Less Than the Dust

Less than the Dust is a 1916 American silent feature film produced by and starring Mary Pickford with a release by Artcraft Pictures, an affiliate of Paramount Pictures. John Emerson directed and Eric von Stroheim was one of the assistant directors. There is a 35mm copy of this film that still survives.^[1][2]

Less Than the Dust
Directed by	John Emerson Edwin L. Hollywood(ass't director) Erich von Stroheim(ass't director)
Written by	Hector Turnbull(scenario)
Produced by	Mary Pickford
Starring	Mary Pickford
Cinematography	George W. Hill
Music by	Edward J. Howe
Distributed by	Artcraft Pictures
Release date	November 5, 1916 (1916-11-05)
Running time	7 reels
Country	United States
Language	Silent(English intertitles)

The film was released on 6 November 1916.^[3]

Plot

Radha is a lower-caste Hindu orphan girl, raised by Ramlan, a sword maker. Radha is taught English in the street by a religious character. Witnessing the scene, a British officer, Captain Townsend, offers her a book Less Than the Dust, and Other Indian Love Lyrics; he soon returns to England. Ramlan reveals to Radha that her father was in fact British, a certain Captain Brooke, who died of an opium overdose. Radha goes to England to claim her inheritance: it so happens that her grandfather is also Townsend's uncle and that he just died. Townsend soon marries Radha.

Cast

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• Mary Pickford - Radha
• David Powell - Capt. Richard Townsend
• Frank Losee - Capt. Bradshaw
• Mary Alden - Mrs. Bradshaw
• Mario Majeroni - Ramlan
• Cesare Gravina - Jawan
• Francis Joyner - A Derelict
• Russell Bassett - Ahmed
• Walter Morgan - Bhesstie
• Merceita Esmond - A Gossip (*as Mercita Esmonde)
• Nathaniel Sack - Undetermined Role
• Frank Lackteen - (*unbilled)

Reception

The Moving Picture World saluted Pickford's return to the screen after a few months hiatus.^[4]