The Americano

1916
1h 1m

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Douglas Fairbanks in The Americano (1916)

Doug is an American mining engineer. Pres. Valdez of Paragonia (Aitken) wants him to reopen the country's mines. Doug is not interested ... until he sees the President's beautiful daughter, ... Read allDoug is an American mining engineer. Pres. Valdez of Paragonia (Aitken) wants him to reopen the country's mines. Doug is not interested ... until he sees the President's beautiful daughter, Juana (Rubens). Valdez returns to Paragonia, but is deposed by Generals Sanchez and Garcia... Read allDoug is an American mining engineer. Pres. Valdez of Paragonia (Aitken) wants him to reopen the country's mines. Doug is not interested ... until he sees the President's beautiful daughter, Juana (Rubens). Valdez returns to Paragonia, but is deposed by Generals Sanchez and Garcia and locked in San Mateo Prison. The Americano arrives. His company's local office has bee... Read all

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IMDb RATING

6.1/10

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See production info at IMDbPro

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Trivia
Following the successful telecasts of Othello (1922) and The Eagle (1925), New York City's WJZ (Channel 7), began a weekly series of Sunday evening silent film feature presentations, shown more or less in their entirety, which aired intermittently for the next twelve months. This feature was initially broadcast Sunday 21 November 1948, and, like the rest of the series, aired simultaneously on sister stations WFIL (Channel 6) (Philadelphia) and freshly launched WAAM (Channel 13) (Baltimore), an innovation at the time; the following week's selection would be The Pony Express (1925).

Alternate versions
The film was reissued in the 1950s with narration and commentary, and with the names of the characters simplified.

Connections
Featured in Fractured Flickers: Connie Stevens (1963)

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Featured review

3/10

South of the Border

In the days before the Great War (aka World War) I), in the Caribbean Sea, the tiny nation of Paragonia nestled. Soon, the "jewel set in the girdle of the earth" would need All-American Douglas Fairbanks to settle unrest.

In the spring of 1910, a New York mining company's contract with the Republic comes up for renewal. Paragonia's "Minister of War" Carl Stockdale (as Salsa Espada) is alone in opposing the renewal; he thinks Americans are "pigs", and wants to rule the Republic. President Spottiswoode Aiken (as Hernando de Valdez) and Premier Tote du Crow (as Alberto de Castille) have their way, and the contract is signed. Meanwhile, Mr. Aiken's comely daughter Alma Rubens (as Juana de Valdez) attracts suitors like Charles Stevens (as Colonel Gargaras).

In New York City, young mining engineer Douglas Fairbanks (as "The Americano") is offered a job in Paragonia. At first, Fairbanks refuses ("Too far from Brooklyn!") -- but, when he sees fetching Ms. Rubens visiting the American Mining Company office, he is smitten. Upon arrival, Fairbanks finds the dictatorial Mr. Stockdale has taken over the country, and thrown its popular president in prison. Moreover, Rubens is being forced into an unhappy marriage

This was the last, and not the best, of the Fairbanks "Triangle" films supervised by D.W. Griffith. The acclaimed director's influence can be seen occasionally, in the film's relatively elaborate structure, and characterizations. For example, Reubens is introduced petting a bird. And, while it wasn't only Griffith who employed offensive black-faced characters like Tom Wilson (as Harold Armitage "Whitey" White), he created this role for Wilson (who pets his lucky rabbit's foot). The Mexican locale is a highlight.

*** The Americano (12/24/16) John Emerson, D.W. Griffith ~ Douglas Fairbanks, Alma Rubens, Carl Stockdale