Product Details

• Actors: Maggie Frank
• Directors: Edward S. Curtis
• Writers: Edward S. Curtis
• Format: Black & White, DVD, Silent, NTSC
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Image Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: August 15, 2000
• Run Time: 47 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6305943958
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #155,578 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "In the Land of the War Canoes" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

A drama of Kwakiutl life in the Northwest. Best known as one of the premiere photographers of the 20th century, Edward S. Curtis devoted his life to documenting the disappearing world of the American Indian. In this film, originally titled "In the Land of the Headhunters," Curtis retold a tribal story of love and revenge among the Kwakiutl Indians of Vancouver Island. Curtis spent three years with the Kwakiutl to meticulously recreate their way of life before the white man came. In addition to the magnificent painted war canoes of the title, the film features wonderful native costumes, dancing and rituals--including a powerful scene of a vision quest. Restored from the only surviving print in 1972 with a new score of original music and chants by the Kwakiutls themselves, "In the Land of the War Canoes" presents a magnificent image of a lost world.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Intelligent Restoration, December 4, 2006

By 

Joseph L. Ponessa (Glendive MT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: In the Land of the War Canoes (DVD)

Photographer Edward Sheriff Curtis spent three summer seasons (1912-14) on Vancouver Island filming the Kwakiutl, whose tales had just been published by ethnographer Franz Boas. On December 7th of 1914, the Continental Film Company released the six-reeler IN THE LAND OF THE HEAD HUNTERS in a joint premiere at 1650-seat Moore Theater in Seattle and 1455-seat Casino Theater in New York. The World Film Company distributed only 26 prints of the film. In 1947 collector Hugo Zeiter of Danville IL donated the only known copy, a 35mm nitrate film in poor condition to the Field Museum in Chicago, where the film caught fire during projection. Opening footage introducing the characters was lost; the original was transferred to 16mm safety stock and destroyed. In 1965 George Quimby took copies of the film to The Thomas Burke Memorial Washington State Museum in Seattle, with permission to restore it. Kwakiutl expert Bill Holm showed the film fifteen times to native audiences, inviting recollections and in 1972 David Gerth recorded dialogue with eleven natives (three of whom appeared in the film as children) at Newcombe Auditorium of the British Columbia Provincial Museum in Vancouver. The opening footage was reconstructed from the director's own book of still photos, and the film was renamed IN THE LAND OF THE WAR CANOES. The resulting DVD is a wonderful combination of accidental survival and intelligent restoration. I would like to see a new release with a bonus section from Curtis' vast photographic record of native life, much of which is in print form presently.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Am amazing glimpse into native american folklore, September 29, 2002

By 

DJ Joe Sixpack (...in Middle America) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: In the Land of the War Canoes (DVD)

A fascinating docu-dramatization of an ancient folk legend of Vancouver's Kwakiutl indians... This ethnological tour-de-force has a compelling, if simple, plot, of bloodshed, revenge and justice, but is really noteworthy for its vibrant presentation of the Kwakiutl culture, especially their rich heritage of wood carving, fabric arts, costuming and dance. The animal-spirit costumes are truly amazing, as are the huge canoes and painted lodges. An amazing glimpse at the world of the Pacific Northwest, before white men came, filmed over a three years period by documentarian and folklorist Edward S. Curtis. Highly recommended.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing glimpse into native american folklore, September 29, 2002

By 

DJ Joe Sixpack (...in Middle America) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: In the Land of War Canoes [VHS] (VHS Tape)

A fascinating docu-dramatization of an ancient folk legend of Vancouver's Kwakiutl indians... This ethnological tour-de-force has a compelling, if simple, plot, of bloodshed, revenge and justice, but is really noteworthy for its vibrant presentation of the Kwakiutl culture, especially their rich heritage of wood carving, fabric arts, costuming and dance. The animal-spirit costumes are truly amazing, as are the huge canoes and painted lodges. An amazing glimpse at the world of the Pacific Northwest, before white men came, filmed over a three years period by documentarian and folklorist Edward S. Curtis. Highly recommended.