On the Banks of the Wabash (film)

On the Banks of the Wabash is a 1923 American silent rural melodrama film directed by J. Stuart Blackton and produced and distributed by his movie company, Vitagraph Studios. The film stars Mary Carr and among the cast are 14-year-old Madge Evans and James W. Morrison. The cameraman was Nicholas Musuraca. The film is very loosely based on Paul Dresser's song / poem "On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away". The film focuses on David Hammond (Morrison), who, spurred by invention, leaves his sweetheart Lisbeth (Evans), but returns to find her love unchanged amidst a crisis, ultimately leading to a joyous reunion.

Production
In an interview from the book "Silent Players" by Anthony Slide, director J. Stuart Blackton's daughter recalled the collaboration with actor James W. Morrison, saying that Morrison "last played for my father in a ghastly film we made in the flatbush studio about 1923. On the Banks of the Wabash. It was so earthy you could smell it. Not a nice smell really."

Preservation
Reportedly, a private collector holds an abridged, or shortened, version of this film.