silent drama

"Stella Maris" is a moving drama, in which Mary Pickford plays two roles very convincingly - one of Stella Maris, a rich paralyzed girl and the other of Unity, an uneducated orphaned girl.

Stella lives in a fantasy world, being shielded from the ugly side of life. She especially enjoys the company of John (Conway Tearle), a famous journalist.  He lives separately from his alcoholic wife called Louise, but this truth is also hidden from Stella.

"Cymbeline" is a short drama based on the play by William Shakespeare, featuring Florence La Badie, a star of Silent Hall of Fame. 

Florence La Badie plays princess Imogen, who ignores the king's choice for her husband and secretly marries her chosen man (James Cruze), who is then sent to exile.  James Cruze tells the world that his wife is true to him and would not give away to anybody the bracelet that he presented to her.  He is then shocked when his messenger William Garwood brings the bracelet to him, and swears revenge.

"Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" is a short horror film, based on the story of Robert Louis Stevenson, featuring Florence La Badie, a star of Silent Hall of Fame. 

The white-haired Dr. Jekyll is curious to experiment with a drug that can separate man into two beings - one representing good and the other evil.  He drinks the concoction and converts into a black-haired beast of a man with talons and fangs. He is immediately horrified, takes the antidote and becomes his normal self again.

"Confidence" (1909) is a short drama directed by D.W. Griffith, featuring Florence Lawrence, Arthur V. Johnson and cinematographer Billy Bitzer, stars of Silent Hall of Fame.

A young woman (Florence Lawrence) escapes from her troubled life in a bar to become a nurse.  Two years later she is happily married when someone from her past recognizes her and starts a repeated blackmail for money.  Her husband (Arthur Johnson) eventually finds out about her predicament and has a choice to make: either reject his wife or throw away the blackmailer.

"The Hunchback of Notre Dame" is a historical drama based on Victor Hugo's novel  featuring Patsy Ruth Miller, a star of Silent Hall of Fame. 

It is the film, in which Patsy Ruth Miller played her most famous and critically acclaimed role.  Lon Chaney is powerful as ever, and with this film achieved a true star status.  Norman Kerry, Ernest Torrence and the supporting cast deliver fine performances as well.

"The Voice Of Conscience" is a short drama produced by Thanhouser featuring Florence La Badie, a star of Silent Hall of Fame.

Because almost all movie sites, including IMDB and Silent Era, have the roles of the actresses mixed up, we must set the record straight.  The orphan girl is played by Jean Darnell, not by Florence La Badie.  Florence La Badie plays the visiting girl.

"Broken Blossoms" is a poignant drama made for mature audiences, directed by D. W. Griffith.  This film illustrates the work of cinematographer Billy Bitzer, a star of Silent Hall of Fame.

Cheng (Richard Barthelmess) leaves his native China to spread the peaceful teachings of Buddha.  In London, working as a store keeper, he is soon crushed by life's realities, from which he escapes temporarily using opium.  

"The Woman in White" is a drama, featuring Florence La Badie, a star of Silent Hall of Fame. 

Florence La Badie died just three months after the film's release as a result of injuries sustained in an auto accident.  She was 29. She was the leading actress of Thanhouser from 1911 until her untimely death in 1917.

Florence La Badie plays two roles in the film - one is Ann, a sick girl who escapes from an insane asylum, and the other is Laura, the heiress of a large estate nearby. The two girls look very much alike.

"The Black Hand", True Story of a Recent Occurrence in the Italian Quarter of New York, is a short crime drama featuring cinematographer Billy Bitzer, a star of Silent Hall of Fame.

A gang by the name of Black Hand demands a big amount of money from a local businessman.  If the demands are not met it threatens his daughter. Then the gang kidnaps the girl anyway and sends one of its members to collect the ransom.

"Resurrection" (1909) is a short drama directed by D.W. Griffith, featuring Arthur V. Johnson, Florence Lawrence, and cinematographer Billy Bitzer, stars of Silent Hall of Fame.

A rich man has a brief affair with his maid.  Years later he sees the girl, which has been reduced to poverty and crime.  The man feels guilt and remorse for his responsibility in the girl's fate. Arthur V. Johnson and Florence Lawrence deliver very fine performances.

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