“The Littlest Rebel”

Edward Peple's latest effort has William and Dustin Farnum carrying the bulk of the incandescents. The story of the civil war gives both a complete story of the rebellion without taking sides. Mary Miles Minter, a miss of sixteen, plays the seven year old child of Captain Cary, played by William Farnum, a Confederate scout. Dustin Farnum plays Lieut. Col. Morrison of the North. Percy Haswell plays the mother, scoring a large individual hit. Unfortunately her character is killed off in the first act. The story begins with Captain Cary worrying the Union army. His wife and child are about destitute as a result of the war, but he occasionally slips through Federal lines to see them. Lieut. Col. Morrison's company is detailed to look around the Cary home for the scout. Morrison arrives just in time to witness one of the sergeants becoming rude and insulting in his alcohol induced state. He promptly orders him under arrest and completes the search of the home himself. The house suddenly bursts into flames and Morrison discovers it to be the fault of the intoxicated sergeant. Morrison shoots him dead. The second scene is in a room of an overseer's cabin. Miss Minter is keeping the house alone. Her father gets through Federal lines with the help of a blue uniform. While he is with the child, Union forces arrive and search for him. Morrison discovers the hiding place of the scout, in the loft, after a discussion with the child.In a strong scene between both men and the child, the Lieut. Col. releases the prisoner, also providing his daughter with a pass for herself and escort through the Federal lines. The third scene is at the roadside on the outskirts of Richmond. Father and child are on their way to a Confederate camp which was taken over. The brother of the sergeant Morrison killed in the first act recognizes the pair and imprisons them. As the Confederate forces were on route, a battle erupts. Cary, still in his Union uniform, blocked his own commander in his attempt to kill Morrison. This resulted in what looked like a fatal wound. This turned the tide on the battle, the Union army winning. Cary and Morrison are taken prisoner. The fourth scene takes place in a Colonial mansion, the headquarters of General Grant (Mack). The two men were sentenced to death, one a traitor and the other a spy. General Grant is moved by the plea of Morrison's aide (Roy Gordon) and of Miss Minter. Morrison is sent back to his command and Cary to the Confederate headquarters.

The melodrama went over with a terrific crash last Saturday, nicely aided by a score or more repeating rifles, a couple of gattling guns and a few cannon, not to mention several swords and the other accoutrements that play important parts in times of war. When the smoke of battle had cleared, the atmosphere emphatically decided the new A. H. Woods show a great big hit from every viewpoint.

The producer, Edgar MacGregor, has eliminated all coarseness that might have been, successfully blending the book into a classic. Mary Miles Minter walked away with all honors of the show. The brothers have never been better, but the bulk of the work fell on the girl. MacGregor has surpassed all with the battle scene in the third act. George Thatcher, the old minstrel favorite, held down the role of Cary's slave. Never before in his life has she performed as he did the opening night of this piece. He was perfect for the role, his work happily flavored with pathos and comedy. Unless all signs fail, this show is bound to be a big winner.

Variety 24:1 (09/09/1911)