1913-14 films of Lionel Barrymore

43 or 44--that is how many films Lionel Barrymore performed in during 1913 alone. While he is often said to have been in The Battle at Elderbush Gulch, others question this and I certainly haven't seen him in it, though he may well have been some random soldier.  In 1914, his film output dropped to only 14. I am not certain why, but LB left Biograph in 1914 to freelance for several companies, including Colonial, Whartons, the Schuberts, Klaw/Erlanger era Biograph, and Kinetophote.   Griffith et al were beginning to make longer and longer films, 30 minutes or more rather than 12-17 minutes, so perhaps it was logical the sheer number of titles would drop. In addition, Griffith made his first epic, Judith of Bethulia, in 1914 in California, and he and others significantly changed the fabric and focus of American filmmaking permanently. By the end of 1914, Lionel Barrymore, John, and Ethel were all making films and Lionel had become popular and famous and much desired for films.


THREE FRIENDS: Second Friend (according to the serialization, that would make him "Bill"). Released January 2, 1913.  This Griffith directed film involves three bachelor friends who swear never to marry-- and you can imagine how that comes out. I've not been able to find any info on whether it still exists, though one review on IMdB seemed to show it was once viewed--I'm dubious about that.

LB on right, as Second Friend, Jack Dillon L, HB Walthall Center

MPW Review, Jan-Mar 1913

Temperance concern! MPW, Jan-Mar 1913

 Here's a fantastic serialization of it, with images! Mr. B. still had some of the old Paris weight on him:

THE TELEPHONE GIRL AND THE LADY: Desk Sergeant Released January 6, 1913. Directed by Griffith, written by Anita Loos and Edward Acker. Mae Marsh, Alfred Paget, Claire McDowell, and Harry Carey star in this melodramatic thriller involving jewels, robbery, assault, and love. It had a few shots in which action had to be filmed with a moving camera. It can be viewed online in several versions.

The Telephone Girl and the Lady (youtube)

LB as the desk sergeant

What? A riot?!

Jan-Jun 1913,  MPNews review of this, 3 Friends, and The God Within

AN ADVENTURE IN THE AUTUMN WOODS: The Father Released January 16, 1913, directed by Griffith and written by Christy Cabanne. It's a "north woods" adventure story and love story in one, with Mae Marsh, Chrystie Miller, Walter Miller, and Harry Carey, among others. NOw, in onw of the images below, Lionel Barrymore appears to be one of the men on the ground, perhaps a thief, though the notes so far say "the father"--so the  granddad's son? If he is the one who is supposed to be sick, he doesn't look like Mr. B in the bed there! I can't find any proof it's extant, but there are some reviews of it:

Both reviews Jan-Mar, 1913, MPWorld

NY Dramatic Mirror ad, January 15, 1913

A better image of the above:

Cinema News and Property Gazette, Feb 19, 1913.

THE TENDER-HEARTED BOY: Writer and actor Released January 28, 1913. In his bio, LB tells us about pitching this story to Griffith over lunch, "with an eye out for the check"--the director liked it, and LB was paid, I believe, 15 dollars for it. Bobby Harron, according to LB, played the boy who, according to We Barrymores, worked for a butcher and would provide some meat for an old lady he encountered. She eventually leaves him a fortune for his kindness. The copyright for the scenario is dated January 18, 1913, "Tender-hearted boy; by Lionel Barrymore".

NY Dramatic Mirror ad, January 22, 1913

Cincinnati News article from March 1913--Bobby Harron on right (h/t silentology blog!)

MPNews review, Jan 1913

An interesting review of LB's writing work on this film. (MPWorld Jan 1913)

OIL AND WATER:  In Audience/ Visitor/The Idealist's Friend (I have a image labeled with this name, but as it's of a western, I would say it's not of this film!) Released February 6, 1913. It does exists and has been shown at MoMA in 1996 and at the Egyptian Theater's American Cinematheque in December 2010. Blanche Sweet, HB Walthall (The Idealist), Walter Miller, the Gish sisters, and Harry Carey among others appear in the Griffith-directed film. There is dancing! Melodrama! Marriage!

Poet Vachel Lindsey, according to a MoMA article, wrote this of Blanche Sweet after seeing this film:  “Solemn are her motions/Stately are her wiles/Filling oafs with wisdom/Saving souls with smiles.”https://moma.org/explore/inside_out/2009/11/03/d-w-griffith-leaves-biograph/

MPW Jan-Mar 1913 review

Stills from the film, NY Dramatic Mirror, Feb 3, 1913--"infamous" dance sequence on right

Cinema News and Property Gazette, March 5, 1913

Yet another amazing serialization from MPStory Magazine of Mar 1913:

This one has Mr. B in the middle, as the Idealist's (Walthall) Friend

 A CHANCE DECEPTION: A Policeman Released February 24, 1913. Directed by Griffith, and starring Blanche Sweet, Charles Mailes, Harry Carey, and other of the Biograph company. It is uncertain if this still exists. I cannot yet find stills for the movie, but I did find two reviews of it from MPW Feb 1913:

Oswego Daily Palladium Feb-Mar 1913 review.. "his manhood

 came to the surface"??

