Courtesy William O'Farrell

The River's End

(Marshall Neilan and Victor Heerman, 1920)

A melodrama based on the book by James Oliver Curwood. Canadian mounted police officer Derwent Conniston captures John Keith, an accused murder, after a three-year hunt. Lewis Stone stars in a dual role as both Conniston and Keith. Shortly after the capture, Conniston falls deathly ill, but before his death becomes convinced of Keith's innocence and offers him to take his identity. Keith must then free Conniston's sister from the power of an evil Chinese blackmailer. Michael Curtiz (Casablanca) would direct the remake in 1930.