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.

The film was released on 6 November 1916.

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

 * 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.