Billy Bitzer

"A Calamitous Elopement" is a short comedy directed by D.W. Griffith, featuring Robert Harron and cinematographer Billy Bitzer, stars of Silent Hall of Fame.

A very young Robert Harron has a bit part as a bellboy, while D.W. Griffith has a significant role as a policeman in addition to the director's job.

We trust that silent film lovers will not judge harshly the quality of the print. Many early D.W. Griffith films are only available in a paper print format, and we are all very lucky that they have survived the trials of time for us to enjoy.

"Lonely Villa" is a short crime drama directed by D.W. Griffith, featuring cinematographer Billy Bitzer, a star of Silent Hall of Fame.

A group of criminals planning a robbery manages to lure the father of the family out of the house. In his absence they make their move, but the mother and her three daughters barricade themselves behind a solid door.  Suspense builds up as the thieves try to force the door while the mother calls her husband for help.

"The Cricket On The Hearth" is a short drama directed by D.W. Griffith, featuring Arthur Johnson and cinematographer Billy Bitzer, stars of Silent Hall of Fame.

The film is based on the novella "The Cricket on the Hearth" by Charles Dickens.  Arthur Johnson plays the role of the minister.

The film does not have intertitles.

"Lucky Jim" is a short comedy directed by D.W. Griffith, featuring cinematographer Billy Bitzer, a star of Silent Hall of Fame.

Arthur V. Johnson and Florence Lawrence have bit parts as wedding guests.

We trust that silent film lovers will not judge harshly the quality of the print. Many early D.W. Griffith films are only available in a paper print format, and we are all very lucky that they have survived the trials of time for us to enjoy.

"Corner in Wheat" is a short social drama, directed by D.W. Griffith, featuring Robert Harron and cinematographer Billy Bitzer, stars of Silent Hall of Fame.

A greedy speculator decides to "corner" the wheat market, artificially raise the price on the market and profit from this.  He is successful and makes a huge amount of money, but his action has disastrous consequences in real life, where the price of bread doubles, many people cannot afford it any more, wheat growers are ruined and the supply of charity bread is drastically reduced.

"Politician's Love Story" is a short comedy directed by D.W. Griffith, featuring Arthur Johnson and cinematographer Billy Bitzer, stars of Silent Hall of Fame. Florence Lawrence also gets a credit for the film, but it is difficult to spot her.  We did see and took a picture of D.W. Griffith as he makes a little acting appearance in addition to the director's job (see it on our website silent-hall-of-fame.org.).

"True Heart Susie" is a drama directed by D. W. Griffith. This film illustrates the work of actor Robert Harron and cinematographer Billy Bitzer, stars of Silent Hall of Fame.

Susie (Lillian Gish) is a plain schoolgirl secretly in love with her handsome neighbor Bill (Robert Harron).  She follows him around and he enjoys her company, but can't find the courage to kiss her.  When Susie finds out that Bill wants to go to college, she sacrifices the dearest thing she and her aunt have - their cow - to gather the money for his education.

"The Taming of the Shrew" is a short comedy based on the play of Shakespeare, featuring Florence Lawrence and cinematographer Billy Bitzer, stars of Silent Hall of Fame.

The first thing we want to do is set the record straight about the name of the actor playing Petruchio.  All major movie sites, including IMDB and Silent Era, as well as Wikipedia, cite the name of Arthur V. Johnson, but this is wrong.  We cannot see Arthur V. Johnson in this film. We will appreciate your tips about the identity of this actor.  In the meantime we will call him Petruchio.

"Faithful" is a short comedy directed by D.W. Griffith, featuring Arthur V. Johnson and cinematographer Billy Bitzer, stars of Silent Hall of Fame.

"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.

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