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Cinderella of the Hills (1921): The Drama Cult Classic You Need to See | Dbcult

Cinderella of the Hills

Name: Cinderella of the Hills
Director: Howard M. Mitchell
Released: 1921
Cast: Clarence Wilson, Barbara La Marr, Carl Miller, Barbara Bedford, Tom McGuire

1921Howard M. MitchellIMDb: /10

Synopsis

Hoping to reconcile her divorced parents, Norris Gradley remains with her father, Giles, after he marries another woman. The new Mrs.

Director

Howard M. Mitchell

Cast

Cecil Van Auker

Barbara La Marr

Carl Miller

Barbara Bedford

Editor's Choice Analysis

Cinderella of the Hills: A Silent Cinema Masterpiece of Love and Resilience

Cinderella of the Hills: A Cinematic Tapestry of Identity and Redemption Directed by an unsung pioneer of early cinema, this 1923 drama weaves a complex narrative of familial discord and personal transformation that resonates with startling modernity. The film opens with a stark contrast between the su...

Archivist John

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Filmography

Movies by Howard M. Mitchell

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The Lone Chance

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Mistaken Identity

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The Splendid Sin

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Winning with Wits

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Battle of the Cult

Intelligence Comparison

Comparing the cinematic DNA and archive impact of two defining moments in cult history.

1921

Cinderella of the Hills

Howard M. Mitchell

ScoreCult MeterScore

50%Popularity62%

#114Archive Rank#485

1920

In the River

Edgar Jones

Analyze Head-to-Head

Knowledge Base

Cinderella of the Hills FAQ

The movie Cinderella of the Hills was directed by Howard M. Mitchell.

Cinderella of the Hills was released in the year 1921.

Cinderella of the Hills is a movie from United States.

Cinderella of the Hills is categorised as Drama in the cult cinema archive at Dbcult.

Cinderella of the Hills features Cecil Van Auker, Barbara La Marr, Carl Miller, Barbara Bedford.

The screenplay for Cinderella of the Hills was written by J. Breckenridge Ellis, Dorothy Yost.

If you enjoy Cinderella of the Hills, you might also like In the River (1920), The Jackeroo of Coolabong (1920), The Splendid Sin (1919), Mistaken Identity (1919).

Yes, Cinderella of the Hills (1921) is featured in the Dbcult archive as a curated cult cinema title, known for its Drama qualities.

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Summary

In this early cinematic parable of resilience and reinvention, Norris Gradley navigates a labyrinth of familial discord and societal constraints, her spirit unbroken despite the corrosive cruelty of her stepmother. The narrative unfolds with a duality of identity as Norris adopts a masculine guise to survive, her violin playing becoming a metaphor for the stifled yearning for autonomy. Amidst the Texas oil boom's shadow, a forbidden romance with the pragmatic Claude Wolcott emerges, their connection a counterpoint to the toxic entanglements of Norris's father. The film's most striking sequence—a fatal plunge into oblivion—functions as both catharsis and condemnation, exposing the fragility of human relationships. This silent-era drama, though rooted in melodramatic conventions, transcends its genre through its layered exploration of gender performativity and the corrosive effects of unspoken resentments.

Synopsis

Hoping to reconcile her divorced parents, Norris Gradley remains with her father, Giles, after he marries another woman. The new Mrs. Gradley snubs and mistreats Norris, who earns money by disguising herself as a boy and playing the violin at dances. Claude Wolcott, employed by Giles to drill oil wells, falls in love with Norris. When Giles discovers Rodney Bates trying to rekindle his romance with Mrs. Gradley, Claude prevents his employer from committing murder. The enraged Mrs. Gradley rushes from the house and falls to her death into an abyss. Norris reunites her parents and marries Claude.

Review Excerpt

" Cinderella of the Hills: A Cinematic Tapestry of Identity and Redemption Directed by an unsung pioneer of early cinema, this 1923 drama weaves a complex narrative of familial discord and personal transformation that resonates with startling modernity. The film opens with a stark contrast between the sun-scorched Texan plains and the claustrophobic interiors of the Gradley household. Norris (Barbara La Marr), caught in the crossfire of her father's failed marriage, embodies the s..."

Archivist John

Read Full Review