The Covered Wagon is the Most Colossal Achievement in All Motion Picture History -- February 26, 2023

 

Motion Picture News, 24-February-1923

George N Fenin and William K Everson in their book The Western: from Silents to Cinerama said that The Covered Wagon, directed by James Cruze, may have been the first epic western. Jesse Lasky gave Cruze liberty to shoot on location and spend money. Paramount promoted the film heavily, as we see in this two-page ad with color.

We have seen James Cruze as an actor in a large number of films for Thanhouser. 

Motion Picture News, 20-January-1923

"Facts About the Bigness of 'The Covered Wagon.'" It was Big:

• 3,000 actors spent three months on location, eighty miles from a railroad.
  
• Nine states were searched for locations.
  
• 1,000 Indians were brought from reservations hundreds of miles away, with their horses, tepees, and complete equipment.
  
• Eight truckloads of supplies a day had to be taken over the rough desert roads.
  
• Three hundred wagons were built. 40,000 square feet of canvas used to cover them.
  
• 100 oxen broken to the yoke.
  
• 3,000 costumes of the period made.
  
• Water backed up three miles for river scene ; dam broke and flooded camp, tearing down tents.
  
• 500 horses brought from Oregon for buffalo hunt scenes, which required particularly strong animals. 500 ordinaty horses also used.
  
• 500 buflaloes used in the hunt; the only large herd in existence.
  
• Nine square rniles of territory burned up for prairie fire scene.
  
• Seventy trees felled and transported eighty miles for building of ferries.
  
• Sixty wagons hauled material daily for six weeks to build replica of Fort Bridger.
  
• Mile-wide river forded by 300 wagons; men and animals had to swim; this was really dangerous, as bottom was quicksand.
  
• Every department of studio represented on location : wardrobe, property, scenario, publicity, film laboratory, construction, bookkeeping, auditing, stenographic and doctor's ofIice.
  
• Electric light plant built and light supplied to all tents.
  
• Complete commissary department employing several hundred fed the crowds. Mess tent held 1,000 at a time.
  

Motion Picture News, 13-January-1923

"A fortune has been spent in making this picture."

Motion Picture News, 06-January-1923

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. 

Florence La Badie Dead -- October 13, 2017

Moving Picture World, 27-October-1917

100 years ago today, on 13-October-1917, movie star Florence La Badie died from injuries she suffered on 28-August-1917 when the brakes failed on her automobile.

Florence La Badie began her film career in 1909 at the Biograph.  DW Griffith directed her in several movies.  In 1911, Florence moved to the Thanhouser studio, where she became their principal leading lady.

Moving Picture World, 06-February-1915

The Million Dollar Mystery was a Thanhouser production made in association with the Chicago Tribune, which ran the weekly stories in printed form. The 23-chapter serial starred Florence La Badie. Her leading man was James Cruze, who later became a director. His most famous production was The Covered Wagon.

Photoplay, December, 1915

 "She has been the heroine in scores of thrilling adventures filmed in and about New Rochelle."

Moving Picture World, 17-February-1917

Moving Picture World, 14-April-1917

Moving Picture World, 12-May-1917

Thanhouser Advocates Nude in Films -- November 29, 2015

Moving Picture World, 13-November-1915

On 04-December-2015 we will mark the 100th anniversary of the closing of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition.  It seemed appropriate to mention the short but lively film career of Audrey Munson, who was called the "Panama-Pacific Girl" because she modeled for an important statue by Alexander S Calder, "The Star Maiden."  There were many copies of the Star Maiden and she posed for other statues around the PPIE. 

In 1915, Edwin Thanhouser starred her in Inspiration, which is supposed to be the first American movie with a nude scene. 

Motography, 06-November-1915

Edwin Thanhouser "promises that in 'Insipiratin'' ... he will give the pro-and-con-ers of motion pictures somwthing to talk about. 

Motography, 13-November-1915

"In the photographs which have been given out for publication she appears a number of times not in various stages of dishabille, but altogether in the nude."

Motography, 20-November-1915

"The posing before the Thanhouser cameras was just a job with her and so considered by all who participated in the picture." 

Audrey Munson appeared in a few more movies and then was not needed again.  Perhaps she was not much of an actress. 

She tried to commit suicide in 1922, was committed to an insane asylum in 1931, and died there in 1996.  Sad story. 

Zudora's Friends Again Rescue Her -- February 26, 2015

Moving Picture World, 06-February-1915

The Million Dollar Mystery was a Thanhouser production made in association with the Chicago Tribune, which ran the weekly stories in printed form. The 23-chapter serial starred Florence La Badie, a popular Thanhouser actress who died in 1917 in a car wreck. Her leading man was James Cruze, who later became a director. His most famous production was The Covered Wagon.

We saw back in November that production had stopped after the 22nd episode so that fans could submit their proposed solutions to the mystery and the winning entry would be produced:
http://bigvriotsquad.blogspot.com/2014/11/1-million-dollar-mystery-ends-november.html

Motography, 06-February-1915

"the most successful photoplay serial ever brought out." 

Motography, 06-February-1915

Three of the stars, Sidney Bracy, Marguerite Snow and Florence Labadie, pretend to dig through the great pile of submissions received in the mail.  The lucky winner would get $10,000 and appear in the 23rd episode. 

Moving Picture World, 06-February-1915

Moving Picture World had a photo of the actual judges, Harold MacGrath, who wrote the story, May Tinee of the Chicago Tribune, and Howell Hansell of Thanhouser. 

Motography, 13-February-1915

And the final episode ends in a clinch. 

Moving Picture World, 20-February-1915

The final episode will announce the name of the winner and show a photo of her or him. 

Moving Picture World, 06-February-1915

The Million Dollar Mystery was such a success that Thanhouser began converting its next serial, Zudora, which was already in production and distribution, into a sequel.  The title became The Twenty Million Dollar Mystery (inflation) and in episode 8, James Cruze switched from being a villain to being the hero.  Sidney Bracy and Frank Farrington, who had been in The Million Dollar Mystery , also joined the cast of Zudora. 

Motography, 06-February-1915

Motography, 06-February-1915

"The conspirators lay their plans." 

Motography, 06-February-1915

"The diamond cutter works over the smuggled jewels." 

Motography, 06-February-1915

"Madame Duval gives Zudora a fright."

Moving Picture World, 13-February-1915

Motography, 13-February-1915

Motography, 13-February-1915

"The loss of the gems is discovered." 

Motography, 13-February-1915

"The jewels are  hidden away." 

Motography, 13-February-1915

"The Zudora diamond mine."  Keep in mind that this was being shot during the winter in New Jersey.  These poor men must have gotten cold. 

Moving Picture World, 20-February-1915

Motography, 20-February-1915

Motography, 20-February-1915

"Baird learns of the diamonds to be found in the mine." 

Motography, 20-February-1915

"The conspirators force Zudora to tell what she knows of the diamonds." 

Motography, 20-February-1915

"The death of Howard." 

Moving Picture World, 20-February-1915

"The Photoplay Serial that is Packing Houses."