Featuring Rin-Tin the Dog Hero -- January 16, 2023

Moscow, Idaho Daily Star-Mirror, 17-January-1923

Rin-Tin-Tin was the biggest dog star of all. During the last days of World War One, Lee Duncan, an American soldier who loved dogs, found Rinty and his sister with their dying mother in a damaged German kennel. Duncan tried to bring the puppies to America, but the female died. Duncan trained Rinty and got him into the movies, where he showed great natural talent.

The Man from Hell's River was Rinty's first movie. Note that he is billed as "Rin-Tin the Dog Hero." Irving Cummings wrote, directed and co-starred. I like the image of the dog.

Rin-Tin the Dog Hero -- April 26, 2022

Moving Picture World, 15-April-1922

Rin-Tin-Tin was the biggest dog star of all. Lee Duncan, an American soldier who loved dogs, found Rinty and his sister with their dying mother in a damaged German kennel. Duncan tried to bring the puppies to America, but the female died. Duncan trained Rinty and got him into the movies, where he showed great natural talent. 

The Man from Hell's River was Rinty's first movie. Note that he is billed as "Rin-Tin the Dog Hero." Irving Cummings directed.

Jane Eyre -- September 13, 1921

Moving Picture World, 03-September-1921

Charlotte Brontë's 1847 novel Jane Eyre has been made into movies many times. One hundred years ago this month, in September 1921, Mabel Ballin played Jane in an adaption produced and directed by her husband, Hugo Ballin. Hugo was also a muralist. Norman Trevor, who played Rochester, was born in British India and had changed his name from Norman Pritchard. In the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris, he represented India and won the first two medals (silver) won by a representative of an Asian nation. Some sources say that he competed for Great Britain, but the IOC (International Olympic Committee) regards the medals as being won by India. Elizabeth Arians played Bertha Rochester. WW Hodkinson released the film.

Moving Picture World, 10-September-1921

I can't find any images for the first adaption of Jane Eyre, which was a one-reeler produced by Thanhouser in 1910. Irma Taylor played Jane Eyre, Frank Hall Crane played Rochester and Amelia Barleon played Bertha Rochester. 

Moving Picture Weekly, 14-February-1914

1914 saw two two-reel productions of Jane Eyre; one was released through IMP. The IMP version was directed by Frank Hall Crane, who had played Rochester in the 1910 version, and starred Ethel Grandin as Jane and Irving Cummings as Rochester. Cummings later became a director, and was the last host of The Lux Radio Theater. Miss Burke played Bertha Rochester. 

Bennington Evening Banner, 06-March-1914

Moving Picture Weekly, 04-July-1914

The Whitman version was directed by Martin Faust. Lisbeth Blackstone played Jane. Alberta Roy played Bertha Rochester. The fire that destroyed Rochester's home and killed Bertha Rochester nearly destroyed the Whitman studio and killed Alberta Roy, whose costume caught fire.

South Bend News-Times, 23
-May-1915

In 1915, Biograph released a three-reel version of Jane Eyre. Louise Vale played Jane, Franklin Ritchie played Rochester and Gretchen Hartman played Bertha. The film was directed by Travers Vale, husband of Louise. Alan Hale played a small part. Note how this ad spells Chaplin's first name and uses a photo of him without his tramp makeup. 

Daily Ardmoreite, 04-April-1915

Note that this ad says the Biograph Jane Eyre had four reels. 

Arizona Republican, 23-June-1918

In 1918, Select Pictures released an adaption of Jane Eyre with the title Woman and Wife. Jane was played by Alice Brady, who was a well-respected actress who continued to work into the talkie era. Elliott Dexter played Rochester. Rochester's wife, called Valerie in this version, was played by Leonora Morgan. Edward José directed.

Exhibitors Herald, 29-December-1917

Kinematograph, 12-December-1926

The last silent production of Jane Eyre was made in Germany. It was called Die Waise von Lowood (The Orphan of Lowood). Evelyn Holt played Jane. Olaf Fønss played Rochester. I don't know who played Bertha. It was directed by Curtis Bernhardt, who worked in Hollywood after he fled Nazi Germany. 

I may write about the many talkie versions another time. 

Booth Tarkington 150 -- March 14, 2018

Time, 31-December-1929

Indiana author Booth Tarkington was born 150 years ago, on 14-March-2018.  I don't think people read his stories and novels much today.  When I was a kid, the only thing I knew about him was that he wrote the novel that Orson Welles used as the basis for The Magnificent Ambersons.  I was already in college when I learned that F Scott Fitzgerald was a great admirer of Tarkington.  Inspired by this, I went to the Anza Branch Library and took out Penrod: His Complete Story, a collection of stories about a boy who grows up.

Seattle Star, 23-January-1915

Booth Tarkington and Harry Leon Wilson wrote a play called Cameo Kirby.  It has been filmed several times.  Dustin Farnum, who had played the role on stage, starred in the 1914 version.  John Gilbert played the part in a 1923 version directed by John Ford.  Irving Cummings directed a 1930 version which starred J Harold Murray.  I have never heard of him, either.

Motion Picture Magazine, February, 1922

As far as I can tell, 1922's Penrod, starring Wesley Barry and directed by Mickey Neilan, was the first movie based on a Penrod story.  Ben Alexander played Penrod in a 1923 adaption of Penrod and Sam, also directed by Mickey Neilan.  Ben Alexander played Jack Webb's first partner on the television version of Dragnet.

Billy Mauch played Penrod in three talkies, Penrod and Sam (1937), Penrod and His Twin Brother and Penrod's Double Trouble, both in 1938.

www.listal.com

Monsieur Beaucaire was a play by by Booth Tarkington and Evelyn Greenleaf Sutherland.  Rudolph Valentino and Bebe Daniels starred in a 1924 version.  Bob Hope and Joan Caulfield appeared in a 1946 adaption.

www.listal.com

In 1942 Orson Welles based his second feature film on The Magnificent Ambersons, but the movie got butchered by the studio after he left for another project.  There was also a television adaption in 2002.