Lost Treasure of the Silent Era: Rediscovered Idaho Film Offers Rare Glimpse of Nez Perce Life
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A rare silent film, “Told In The Hills,” the frist feature film made in Idaho in 1919, has been restored and screened publicly for the first time in decades after being lost in a Soviet archive for over 70 years.The film holds particular significance for its depictions of the Nez Perce tribe, offering a rare visual record of their culture in the early 20th century.
“Told In The Hills” is a remarkable story of preservation against the odds. After its initial release, the film vanished from circulation, eventually finding its way to Russia – a common destination for American silent films touring Europe. As an archivist with Boise State University explained, the Soviets maintained a robust archiving system, preserving numerous American silent films that might or else have been lost.
In the 1980s, a Boise State English professor researching early Idaho cinema received a tip about the film’s possible location. Correspondence with Soviet authorities confirmed its existence, and a copy was sent to the university in 1987. However, it remained largely unseen until recently. Last spring, Colin Mannex, director of the Kenworthy Performing Arts Center in Moscow, Idaho, learned of the film’s presence in the university archives.With funding from state and private sources, Mannex spearheaded the effort to digitize the film in 4K resolution, making it accessible to modern audiences.
Preserving a Vanishing World
the film’s significance extends beyond its historical value as a cinematic artifact. nakia Williamson-Cloud, a historian with the Nez Perce Tribe, emphasized the power of the rediscovered footage. “There are very few motion pictures of Nez Perce people from the early 20th century,” Williamson-Cloud stated during a screening in Moscow, Idaho. The film depicts authentic Nez Perce lodges, horses, and ceremonies, offering a rare visual record of a culture undergoing rapid change.
“Told In The Hills” is a Western centered on a fictional narrative – the story of Jack Stuart, a wealthy man accused of killing an indigenous chief. While not intended as a documentary, the film inadvertently captured conventional practices that were, at the time, legally suppressed. According to Williamson-Cloud, the depiction of these ceremonies, even within a fictional context, served to preserve them. “that just shows the resiliency of our people and the ability to kind of try to find those openings and those times where they could express who they really were.”
A Community Reconnects with its Past
The restoration premiere, held at the Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre, drew an audience of approximately 120 people.Attendees expressed their excitement at witnessing this lost piece of history. “It was really great.Neat little piece of history,” remarked one audience member. Another attendee, Bob Woods, who grew up near the canyon where some scenes were filmed, shared his enthusiasm, stating, “I thought it was great. I just loved it. I knew this might be the only chance I’d ever have to see this, so I had to come.”
For the Nez Perce Tribe, the film represents an prospect to reconnect with their ancestors. Williamson-Cloud noted that songs featured in the film are still sung by the community today, and expressed hope that future screenings could incorporate additional traditional music. However, the restoration is incomplete. only two of the original six reels have been recovered, leaving significant portions of the film – including action sequences and many of the tribal ceremonies – missing.
Despite the incomplete nature of the restored film, Williamson-Cloud remains optimistic that the remaining reels may one day be discovered. “I think the big kind of hope would be that the rest of the film might come into discovery, and perhaps that could be edited back in.” The ongoing search for the missing footage underscores the importance of preserving cultural heritage and ensuring that these invaluable glimpses into the past are not lost again.
As Mannex articulated, the restoration project is about more than just a film; it’s about “reintegrating [these films] to our collective cultural memory.” The rediscovery of “Told In The Hills” serves as a powerful reminder of the enduring legacy of the Nez Perce people and the importance of preserving their story for generations to come.
