Back to God's Country (1919 film)

Back to God's Country is a 1919 Canadian drama film directed by David Hartford. It is one of the earliest Canadian feature films. The film starred and was co-written by Canadian actress Nell Shipman. With an estimated budget of over $67,000, it was the most successful silent film in Canadian history.

Back to God's Country
Directed by	David Hartford
Written by	Nell Shipman
Produced by	James Oliver Curwood Ernest Shipman (uncredited)
Starring	Nell Shipman Charles Arling Wheeler Oakman Wellington A. Playter
Cinematography	Dal Clawson Joseph Walker
Edited by	Cyril Gardner
Production company	Canadian Photoplays Ltd.
Distributed by	First National Exhibitor's Circuit (later to become First National Pictures)
Release date	October 27, 1919
Running time	73 min
Country	Canada
Language	Silent (English intertitles)

The film is noteworthy as it starred Shipman and was produced by her husband, Ernest. Shipman was one of the first women to do a nude scene on screen in the movie.[1] In 1918, they created a production company, Shipman-Curwood Producing Company, to produce Back to God's Country. The film was the only film the company would produce, and was based on a short story, "Whapi, the Walrus", by James Oliver Curwood.[2]

Curwood's story was adapted to the screen by Nell herself. She changed the protagonist of the film from a great dane to the female lead, Dolores. Shipman also shaped her character into a heroine, who saves her husband. Curwood was infuriated with Shipman, but commercially the film was extremely successful, posting a 300 percent profit and grossing a million-and-a-half dollars.[3][4]