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Drums of Fate

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Drums of Fate
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Directed byCharles Maigne
Screenplay byWill M. Ritchey
Based onSacrifice
by Stephen French Whitman
Produced byAdolph Zukor
StarringMary Miles Minter
Maurice 'Lefty' Flynn
George Fawcett
CinematographyJames Wong Howe
Production
company
Distributed byParamount Pictures
Release date
  • January 14, 1923 (1923-01-14)
Running time
6 reels
CountryUnited States
LanguageSilent (English intertitles)

Drums of Fate is a 1923 American silent drama film directed by Charles Maigne and starring Mary Miles Minter. It was adapted by Will M. Ritchey from the novel "Sacrifice" by Stephen French Whitman.[1] It was also referred to as "Drums of Destiny" in some promotional material.[2] As with many of Minter's features, it is thought to be a lost film.[3]

Plot

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As described in various film magazine reviews,[4][5][6][7][8] Carol Dolliver (Minter), a young society girl, rejects her guardian's (Fawcett) choice of a suitor in favour of the dashing explorer Laurence "Larry" Teck (Flynn). After their wedding, Larry returns to Africa without Carol, where he is captured by a band of native warriors.

News reaches Carol that her husband has been slain, and so, to please her guardian, she weds the crippled musician David Verne (Ferguson), although she does not love him. Meanwhile Larry has befriended the native king (Johnson) and eventually manages to escape and return to Carol.

Having believed him to be dead, Carol's initial reaction to Larry's return is one of shock rather than welcome. This, along with the news of her marriage to Verne, convinces Larry that it would be best for him to return to Africa and to the native king, leaving a note for Carol telling her to divorce him.

The shock of Larry's reappearance proves fatal to the ailing Verne, and so Carol decides to pursue her husband to Africa. Although she is almost captured by natives, she eventually discovers Larry in an African village, and the two are happily reunited.

Cast

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George Fawcett and Mary Miles Minter in "Drums of Fate"

References

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  1. ^ "Paramount names "Super Thirty-Nine" Which It Will Being Releasing Feb. 5". Moving Picture World. 59 (8). New York City: Chalmers Publishing Company: [1]. December 23, 1922.
  2. ^ "Reviews: Paramount Pictures: "The Super Thirty-Nine"". Exhibitors Herald. 16 (2). Chicago: Exhibitors Herald Co.: [2] January 6, 1923.
  3. ^ The Library of Congress/FIAF American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: Drums of Fate
  4. ^ "Reviews: Drums of Fate". The Film Daily. 23 (20). New York: Wid’s Film and Film Folks inc: 6. January 21, 1923.
  5. ^ "Pre-Release Reviews of Features: Drums of Fate". Motion Picture News. 27 (3). New York City: Motion Picture News, Inc.: [3] January 20, 1923.
  6. ^ "Newest Reviews and Comments: Drums of Fate". Moving Picture World. 60 (4). New York City: Chalmers Publishing Company: [4]. January 27, 1923.
  7. ^ "Reviews: Mary Miles Minter in Drums of Fate". Exhibitors Herald. 16 (17). Chicago: Exhibitors Herald Co.: [5] April 21, 1923.
  8. ^ "Illustrated Screen Reports: Drums of Fate". Exhibitor's Trade Review. 13 (9). East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania: Exhibitor's Trade Review, Inc.: [6] January 27, 1923.
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