Ramona (1928)

Set in early Southern California in the mid 19th century, a young girl (Dolores Del Rio) is adopted by a Mexican family. After she falls in love with a Native American (Warner Baxter), she finds out that her mother was also Native American which makes her bi-racial. She flees the tyrannical household and marries the Native American. Based on the novel by Helen Hunt Jackson and directed by Edwin Carewe (EVANGELINE). While Hollywood likes to think how inclusive it is today, in 1928 this film was directed by a Native American! Carewe was member of the Chickasaw tribe. That probably explains its empathetic attitude toward Native Americans in this film. Shot in Utah, it's a handsome looking movie courtesy of Robert Kurrie (1928's SADIE THOMPSON). Alas, the film's authenticity is compromised by a hokey Hollywood ending that's not from the book. Still, what we get is good and a more authentic than the usual Hollywood portrayal of Native Americans that followed. Unfortunately, the transfer I saw had a dreadful organ accompaniment when it deserves a full orchestral score. Remade in 1936. With Roland Drew and Vera Lewis.