The era of movie serials had not yet dawned in the United States when Sidney Olcott made this film starring Gene Gauntier as a daredevil Civil War spy. She listens at windows! She wears men's clothing! She rides a horse! All for the Confederacy, of course. The Union, having won, was anxious to get on with the business of the country. The states that had formed the Confederacy were sulking half a century later and would sulk for most of the 20th Century. White theaters in the South would not run a movie about a heroic Union spy. As a result, all these stories featured heroic Southerners. So long as Lincoln was treated with respect, the North did not care.
As a result, not only does Miss Gauntier changes clothing, but so does a male Southern spy to fool the Yankees. It works, too.
Although the story telling techniques at Kalem frequently seemed negligible, their photography was first rate and there are some nice shots here. Add in the piquancy of Miss Gauntier wearing men's clothes and Kalem had a movie that was enough of a success to warrant at least two sequels.
As a result, not only does Miss Gauntier changes clothing, but so does a male Southern spy to fool the Yankees. It works, too.
Although the story telling techniques at Kalem frequently seemed negligible, their photography was first rate and there are some nice shots here. Add in the piquancy of Miss Gauntier wearing men's clothes and Kalem had a movie that was enough of a success to warrant at least two sequels.