Evangeline (1919 film)
Evangeline is a 1919 American silent romantic drama film directed by Raoul Walsh and starring Miriam Cooper. It is based on Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's epic poem Evangeline, A Tale of Acadie.
Plot:
The film tells the story of Evangeline Bellefontaine, a young Acadian woman who is separated from her fiancé, Gabriel Lajeunesse, during the Great Expulsion of the Acadians by the British in 1755. The film follows Evangeline's years-long journey across America in search of Gabriel. She encounters various hardships and meets a diverse range of characters along the way, maintaining her faith and hope that she will one day be reunited with her love. Despite her tireless search, she never finds Gabriel until much later in life, when she is working as a Sister of Mercy.
Cast:
- Miriam Cooper as Evangeline Bellefontaine
- Alan Roscoe as Gabriel Lajeunesse
- Spottiswoode Aitken as Benedict Bellefontaine
- George Walsh as Baptiste
- James A. Marcus as Basil Lajeunesse
- Paul Weigel as Father Felician
- William Clifford as Lieutenant Von Braithwaite
- Marcella Daly as Felicite
- Louis Fitzroy as Rene Leblanc
Production:
The film was produced by Fox Film Corporation. It was a large-scale production for its time, featuring elaborate sets and costumes. Raoul Walsh, already a established director, brought a visual grandeur to the story.
Reception:
Evangeline was a popular film upon its release. Audiences were drawn to the tragic love story and the film's spectacular visuals. Reviews at the time were generally positive, praising Cooper's performance and Walsh's direction.
Preservation:
The film is considered lost. No known complete prints of Evangeline are known to exist. Fragments and stills from the film have survived, offering a glimpse into the production.