Summary
In a stirring tableau of wartime fervor, *The Spirit of '17* unfurls a narrative steeped in burgeoning patriotism and youthful aspiration. Young Davy Glidden (Jack Pickford), the impressionable scion of the adjutant general overseeing a venerable soldiers' home nestled near the vital Top Copper mine, finds his world illuminated by the heroic chronicles of Captain Jerico Norton, a revered Civil War veteran. Norton's tales of battlefield valor ignite within Davy a potent yearning for noble deeds. This burgeoning idealism is further complicated by the arrival of the captivating Flora Edward (Katherine McDonald), whose initial indifference only intensifies Davy's desire to prove his worth. A serendipitous eavesdropping reveals a sinister plot: German saboteurs, Carl Bender and Frank Schmale, conspire to cripple the war effort by instigating a mine strike and subsequent demolition. Seizing this perilous opportunity, Davy galvanizes Captain Norton and the home's aging warriors, orchestrating their magnificent return to service. Their collective resolve thwarts the enemy's machinations, culminating in Davy's dramatic rescue of Flora and her father, thereby fulfilling his quest for heroism and securing the affection he so earnestly sought.
Synopsis
Davy Glidden (Jack Pickford) is the son of the adjutant general in charge of an old soldier's home in a small town near the Top Copper mine. Davy idolizes Capt. Jerico Norton, an aged veteran of the home who entertains the boy with stories of his exploits in the Civil War. When Mrs. Edward and her daughter Flora (Katherine McDonald) come to visit Mrs. Glidden, Davy is smitten by Flora but she ignores him. Davy is bursting with patriotism by the stories told to him by the captain and is eager of doing something noble to attract Flora's attention. He finds the opportunity to accomplish both goals when he overhears two German spies, Carl Bender and Frank Schmale, plotting to create havoc in the mine by calling a strike and then dynamiting the mine. Enlisting the aid of his friend Capt. Norton, Davy provides the means for the old soldiers to serve their country once again. After the aged warriors surround the Germans, Davy saves Flora and her father from death, thus accomplishing his ambitions and winning Flora's love.
Review Excerpt
"
Stepping back into the cinematic landscape of 1917, one encounters a fascinating artifact of its time: a silent film brimming with the fervent patriotism and burgeoning anxieties of a nation newly embroiled in the Great War. The Spirit of '17, a production that captures the very essence of its tumultuous year, offers more than a mere narrative; it provides a window into the collective psyche of an America mobilizing for global conflict. This isn't just a story of heroism; it's a cultural sn..."
