —Flicker Alley