The Little American (1917) in Color — Starring Mary Pickford & Jack Holt

The Little American (1917) — Buy This Classic in Color

Experience the powerful and patriotic silent drama The Little American (1917) Colorized, directed by Cecil B. DeMille, starring Mary Pickford as Angela Moore, a spirited young American woman whose transatlantic voyage aboard a luxury liner is interrupted by a German torpedo attack, plunging her into the horrors of World War I as she finds herself trapped in German-occupied France, witnessing atrocities, aiding the French resistance, and confronting the agonizing reality that the German officer she encounters is Karl von Austreim, the man who loved her before the war turned him into an enemy, now available for purchase in stunning color for just €15.00. This digitally enhanced version brings this beloved classic to vivid new life. Own this DRM-free digital download today.

Plot Summary

Washington, D.C., July 4th. Angela Moore celebrates American Independence Day with two suitors — Karl von Austreim, a German-American, and Jack Dorel, a French-American. Both men love Angela, but events in distant Europe are about to tear their lives apart. When war erupts in 1914, Karl returns to Germany to serve in the Kaiser’s army, and Jack enlists in the French forces.

Angela, determined to claim a family estate in France before the war consumes everything, boards a transatlantic liner despite the dangers of submarine warfare. Her ship is torpedoed by a German U-boat in a sequence of harrowing realism — passengers scramble for lifeboats, the great ship lists and sinks, and Angela survives the freezing Atlantic waters only through courage and luck.

Reaching France, Angela finds her family’s ancestral home in the path of the German advance. She witnesses the brutal reality of military occupation — the destruction of homes, the displacement of civilians, and worse atrocities that DeMille depicted with unusual frankness for the era.

Angela’s chateau is commandeered as a German officers’ quarters, and among the occupying soldiers she discovers Karl — her former suitor, now wearing the uniform of the enemy. Karl is torn between his feelings for Angela and his duty to the German army, while Angela is torn between her memories of the man she knew and the reality of what his country is doing to France.

When Angela begins secretly signaling the position of German artillery to the French forces, she is caught and sentenced to death as a spy. Karl must choose between his duty to Germany and the woman he loves, while Angela faces the possibility that her patriotic actions will cost her everything.

Cast & Crew

Director: Cecil B. DeMille

Stars: Mary Pickford as Angela Moore, Jack Holt as Karl von Austreim, Raymond Hatton as Count Jules de Destin, Hobart Bosworth as Colonel, Walter Long as German Soldier

Mary Pickford, ‘America’s Sweetheart,’ delivered one of the most powerful dramatic performances of her career, transforming from a carefree American girl into a courageous wartime heroine. Cecil B. DeMille directed with the visual grandeur and emotional intensity that would define his legendary career. Silent (English intertitles).

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

The colorization of The Little American brings the drama and devastation of the Great War to vivid life — the bright red, white, and blue of the Fourth of July celebrations that open the film with patriotic optimism, the deep blue of the Atlantic Ocean beneath the doomed ocean liner, the pale white of lifeboats against the dark sea during the horrifying torpedo attack, the warm golden stone of the French chateau in its beautiful countryside setting before the war arrives, the harsh gray-green of German military uniforms advancing through the French landscape, the deep red of fires burning in occupied villages, the rich green of the French countryside scarred by artillery and trenches, the delicate pink and white of Angela’s clothing contrasting with the brutal khaki and gray of the military world around her, the warm amber of candlelight in the chateau where Angela and Karl confront their impossible situation, and the vivid tricolor of the French flag representing the liberation that Angela’s courage helps bring. Now also available in colour. Buy The Little American (1917) Colorized today for €15.00 and own this beloved classic in a DRM-free format.

Historical Significance

The Little American was released in July 1917, just months after the United States entered World War I, and served as both entertainment and powerful propaganda designed to rally American support for the war effort. Cecil B. DeMille and Mary Pickford — two of the most powerful figures in early Hollywood — combined their talents to create a film that made the distant European conflict personal and immediate for American audiences. The sinking sequence was directly inspired by the Lusitania disaster of 1915, one of the events that helped push America toward joining the war. Pickford’s transformation from innocent American girl to wartime heroine embodied the nation’s own journey from isolationism to engagement. The film’s depiction of German atrocities was controversial and has been the subject of historical debate regarding its accuracy and its role as wartime propaganda. DeMille’s visual storytelling was already remarkably sophisticated, and sequences like the torpedo attack demonstrate the kind of spectacular filmmaking that would make him one of Hollywood’s greatest directors. Musical score accompaniment. Through colorization, this important piece of American wartime cinema is preserved for modern audiences.

Technical Details

• Format: MP4 digital download
• Resolution: HD 720p
• Colorized: Yes, professional AI-assisted colorization
• Audio: Musical score accompaniment
• Runtime: Approximately 78 minutes
• DRM-free: Yes — watch on any device
• Instant download: Available immediately after purchase
• Price: €15.00

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Movie-Specific Questions

Q: Was this film made as propaganda?
A: The Little American was released shortly after the US entered WWI and clearly served a propaganda function, rallying American support for the war. However, it is also a genuine artistic achievement with powerful performances and impressive filmmaking.

Q: Is the sinking scene based on the Lusitania?
A: Yes, the torpedo attack on Angela’s ship was directly inspired by the sinking of the RMS Lusitania by a German U-boat in 1915, one of the events that turned American public opinion against Germany.

Q: Is this a typical Mary Pickford film?
A: No — Pickford was best known for lighter roles as ‘America’s Sweetheart,’ making her dramatic performance in this intense wartime drama all the more striking and powerful.

Digital Download Questions

Q: What format is the download?
A: The film is delivered as a high-quality MP4 file in HD 720p resolution, compatible with virtually all modern devices and media players.

Q: Is the download DRM-free?
A: Yes, your purchase is completely DRM-free. You own the file outright and can watch it on any device without restrictions or recurring fees.

Q: How quickly will I receive the download?
A: Your download link is available immediately after payment is confirmed. You can begin watching The Little American (1917) Colorized within minutes of your purchase.

Related Colorized Classics

• Only Angels Have Wings (1939)
• Secrets (1933)
• The Taming of the Shrew (1929)
• All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)
• Coquette (1929)