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The Coward

Name: The Coward
Director: Reginald Barker
Released: 1915
Duration: 69 min

Representation Score

1.0/10

Minimal

1915

Director

Reginald Barker

Runtime

69 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

The Coward is a period drama that reinforces the early 20th-century social and institutional norms. The narrative is centered on a rigid, traditional framework of masculinity and wartime duty, focusing on a son's struggle to meet his father's expectations. Because the film is set in the historical context of the American Civil War and follows the cinematic standards of 1915, it lacks the complexity of multiple intersecting identities. It prioritizes a Eurocentric, patriarchal worldview that emphasizes institutional loyalty and traditional honor over diverse or subversive perspectives.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Coward have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any LGBTQ+ characters or narratives that question the assumption that everyone is straight or cisgender. It adheres closely to the traditional social structures of the early 1910s.

How does The Coward portray gender?

Limited

The story revolves around a conflict between a Virginia colonel and his son, reinforcing traditional masculine authority and military duty. It does not challenge the established gender hierarchy.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Coward?

Minimal

Set during the American Civil War, the film reflects the racial hierarchies of its time. It does not feature diverse casting or perspectives from non-white individuals.

How does The Coward represent religion and culture?

Limited

Themes of duty and honor align with traditional Western values of patriotism. The plot focuses on meeting societal expectations rather than critiquing Western institutions.

Does The Coward include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no documented evidence regarding the portrayal of physical or neurodivergent disabilities in this work.

Present on Screen

Provides a foundational look at early 20th-century cinematic storytelling and war melodrama.

Limited or Absent

Lacks representation of LGBTQ+ identities or non-assuming gender matches what was assigned at birth characters.
Reinforces rigid patriarchal hierarchies and traditional masculine authority.
Reflects the homogeneous, Eurocentric casting norms of the era without diverse perspectives.
Does not address or critique the racial hierarchies inherent in its Civil War setting.

Official Synopsis

Set during the American Civil War, Keenan stars as a Virginia colonel and Charles Ray as his weak-willed son. The son is forced, at gunpoint, by his father to enlist in the Confederate army. He is terrified by the war and deserts during a battle. The film focuses on the son's struggle to overcome his cowardice.

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