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Customer Reviews of The Vanishing American

Zane Grey's western novel turned into a silent film epic
"The Vanishing American" is one of the great silent epics. Directed by George B. Seitz from a Zane Gray story, this 1925 silent film stars Richard Dix as Nophaie, a modern American Indian who heroically fights the Germans on the battlefields of Europe in World War I only to return home and find his people are still being horribly mistreated by a crooked Indian Agent named Booker, played by Norah Berry. One of the first films filmed on location in Monument Valley, this 148-minute epic also stars Lois Wilson as Marion Warner, the local schoolmarm who encourages Nophaie to make something of himself, and if you can spot Gary Cooper as an extra in this one you have better eyes than I do (but that is not saying anything).

"The Vanishing American" puts the plight of the Indians in the context of the inevitable march of history where one culture inevitable crushes another. Yes, there are melodramatic elements and the acting is slightly above par for a silent film, but there is a sense of scope and an attempt to make a "message" film that I appreciate given the times. Remade in 1955 with Scott Brady, Forrest Tucker and Audrey Totter in the three main roles, except now the hero's name is "Blandy"; I rest my case. Trivia Note: the production brought a herd of 14 bisons to Catalina Island for the film and ended up leaving them behind. Today the herd has grown to about 225 and is actually being hunted to control their numbers.