Land of Liberty

"Land of Liberty" was a documentary edited by director Cecil B. De Mille from various newsreels, features, and short subjects produced during the 20th century, depicting events in American history dating back to the origins of the Revolutionary War and our fight for independence from Britain. Current 81 minute prints are missing approximately one hour of footage, minus Don Ameche, John Barrymore, Warner Baxter, Wallace Beery, John Carradine, Gary Cooper, Clark Gable, Fredric March, Basil Rathbone, Randolph Scott, Spencer Tracy, and Loretta Young, all too fleeting glimpses of Claudette Colbert (from John Ford's "Drums Along the Mohawk"), Claude Rains, and Lionel Barrymore. Two reelers "The Bill of Rights," "Romance of Louisiana," and "Teddy the Rough Rider" are used extensively, and virtually the entire 20th century section is represented by newsreels. Among the features identified by this reviewer, we have "Alexander Hamilton" (George Arliss), "Daniel Boone" (George O'Brien), "The Buccaneer" (Walter Brennan), "Wells Fargo" (Joel McCrea), "Abe Lincoln in Illinois" (Raymond Massey), "Jezebel" (Bette Davis), "Hearts in Bondage," "Victoria the Great" (Anna Neagle), "Of Human Hearts" (James Stewart), "Gateway," "Diamond Jim" (Edward Arnold), "The Bowery" (George Raft), "This Is My Affair" (Sidney Blackmer), and "Yellow Jack" (Robert Montgomery). Film buffs will have greater interest in this rare item if only to play 'Spot the Star,' others may prefer the Warners Porky Pig cartoon from 1939, "Old Glory," which essentially tells the same story in less than 10 minutes.