Hiawatha (1913 film)

Hiawatha is a 1913 American silent short film based on Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's epic poem, The Song of Hiawatha. It was directed by Edgar Lewis and produced by the Lubin Manufacturing Company.

The film is a straightforward adaptation of Longfellow's poem, depicting key events in the life of Hiawatha, an Ojibwe Native American. It generally focuses on his birth, childhood, hunting skills, and relationship with Minnehaha.

Details regarding the cast and precise plot points are somewhat scarce due to the age of the film and the loss of many silent films from that era. However, it is known that the film attempted to portray Native American life and customs, though the accuracy of these portrayals is subject to the historical context and potential biases of the filmmakers at the time.

Hiawatha (1913) is notable as an early cinematic interpretation of a significant piece of American literature and offers a glimpse into the representation of Native Americans in early film. It is considered a historical artifact reflecting the cultural attitudes and filmmaking techniques of the early 20th century. The film is now in the public domain.