Reviews of silent film releases on home video. Copyright © 1999-2025 by Carl Bennett and the Silent Era Company. All Rights Reserved.

Ramona (1928)

This drama of old California, based on the famous Helen Hunt Jackson novel and directed by Edwin Carewe, stars Dolores Del Rio and Warner Baxter, with Roland Drew, Vera Lewis, Michael Visaroff and John T. Prince.

With some obvious parallels to the Cinderella story, the usually happy-go-lucky Ramona (Del Rio) yearns for any amount of motherly love from her adopted mother, a domineering and powerful landowner, Señora Moreno (Lewis). Arriving at the ranch is Alessandro (Baxter) with his band of sheep shearers for their annual work. A smouldering romance is kindled between Ramona and Alessandro that is forbidden by the cranky, prejudiced Moreno.

Ramona learns that she is the child of a white man and an Indian woman and is overjoyed to now be free to marry Alessandro. Ramona is locked in her bedroom by the señora but her son Felipe (Drew), not so secretly in love with Ramona, selflessly plots to allow her escape to be with Alessandro.

The fleeing couple are soon married and are happy for years until — dial up the melodrama — premonitions of death hang over their young daughter fomenting a religous dilemma for Ramona. Next, a gang of white marauders attack the Indian village, destroying homes and stealing livestock. Ramona and Alessandro lose everything and, having resettled in the mountains, he is eventually shot for being a horse thief. Felipe, now heir to his family’s ranch, searches for Ramona to become her devoted benefactor.

Warner Baxter makes an unconvincing Native American along with his being oiled up for all of his shirtless scenes. Today’s audiences may be less accepting of anglo dramatic representations of other races than was accepted in the silent era. But, we go with it with a head nod of historical understanding. Baxter turns in a pleasing but not wholly engaging performance. (We do note that Jean the dog gives a convincing performance as the family dog.)

However, I ask you, how can you not be in love with Dolores Del Rio after seeing this film? Not only is she gorgious on screen, she exudes a sparkling, star-making energy that lifts the whole film. It is, perhaps, Del Rio’s finest silent film performance.

— Carl Bennett

The film is accompanied by a music score composed and performed on virtual theatre pipe organ by Ben Model. We continue to be pleased with the software’s digital emulstion of the theatrical music experience. The music itself is always appropriate to the mood of the film’s story.

Supplemental material includes audio commentary by Anthony Slide. As is usual, Slide does not spare the viewer his personal opinions and sometimes questionable conclusions.

This is our recommended home video edition of the film.

This Regions ABC Blu-ray Disc edition is available directly from . . .

The film is likely accompanied by a soundtrack compiled from preexisting music recordings.

This Region 0 NTSC DVD-R edition is available directly from . . .