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OPEN CLASSIC CINEMA · 1577

The Coward

191577 minUnited States
WarDrama

Synopsis

As the American Civil War begins, Frank Winslow fears enlisting but faces relentless pressure from his father. He joins the Confederate army, then flees when terror overwhelms him. His return home forces father and son to confront the cost of their ideas about honor and courage.

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Video edition
Wikimedia Commons
Original language
No spoken dialogue. Intertitles: not identified.
This copy runs
68:47
Subtitles
No subtitle track in this language

No spoken dialogue. Intertitles: not identified. No subtitle track in this language.

Languages and subtitles

No subtitle track in this language

Wikimedia Commons · Creator:Reginald Barker · Public domain

This copy runs shorter than the reference runtime. Editing and playback speed can differ between editions.

Cast

DirectorsReginald Barker

Reception and legacy

The film helped establish Charles Ray's screen career. Reginald Barker directs Ray opposite Frank Keenan, making the conflict between the young recruit and his demanding father central to the wartime drama.

Sources and availability

General references identify the work and its copy. A reference beside an editorial section is linked to the claims checked in that section.

Wikipedia — film referenceWikidata — film identity and credits

Work catalogued as public domain in the United States.

The public-domain references concern the original films in the United States. Rights can differ for other countries, editions, restorations, music or translations. Sources are listed on each film page.

Availability checked on September 22, 2026.

Photograph credit

Photographs cropped, resized and optimized as WebP, displayed in monochrome.

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