Deerskin Costume worn by Molly Spotted Elk in "The Silent Enemy"
Debuted at Broadway's Criterion Theatre in 1930
Molly Nelson Archambauld, better known by her stage name Molly Spotted Elk, was a famous dancer and vaudeville star in the early 20th century. As a Penobscot performer, Molly achieved fame for her beauty, intelligence and abilities as a dancer.
In 1928 film producer Douglas Burden offered Molly Dellis the leading female role in a silent film he hoped would challenge stereotypic views of American Indians. The script featured a love story within the context of an Ojibwa band’s struggle against winter starvation. Molly accepted the part eagerly and spent a year on location in the wilds of northern Ontario. By the time the shooting was done, “talkies” were beginning to destroy public interest in silent films. Seeing this, Burden added a sound-synched prologue and a musical score based on Ojibwa musical motifs. When The Silent Enemy debuted at Broadway’s prestigious Criterion Theater in 1930, critics lauded the film for its "authenticity," "superb acting" and "stunning cinematography."
Nonetheless, as a silent picture released amid a flurry of talkies, it failed commercially.
As a Penobscot performer, Molly Spotted Elk, above, achieved fame for her beauty, intelligence and abilities as a dancer.