The Sky Pilot is a 1921 silent

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...

 drama film

Drama film

A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...

 directed by King Vidor

King Vidor

King Wallis Vidor was an American film director, film producer, and screenwriter whose career spanned nearly seven decades...

 and featuring Colleen Moore

Colleen Moore

Colleen Moore was an American film actress, and one of the most fashionable stars of the silent film era.-Early life:...

.

Plot

The Sky Pilot arrives in a rough and tumble northern town intent on bringing religion to the tough residents of a small cattle town. At first they reject him, but in time he wins the residents over with his prowess. A plot to steal cattle is uncovered and disrupted. Gwen, daughter of the Old Timer, is injured in a stampede, looses her ability to walk, but recovers thanks to the power of love.

Cast

• John Bowers
  John Bowers
  John Bowers was an American stage and silent film actor who starred in ninety-four films including short subjects.-Biography:...
  
   - The Sky Pilot
• Colleen Moore
  Colleen Moore
  Colleen Moore was an American film actress, and one of the most fashionable stars of the silent film era.-Early life:...
  
   - Gwen
• David Butler - Bill Hendricks
• Harry Todd
  Harry Todd
  Harry Todd was an American actor. He appeared in 391 films between 1909 and 1935.He died in Glendale, California from a heart attack at the age of 71.-Selected filmography:...
  
   - The Old Timer
• James Corrigan - Honorable Ashley
• Donald MacDonald
  Donald MacDonald (actor)
  Donald MacDonald was an American actor and director of the silent era. He appeared in 87 films between 1911 and 1934...
  
   - The Duke
• Kathleen Kirkham
  Kathleen Kirkham
  Kathleen Kirkham was a silent film actress from Menominee, Michigan.Her mother, Mrs. L.B. Kirkham, resided at 1135 Windsor Boulevard in Los Angeles, California. She was a stage actress prior to marriage.-Film actress:...
  
  - Lady Charlotte

Background

Based on a novel by Ralph Connor, it was the first film to be made in part at Vidor's new studio. The snow scenes were shot in Truckee where the weather did not cooperate: it snowed when the production needed sun, and was sunny when they needed a blizzard. When the snow would not let up, local towns folk were hired to clear the snow manually for scenes that needed dry ground. Thereafter it stopped snowing: salt was used to simulate snow on the ground. The stampede scene was shot in Fresno, California.