A Chance Deception and Love in an Apartment Hotel, also with LB

LOVE IN AN APARTMENT HOTEL: In Hotel Lobby Released February 27, 1913. Again with Blanche Sweet and Harry Carey, this Griffith-directed film also included Bobby Harron, HB Walthall, and Mae Marsh. It is at MoMA, according to Jill Lepore, author of The Secret History of Wonder Woman, who describes seeing it in her research on William Marston, who wrote this film. It has been shown, according to the web if not their program, at the Kansas Silent Film Fest in 2003

2 screengrabs from Lepore's google book preview identifying Marston as the writer of the film.

Notice you start seeing names appear in reviews for AB (MPW Jan-Mar 1913, pg 1103--Harry Carey was the thief)

Here's a pic from a great MPNews May 29, 1915 article on Biograph reissues, including Love in an Apartment Hotel--with pics!

THE WRONG BOTTLE: The Father Released March 6, 1913. Directed by Anthony O'Sullivan and starring Claire McDowell, Charles Mailes, Pearl Sindelar, and more. This was distributed by Biograph according to the magazines.

MPW Review, Jan-Mar 1913, p 922

Because I go all out-- the Otago Daily Times (NZ) review, March 13, 1913. It demonstrates how quickly films were circulated.

NY Dramatic Mirror ad, February 26, 1913, pg 33

A GIRL'S STRATEGEM: Unknown  Released March 10, 1913. Directed by Griffith (presumed but unconfirmed) and Frank Powell. This film, about which little appears online, also has Mae March, Harry Carey, and Charles West. The title sheet exists at MoMA.

Review from MPNews, March 1913

THE UNWELCOME GUEST: At Auction Released March 15, 1913. Directed by Griffith and starring Mary Pickford, W. Chrystie Miller, Charles Mailie, and Claire McDowell, among others. It's quite the melodrama! Supposedly it exists, likely at MoMA in 8mm. Here's a summary from Cinema News and Property Gazette of April 2, 1913:
The miserly wife secretes her money beneath the false bottom of a trunk, and dies with her secret untold. Her odd husband goes to stay with his son, but, being badly treated, runs away, accompanied by a little workhouse girl (Pickford, my note) whose circumstances are equally unfortunate. They are almost starving, when the welcome discovery of the hidden money provides for the future of both. (According to this, it was released May 4, 1913)

Mary Pickford in a scene from the film: she is "The Slavey"

MPWorld Rev, March 1913--note use of "Little Mary" for Pickford

A serialization of it was done in MPStory Magazine of, oddly, November 1912:

LB might be in the back there with the mustache...

NEAR TO EARTH: Gato Released March 15, 1913. Directed by Griffith and also starring Bobby Harron, Mae Marsh, and Gertrude Bambrick. With a character named Gato in the film, I wanted to find out MUCH more about it! All I could find were interesting reviews and one poor image.** UPDATE: Motion Picture Story Magazine from March 1913, bless you! See the serialization below!** In this film, possibly for the first time since The Mummy and the Hummingbird, LB plays an Italian. It is not known to be extant.

NY Dramatic Mirror ad, March 12, 1913

MPWorld review, March 1913

OH, he's a cutie! :)

FATE: Father in Loving Family (!) Released March 22, 1913. Directed by Griffith and starring Bobby Harron, Charles Mailie, Mae Marsh, and John T Dillon. Not much on this film, though it is extant at the Library of Congress.

MPWorld review, March 1913

Another review actually mentions LB by name, one of the earliest examples I see of this:

MPWorld again, March 1913, pg 48

THE SHERIFF'S BABY: Third Bandit Released March 29, 1913. Directed by DW Griffith and starring Harry Carey, HB Walthall, Alfred Paget, and many more stand-bys. Another great poster for this one!  I'm not sure if this one exists.

Fantastic poster--my guess is one of these is LB as Third Bandit

NY Dramatic Mirror ad, March 19, 1913. LB might be on a horse in there somewhere...

MPWorld Review, April 1913

THE PERFIDY OF MARY: Mary's Father Released April 5, 1913. Directed by Griffith, with Dorothy Gish, Mae Marsh, HB Walthall, Walter Miller, and Harry Hyde. It is in the MoMA archives.

