The Prussian Cur
Encyclopedia
The Prussian Cur was an American anti-German silent
propaganda
film produced during World War I
. Now considered a lost film
, it is notable for perpetuating the story of the Crucified Soldier
.
The film's director Raoul Walsh
called it his "rottenest picture ever" for its anti-German sentiment, while its star Miriam Cooper
(Walsh's wife) also held it to be the worst film in which she had ever appeared.
The film was shot in Fort Lee, New Jersey
where Fox and many other early film studios in America's first motion picture industry were based at the beginning of the 20th century.
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
film produced during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Now considered a lost film
Lost film
A lost film is a feature film or short film that is no longer known to exist in studio archives, private collections or public archives such as the Library of Congress, where at least one copy of all American films are deposited and catalogued for copyright reasons...
, it is notable for perpetuating the story of the Crucified Soldier
The Crucified Soldier
The Crucified Soldier refers to the widespread story of an Allied soldier serving in the Canadian Corps who may have been crucified with bayonets on a barn door or a tree, while fighting on the Western Front during World War I...
.
The film's director Raoul Walsh
Raoul Walsh
Raoul Walsh was an American film director, actor, founding member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the brother of silent screen actor George Walsh...
called it his "rottenest picture ever" for its anti-German sentiment, while its star Miriam Cooper
Miriam Cooper
Miriam Cooper was a silent film actress who is best known for her work in early film including Birth of a Nation and Intolerance for D.W. Griffith and The Honor System and Evangeline for her husband Raoul Walsh...
(Walsh's wife) also held it to be the worst film in which she had ever appeared.
The film was shot in Fort Lee, New Jersey
Fort Lee, New Jersey
Fort Lee is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 35,345. Located atop the Hudson Palisades, the borough is the western terminus of the George Washington Bridge...
where Fox and many other early film studios in America's first motion picture industry were based at the beginning of the 20th century.
Cast
- Miriam CooperMiriam CooperMiriam Cooper was a silent film actress who is best known for her work in early film including Birth of a Nation and Intolerance for D.W. Griffith and The Honor System and Evangeline for her husband Raoul Walsh...
– Rosie O'Grady - Sidney Mason – Dick Gregory
- Captain Horst von der Goltz – Otto Goltz
- Leonora Stewart – Lillian O'Grady
- James MarcusJames A. MarcusJames A. Marcus was an American actor. He appeared in 109 films between 1915 and 1937.He was born in New York, New York and died in Hollywood, California from a heart attack...
– Patrick O'Grady - Pat O'Malley – Jimmie O'Grady
- Walter McEwen – Count Johann von BernstorffJohann Heinrich von BernstorffJohann Heinrich Graf von Bernstorff was a German politician and the ambassador to the United States and Mexico from 1908 to 1917.- Early life :...
- William W Black – Wolff von Eidel
- Ralph C. Faulkner – Woodrow WilsonWoodrow WilsonThomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
- Walter M. LawrenceWalter LawrenceWalter Richard Lawrence MBE was an Australian politician. He was the Liberal member for Drummoyne in the New South Wales Legislative Council from 1956 to 1962....
– Wilhelm II - Charles Reynolds – Wilhelm I
- William HarrisonWilliam HarrisonWilliam Harrison may refer to:* William Harrison , author of "Roller Ball Murder" and the screenplay for Rollerball* William Harrison , saddlemaker, historian and reeve of Richmond Hill, Ontario...
– Crown Prince FrederickPrince Eitel Friedrich of PrussiaPrince Eitel Friedrich was the second son of Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany by his first wife, Augusta Viktoria of Schleswig-Holstein... - James Hathaway – Field Marshal von HindenburgPaul von HindenburgPaul Ludwig Hans Anton von Beneckendorff und von Hindenburg , known universally as Paul von Hindenburg was a Prussian-German field marshal, statesman, and politician, and served as the second President of Germany from 1925 to 1934....
- P.C. HartiganPat Hartigan (actor)Pat Hartigan was an American actor and director. He appeared in 72 films between 1909 and 1940. He also directed 14 films between 1911 and 1919.-Selected filmography:...
– Admiral von TirpitzAlfred von TirpitzAlfred von Tirpitz was a German Admiral, Secretary of State of the German Imperial Naval Office, the powerful administrative branch of the German Imperial Navy from 1897 until 1916. Prussia never had a major navy, nor did the other German states before the German Empire was formed in 1871... - John E. Franklin – James W. GerardJames W. GerardJames Watson Gerard was a U.S. lawyer and diplomat.-Biography:Gerard was born in Geneseo, N. Y. He graduated from Columbia in 1890 and from New York Law School. He was chairman of the Democratic campaign committee of New York County for four years, and served as major of the National Guard of the...
- John W. Harbon – U.S. Congressman