David Harum

The 1915 David Harum was the first film version of the popular homespun novel by Edward Noyes Westcott. William H. Crane repeats his stage role as David Harum, the small-town sage who solves everyone's problems while having troubles of his own. Harum's love of trotting races figures into the film's exciting climax. The talented hand of director Allan Dwan is apparent throughout, especially in the opening scenes (a teacup is passed from character to character, as subtitles introduce us to the principal players) and the smooth-as-silk tracking shots down Main Street. David Harum was remade in the talkie era with Will Rogers, and later served as the basis for a long-running radio serial.