My Own United States

My Own United States
Directed by	John W. Noble
Written by	Anthony Paul Kelly (scenario)
Based on	The Man Without a Country (1863 short story) by Edward Everett Hale
Starring	Arnold Daly
Cinematography	Herbert Oswald Carleton
Production company	Frohman Amusement Company
Distributed by	Metro Pictures
Release dates	April 7, 1918 (US)
Running time	8 reels
Country	United States
Language	Silent (English intertitles)

My Own United States is a 1918 American silent drama film directed by John W. Noble and starring Arnold Daly, Charles Graham, and Duncan McRae. It is based on the short story The Man Without a Country by Edward Everett Hale. It was distributed by Metro Pictures

The original story, with its strong patriotic theme, was written during the American Civil War in order to increase public support for the Union cause; the film had a like function with regard to World War I, in which the United States was deeply involved at the time.

Plot

As described in a film magazine,^[1] Philip Noloan (Daly) is a young American who entertains pacifist views about the American entry into World War I because of his selfish desire to maintain his own comfort. His father, to arouse his duty to his country, tells him the tragic story of his ancestor the first Philip Nolan"s (Daly) treason by relating the incidents from the story The Man Without a Country. His father then tells of incidents from the American Civil War where a later ancestor, also named Philip Nolan (Daly), did all he could to wipe the stain of that treason from the family name. At the conclusion, Philip has become so thrilled by the great deeds of his family that he rises to the occasion and offers his services to his country to make the world safe for democracy.

Cast

Arnold Daly as Lt. Philip Nolan I, II, III, IV Charles Graham as Col. Aaron Burr Duncan McRae as Gen. Alexander Hamilton Sidney Bracey as Capt. Rene Gautier P.R. Scammon as President Thomas Jefferson Thomas Donnelly as Gen. George Churchill John Levering as Justice Col. George Morgan Eddie Dunn as Gen. Wilkinson Claude Cooper as William Bayard

William V. Miller as Mr. Van Ness Frederick Truesdell as Mr. Pendleton F.C. Earle as Andrew Jackson Mary Carr as Mrs. Alexander Hamilton Shorty Hamilton as Lt. Gaines Richard Wangermann as Dr. Hossack Fred Herzog as Adm. Stephen Decatur Anna Lehr as Agnes Churchill

Reception

Like many American films of the time, My Own United States was subject to cuts by city and state film censorship boards. For example, the Chicago Board of Censors cut, in Reel 3, the shooting in the duel and changed the Lincoln quotation to read "Let us have faith that Right makes Might".^[2]

References

1. "Reviews: My Own United States". Exhibitors Herald. New York City: Exhibitors Herald Company. 6 (6): 24. February 2, 1918.
2. "Official Cut-Outs by the Chicago Board of Censors". Exhibitors Herald. 6 (17): 31. April 20, 1918.

External links

• My Own United States at the Internet Movie Database