MPWorld review, April 1913, pg 280.

Review, NY Dramatic Mirror, March 19, 1913

THE LITTLE TEASE: At Bar Released April 12, 1913. Griffith-directed and starring Mae Marsh, Bobby Harron, W. Chrystie Miller, and Kate Bruce.

GREAT NEWS! A very nice version is now available online of this film.
Please head to 1913 The Little Tease excellent quality
 

Grabs from the film linked above.

Bobby Harron and Mae Marsh in the bar

Review from NY Dramatic Mirror, April 30, 1913

MPWorld Review, 1913, pg 380

It also has a MPStory Magazine seralization! (Go to Lantern and check the mag, May 1913 (http://archive.org/stream/motionpicturesto05moti#page/n551/mode/thumb/search/sheriff%27s+baby)

A MISUNDERSTOOD BOY: The Father Released April 19, 1913. Griffith directs, and BobbyHarron is again accused of malfeasance. Lillian Gish, Antonio Moreno, Charles Mailes, and Kate Bruce among others are in this melodrama. It is at UCLA archives. Excerpts from it are in The Film Parade (also known as March of the Movies), released in 1933 and basically a Vitagraph love fest. I did not see A Misunderstood Boy show up in the section it should have (after news footage of Edward, King of England), but the clip I saw online was only 20 minutes long.

Horribly scanned ad; NY Dramatic Mirror, April 9, 1913

THE LADY AND THE MOUSE: The Young Woman's Father Released April 26, 1913. Not to be confused with LB's later "The Lion and the Mouse", 1928, this film was directed by DW Griffith. It was, according to Barrymore, inspired by Lillian Gish's revulsion when he squashed a bug with his shoe during filming of a movie in 1913 in which they both appeared. The film is extant and has been shown at film festivals. Along with Gish and LB, Harry Hyde, Dorothy Gish, Bobby Harron, HB Walthall, and others appear in this short drama

Lillian Gish

From Lillian Gish: Her Legend, Her Life, C. Affron

THE WANDERER: Husband/Male Lover Released May 3, 1913. Directed by DW Griffith, this is a short film, extant online via EYE instititute. This film is not the same one with Harry Carey as the lead (also with the same name). It is an interesting, somewhat odd and dark film about a "Wanderer", played by HB Walthall, whose music alters the lives of several in the film. Claire McDowell also appears as the Female Lover/Wife of LBs character, who connives with Walter Miller's "Other Man".

Watch it here: The Wanderer, 1913
 

 

 

 

LB sleeps through most of his part...

MPW Ap 1913

HB Walthall as the Wanderer with his flute

THE HOUSE OF DARKNESS: Doctor/Husband Released May 10, 1913. Available online, this is a somewhat creepy and semi-violent drama in which LB plays a doctor working at a mental institution whose wife is menaced by an escaped patient. DW Griffith directs interestingly. Along with Barrymore, Lillian Gish and Claire McDowell appear, and Charles Hill Mailes is the patient.

Check it out here: The House of Darkness

Charles Mailes as the patient

McDowell, Mailes, and a cat!

THE YAQUI CUR: The Easterner/Propsector (possibly, "Spectacle Bill" in the serialization) Released May 17, 1913. Directed by DW Griffith (as his first  two-reeler) and starring Bobby Harron as Strong Heart, the "Yaqui Cur", Kate Bruce, Walter Miller, and LB. According to Moving Picture World, "The prospector had taught the Indian boy the doctrine of peace. When his tribe resisted the attack of another tribe the boy did not take part. The din of the battle, as the horsemen circled them again and again, the moans of men caught under falling horses struck terror in the boy's heart The incensed warriors cast him from the tribe with the brand of a coward. It was then that his opportunity came to follow the white man's wonderful doctrine. "Big love man lay down life for friend." The film is extant.

Here is the extraordinary serialization of it in MPStory Magazine of June 1913:

Mr. B appears to be in the middle--"Spectacle Bill" in the serial

JUST GOLD: First Brother/Brother who remains home Released May 24, 1913.  From silentera.com: "Just Gold (1913) is one of Griffith’s darkest films. Three brothers strike out for the California to prospect for gold. The fourth brother (LB), apparently the coward, stays behind to take care of his parents. The stay-at-home son first appears lazy, but later when he is taking care of a mule, the smile leaves his face and we see that his decision to stay home has been difficult and painful. The three brothers find gold but in a series of misadventures end up killing each other. The fourth son makes peace with his decision to stay home; he marries and has a happy life. Meanwhile the skeletons of his brothers lie on top of each other in the blowing desert sand." It is extant, and sounds fascinating!

