Silent Film Shot In Oklahoma, 'The Daughter Of Dawn' To Be Released

An Oklahoma film which was nearly lost is being released on DVD and Blu-ray later this year. 

"The Daughter of Dawn" was shot in southwest Oklahoma's Wichita Mountains in 1920. The Oklahoma Historical Society bought the silent film for $5,000 almost a decade ago and began restoring it. 

The docudrama is about a love triangle between two men and the daughter of a Kiowa Chief.  The film is rare because it was shot with an all-Indian cast -- 300 members of the Kiowa and Comanche tribes.

The actors even used their own clothes and brought their own props, including teepees.

The Library of Congress added "The Daughter of Dawn" to the National Film Registry because of its cultural and historical significance.  It provided insight into Native American customs, like buffalo hunting and ceremonial dances. 

A side note, the film's director went on to do makeup for the movie "The Wizard of Oz."