RAMONA (United Artists, 1928), directed by Edwin Carewe, stars Dolores Del Rio in this silent screen adaptation to the 1884 book by Helen Hunt-Jackson. More of a curiosity today for those who have seen the lavish 1936 Technicolor sound edition starring Loretta Young and Don Ameche, especially when comparing both editions in visuals and style. Previously filmed in the silent era first as a 1910 short subject starring Mary Pickford and Henry B. Walthall, under the direction of D. W. Griffith, and again as a 1916 feature directed by Donald Crisp starring Adda Gleason and Monroe Salisbury, this third retelling features Del Rio and Warner Baxter, it's another grand mix of romance with racial prejudices set in "Early California - in the colorful days of the Spanish Dons."
The story introduces Ramona (Dolores Del Rio), a half-breed Indian girl who was adopted by Senora Moreno (Vera Lewis), wealthy Spanish sheep rancher. She has a son, Don Felipe (Roland Drew), whom she favors over Ramona by finding fault in everything and anything she does. After three years convent educated, Ramona returns to her hacienda where her beauty attracts the attention of Alessandro (Warner Baxter), the captain of the sheep shearers, and son of the last chief of the Temecula Indians. Good friends with Felipe and worker for Senora Moreno's ranch land, Alessandro finds love with Ramona and marries her under the officiation of their good Franciscan friend monk, Father Salvierderra (John T. Prince). Senora Moreno, who disapproves of their union, tells Ramona of her heritage that her late mother was Indian and her father white. Realizing where she belongs, she goes away with Alessandro where they take refuge in a cottage in the mountains. Following the birth of their daughter, a series of unfortunate events take place. As their homeland attacked by white bandits finds Ramona a wandering outcast while Don Felipe, whose mother has since died, desperately leaves his ranch hoping to find her. Other cast members include Mathilde Comont (Mardya); Michael Visaroff (Juan Canito); Jess Cavin (The Bandit Leader); and Shep Houghton (The Mexican Boy).
As much as RAMONA is a reflection of the times depicted in both motion picture and book from which this is based, it can also be classified the story being the best of times, the worst in times, and difficult of times for its leading characters. The best of times comes with Ramona's wonderful relationship with her half-brother, and romance with Alessandro. The worst of times as Ramona is being treated differently because of her heritage; Alessandro being refused treatment for his sick daughter by a white doctor, and later he being accused as a horse thief by a settler, who refuses to hear his explanation. Regardless of circumstances in how the American Indians have been mistreated and misjudged may cause some uneasiness to view, performances overall are believably played thanks to its fine direction and good location scenery.
After many years of being listed a lost movie with no prints to have survived, RAMONA was discovered in Prague in 2010, restored, rescored and theatrically screened for the first time in decades in 2014. RAMONA made its cable television premiere August 19, 2020, on Turner Classic Movies, hosted by Jacqueline Stewart. Though presented by Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra, it's a pity the original synchronized musical score, sound effects and theme song to "Ramona," didn't survive the print to be included for its television presentation. Having been discovered and shown at all certainly makes RAMONA worthy of its movie history and heritage. (*** peace pipes)
