Iola's Promise (1912) User Reviews

Serio-comic Short Not Among Griffith's Best

[boblipton · 6/10 · 6 November 2018]

Hunky prospector Alfred Paget rescues Indian maiden Mary Pickford from gang rape. He takes her to his cabin and she fears the worst, but he gives her something to eat and heads out; not only does he have gold to look for, but his fiancee, Dorothy Bernard is arriving soon with her family. Miss Pickford immediately falls in love with Paget and follows him about, as he does his work. She promises to let him know if she finds any gold.

Mary returns to her tribe. They have just learned of the approaching settlers. They set out to massacre them, and prepare to burn to death Miss Bernard and her father, Charles Mailes.

Griffith again offers a view of Whites and Indians that show a very human mix of good and evil among all sorts of people. Although undoubtedly a racist by modern standards, he quite obviously feels more sympathy for Indians than many of his contemporary film-makers, and the Indian attack of the settlers and their savagery to the survivors takes place after the attempted rape. Miss Pickford offers a wide-ranging performance, from terror, to comic devotion to selfless heroism. That performance makes the movie a bit uneven compared to Griffith's other Biograph shorts. I attribute that to the treatment by occasional Griffith screenwriter Belle Taylor, whose other scripts for the Master are likewise not among my favorites.

Iola's Promise review

[JoeytheBrit · 5/10 · 2 July 2020]

Griffith really goes for the heartstrings in this below-par tale of an Indian squaw (Mary Pickford) who falls for the prospector that saves her from a gang of cutthroats with rape on their minds. Pickford, normally an appropriately reserved actress, dies like a five-year-old in the playground.

Indian Giver

[wes-connors · 2/10 · 18 December 2007]

In the U.S. Southwestern desert, Indian maiden Mary Pickford (as Iola) is trapped by scum combing cut-throats. They fight over who is to have his way with Ms. Pickford. Along comes Yankee prospector Alfred Paget, who rescues Pickford, and takes her to his cabin. Thinking Mr. Paget is like all white men, she expects to be raped; instead, she is given food; and, so, she falls in love with her savior. But, Paget has a sweetheart (Dorothy Bernard), who sends a letter announcing her arrival. Paget goes out prospecting, and Pickford follows. He shows her a gold stone, and she promises to let him know if she should happen upon one. Pickford returns to her own, savage people; but, she remembers her promise.

Pickford goes unbelievably overboard in her gratitude, later in the film. It's also possible that her "cross your heart" gesture, when she makes her promise, is meant to be a religious experience. This D.W. Griffith effort is rather more insulting than exciting. The extras are an illustrious lot.

** Iola's Promise (3/14/12) D.W. Griffith ~ Mary Pickford, Alfred Paget, Dorothy Bernard

Prairie Version of Madame Butterfly with a brunette Mary Pickford

[HarlowMGM · 8/10 · 26 March 2007]

IOLA'S PROMISE is a Griffith two-reeler that is a western romance undoubtedly inspired by MADAME BUTTERFLY. Mary Pickford stars as an Indian princess who is kidnapped by cutthroats. Screaming as one of them tries to have his way with her, Iola's cries are heard by gold prospector Alfred Paget, who rescues her (basically he just shows up and the other guy runs away!!), takes her to his cabin, and feeds her. Iola, initially frightened by Paget, falls in love with him immediately (this is a two-reeler, folks) but the kindly "white man" has a sweetie already and sends her back to her tribe. Paget quizzes Iola if she has ever found any gold nuggets in the area and she says no but promises to give any she finds to him. Shortly after Iola returns to her tribe, the tribe learn of a wagon train in the area. While Iola is away searching for the "yellow nuggets", the Indians attack the wagon train and take some of the members hostage, including Dorothy Bernard, who happens to be Paget's fiancée. When Iola returns to the tribe she is horrified to find the "cross heart" people tied to a tree presumably soon to be killed. Iola decides to loosen their ropes and take the Dorothy's hat and coat and run wearing them so the tribe will think one of the whites is getting away. The tribesmen all run after Iola and when they are gone, the Dorothy and the white man run free. Iola is shot and is left to die, when stumbling she happens upon a gold nugget. Paget happens upon her as she is dying and she gives him the gold piece, keeping her promise.

This little melodrama isn't much but Mary Pickford gives it her all and is moving as the little Indian princess. Alfred Paget, one of the less remembered Griffith regular players, is quite good as the handsome young prospector. Future stars Robert Harron and Antonio Moreno have bits but they are difficult to spot (cast as a white settler and an Indian respectively) but character actress Kate Price is easily spotted as the Indian matron.

The acting and business show careful, painstaking thought

[deickemeyer · 18 October 2016]

An Indian picture with chase, battle and massacre. It is a good feature picture, truly thrilling and plainly pleased the audience. The plot, though very interesting, does not rise very far above commonplace; yet the acting and business show careful, painstaking thought and artistic ability; the very backgrounds seem alive and full of atmosphere. Iola, the Indian maid, found that there were two kinds of white people. The cut-throats held her in captivity and were cruel; but the miner who took her away from them was different, he was the "cross heart" kind. Iola's people chased a caravan, overtook it and massacred all but two, a father and daughter. Iola found that they were "cross heart" kind and gave her life to free them. The white girl was the miner's sweetheart and he, with other miners, was coming to the rescue. Iola's promise to the miner was to find gold for him. She died in a place where there was gold. The ending (just a few feet) decidedly falls down, but it comes too late to spoil the picture. The action never drags and there are some first class thrills. The photographs are very good. - The Moving Picture World, April 6, 1912