The Chechahcos (pronounced chee-chaw-koz) is often considered to be the first feature film to be made in Alaska and it is the only movie made by Alaska Moving Picture Corp. While I am always hesitant to use the word first when discussing silent film, there is no doubt that this is an impressive bit of filmmaking and something that can stand up against anything made in Hollywood during this period.
In this movie a woman (Eva Gordon) loses her young daughter (Baby Margie) when a ship catches on fire. An evil gambler (Alexis B. Luce) tells the woman that her daughter didn't survive. However the girl is found by two prospectors “Horseshoe” Riley and Bob Dexter (William Dills and Albert Van Altwerp). These two prospectors raise the young girl as their own. Later when the girl has grown into a young woman (Gladys Johnson), the trio runs into her mother, which may change everything for the family.
This story may sound melodramatic and it definitely is. However just because a story is melodramatic, doesn't mean it doesn't work and this film works very well. As simplistic as the characters can be they are very likable and we quickly grow to care about them. These characters especially work due to the really sweet relationship between the main trio of characters. Though it is simple there is something really touching about the way these three make an unlikely family. This makes even the most melodramatic twists quite effective, because we care about this family unit and don't want to see it broken up.
It is quite impressive to think that this is an indie movie. That is because this film visually looks as great (if not better) than many of the best Hollywood movies that came out at this era (and even quite a few from later eras. The location shooting is simply breathtaking and there are few films that capture the true beauty of Alaska, better than this movie does. Alaska is a breathtaking place and you can see this beauty in all its glory throughout this movie. The movie also benefits from wonderful artwork by painter Sydney Laurence on the intertitles. I have always had a soft spot for these kinds of intertitles and this movie shows them at their best.
It is amazing that this movie does not receive the attention it deserves. It is simply a real treat and deserves to find a larger audience.
Exhibitor's Trade Review, 1924
The idea of this film came from Austin E. Lathrop. He had lead groups of people looking for gold in the Klondike rush of the late 1890s. When he formed Alaska Moving Picture Corporation, naturally a story about the gold rush automatically interested him. Because of this movie's independent nature, many of those working on it had little experience at filmmaking. Lewis Moomaw, who directed and wrote this film had worked for a small studio in Portland, Oregon called American Lifeograph. He had previously made two feature films before this one. One of those features, The Golden Trail (1920), had some outdoor shooting done in Alaska. Actors Albert Van Antwerp and Alexis B. Luce had their only movie role in this picture. However Alexis B. Luce had long worked on the stage. William Dills had a short-lived movie career, beginning with Lewis Moomaw's The Golden Trail. He would make his last movie appearance in the unfortunately lost Alaskan film, North of Nome (1925). Variety magazine built up actress Gladys Johnson stating, "Gladys Johnson, personating Ruth Stanlaw grown up, suggested brilliant possibilities as a screen personality. Her girlish charm typifies the adolescent period outwardly better than Marguerite Clark ever did, or anybody today." However she would only appear in one more film after this, the aforementioned North of Nome (1925). This movie's release was near the time production on Charlie Chaplin's The Gold Rush (1925) began production. Some historians believe that this movie may have had an influence on that beloved classic.
It was common of movie magazines of this period to give advice on how theater owners could advertise various films. Exhibitor's Trade Review went all out for The Chechahcos, giving a full 16 pages of how to advertise this film. If you are interested in reading this, click here. Below is an example of theater owners advertising this and other movies.
Exhibitor's Herald, 1924
The following is from a 1924 issue of Motion Picture News, "Associated Exhibitors are planning to road show, 'The Chechahcos' it is said. The decision came as a result of the recent private showing of the production. With this end in view, Associated has appointed H. Elliott Stuckel as general press representative in charge of production. He is the secretary of the Theatrical Press Representatives of America. 'The Chechahcos' was taken over by Associated from the Alaska Motion Picture Corporation. Every foot of the film was shot in Alaska. President Harding was a guest of the company on his last ill-fated tour of Alaska."
Picture Play Magazine, 1924
This delightful film can be found on Treasures from American Film Archives DVD set and can be watched for free on the National Film Preservation Foundation's website.
Resources Used
https://www.filmpreservation.org/preserved-films/screening-room/t1-the-chechahcos-1924
https://mediahistoryproject.org/
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