Watch The Inside of the White Slave Traffic

The Inside of the White Slave Traffic is a groundbreaking film from 1913 that tackled a taboo topic in a raw and unflinching manner. Directed by Frank Beal and starring Edwin Carewe, Jean Thomas, and Virginia Mann, this film opened audience's eyes to the horrors of the sex trafficking trade, which was a large and profitable industry at the time.

The film follows a young woman named Helen (played by Jean Thomas) who falls in love with a wealthy businessman named John (played by Edwin Carewe). John is initially enamored with Helen's beauty and charm, but soon discovers that she has been lured into the sex trafficking trade by a group of ruthless criminals. Determined to rescue her from their clutches, John embarks on a dangerous journey into the seedy underworld of the white slave traffic.

The film is notable not only for its daring subject matter, but also for its nuanced portrayal of the characters involved. Helen is not portrayed as a helpless victim, but as a strong and resilient woman who fights fiercely to escape her captors. Likewise, John is not a flawless hero, but a flawed and complex man who is willing to risk everything for the woman he loves. The villains, too, are not one-dimensional caricatures, but are shown to be motivated by greed and desperation.

One of the most striking aspects of The Inside of the White Slave Traffic is its use of location shooting. The film was shot on location in New York City and other urban areas, giving audience members a grim and gritty glimpse into the world of prostitution and organized crime. The use of real locations also adds a sense of authenticity to the film, making it feel like a true-to-life depiction of an issue that was often sanitized or ignored by mainstream media.

Another notable aspect of the film is its use of intertitles, or written text that appears on the screen in between scenes. These intertitles provide context and insight into the characters' thoughts and emotions, and are often used to underscore the film's themes of morality and justice. For instance, one intertitle reads: "The worst sinners are not the women who sell their bodies for money, but the men who pay for it."

Despite its controversial subject matter, The Inside of the White Slave Traffic was a commercial and critical success upon its release. It was praised for both its artistry and its social message, and was widely seen as a groundbreaking film that helped to open the public's eyes to the realities of prostitution and sex trafficking. The film's success also paved the way for other socially-conscious works in the years that followed, including D.W. Griffith's influential drama Broken Blossoms.

Today, The Inside of the White Slave Traffic is remembered as a landmark film that tackled a difficult and taboo subject with sensitivity and nuance. It remains a powerful reminder of the ongoing struggle against human trafficking and exploitation, and a testament to the power of cinema to spark social change.