"Legendary photographer Edward S. Curtis devoted his life to documenting the world of Native Americans, in firm belief that the information he gathered 'must be collected at once or the opportunity will be lost.' In 1914, he created one of the first feature-length dramas ever made--a masterpiece filmed with the Kwakwaka'wakw (Kwakiutl) tribe of British Columbia. Curtis' haunting melodrama, set before Europeans arrived on the North Pacific Coast, tells the story of a warrior's spiritual journey, of love won and lost, and of a battle between tribes to save the warrior's bride. The film's attention to historic detail and Curtis' legendary eye for composition make IN THE LAND OF THE HEAD HUNTERS one of the most beautiful films of the silent era and a stunning evocation of a culture famed for it's incredible artistic heritage. Aspects of the film were based on he Kwakwaka'wakw's oral traditions and it accurately portrays rituals, including the potlatch, which were strictly prohibited by Canadian law until 1951. The film's gala premieres in December 1914 featured the performance of an original orchestral score by composer John J. Braham. The Turning Point Ensemble's rousing and beautiful rendition is a lovely match for the painstaking reconstruction/restoration showcasing the film's original gorgeous color tinting. Restoration by the UCLA Film & Television Archive (supervised by Jere Guldin), The Field Museum of Natural History, Milestone Films, Modern Videofilm, Brad Evans, Aaron Glass, and Andrea Sanborn."--Container.

Notes

In the land of the head hunters: Originally produced as a motion picture in 1914, "restored by the UCLA Film and Television Archive in cooperation with the Field Museum of Natural History."

Special features: In the Land of the Head Hunters (restoration of the 1914 version with original musical score, 66 minutes, tinted) ; In the Land of the War Canoes (1973 version by Bill Holm & George Quimby, 44 minutes, B&W) ; The Image Maker and the Indians, making-of documentary by Holm and Quimby (1979, color, 16 minutes) ; Turning Point Ensemble and the score (2013, color, 3 minutes) ; Documents of Encounter: The Head Hunters Reconstruction Project (2014, color, 38 minutes) ; commentary track featuring Bill Holm, Andy Everson, Aaron Glass, edited by Keith Sanborn ; stills gallery, courtesy of the University of Washington Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture and Mick Gidley.