THE RANCHERO'S REVENGE: The Ranchero Released June 2, 1913, directed by DW Griffith. Here's the Moving Picture World synopsis in all its melodramatic glory: The heartless woman with her partner answered the ranchero's call for a wife. Then the adventuress soon discovered she was not as heartless as she at first imagined. She learned to love and when the other man appeared to perpetrate the infamous design, true woman nature came into the struggle, saving both herself and the ranchero. That was his revenge. According to a film society note on a 1970 viewing, it was reissued as "Greed" (not the epic film, obviously) and the extant titles they saw in 1970 were from that reissue [I can't verify their claim, however--IMdB claims it was AKA "The Ranch Hero's Revenge"]:

A TIMELY INTERCEPTION: The Farmer's Brother/ Uncle Jim Released June 7, 1913, directed by Griffith. Bobby Harron, LB, Christy Cabanne (who also wrote it), ad Lillian Gish among others are in this. A print does exist of the film: Harpodeon has it. Below is the Biograph 1915 reissue information on the film:

 Tiny clip of A Timely Interception

Motion Picture Magazine 1915 serialization of the story:

That's Mr B as the uncle, broken arm and all in the hole

RED HICKS DEFIES THE WORLD: The Referee Released June 9, 1913, directed by Dell Henderson. Moving Picture World had this to say: "Hard as nails and as strong winded as a gale in March, Red Hicks may have been a bit "chesty," but he was in perfect trim. The town depended on the champion, O'Shea, the fighting Irishman, to make soft putty of the world famous pugilist, but on the day of the fight there was no O'Shea. The supposition was he did not have the price: and other domestic difficulties interfered. O'Shea's trainer, however, solved the problem and Red Hicks found his Waterloo". It was on the same reel as the timeless Jenks Becomes a Desperate Character (!).
There is not much floating around about this film!

THE WELL: The Farmer  Released June 12, 1913. Directed by Anthony O'Sullivan. MPWorld synopsis: Success is often coveted instead of honestly earned. Through honest effort the farmer was enjoying the fruits of his labor. A large irrigation well was among his new acquisitions. Therein his designing helpers held him prisoner while they left with his wealth and his daughter. There is an old saying, however, that an evil purpose always defeats its own end by some committing act.

June 2013 Biograph releases.

DEATH'S MARATHON: Financial Backer Released June 14, 1913. Directed by DW Griffith.

A frightening film of depression, loss, and suicide, this film astonished me when I saw it. It's widely available on DVD and online, and worth a watch. HB Walthall is excellent as the Husband, Blanche Sweet as his Wife. LB does not have a very big part here-- the laurels are all Walthall's.

Watch it HERE: Death's Marathon (MP4 download)

Excellent review of the film by 11east14thstreet!

The excellent Henry B. Walthall as the suicidal Husband speaks to his wife

THE SWITCH TOWER (or Switchtower): First counterfeiter (wearing the visor and engraving) Released June 16, 1913. Directed by Anthony O'Sullivan.  This is a fun, exciting ol' film that actually has a train, drama, crime, action, and suspense in it as HB Walthall's Switchman is forced to leave his son (Marion Emmons) in charge of the train switches. Barrymore et al are counterfeiters nearby who are foiled in their crimes by the clever Switchman's son. LB looks very young here, and he's playing the young counterfeiter with visor who is engraving--something LB took up later in life himself (copper etching). It's widely available online and in pretty good shape: 

WATCH: The Switchtower

IN DIPLOMATIC CIRCLES: The Japanese Ambassador Released June 26, 1913. Directed by Anthony O'Sullivan, with Harry Carey and Walter Miller.

Yup--LB is the Japanese (as in he's supposed to be Asian) Ambassador, above center pic, right side

"Biograph Co. presents Lionel Barrymore,Walter Miller and Harry Carey, 'In Diplomatic Circles' A picture that is up to the minute in plot and an exceptionally good detective story." (Ballston Spa Daily Journal Nov 18, 1913--re-release)  Says the Rome NY Daily Sentinel of July 25, 1913, "In Diplomatic Circles, is a story of a young reporter who turns detective and unearths an international plot. It's a peach."   Moving Picture World synopsis indicates: "The reporter assigned to obtain a copy of the message from the Japanese Government unraveled the mystery of its disappearance in a clever manner. Every foreign government naturally was eager for a copy ahead, while the meeting of the Japanese Ambassador and Secretary of State was surrounded with greater risk than they imagined. But the well laid plans of the diplomatic spies were undermined and the innocent lover freed."  I'm not sure there's much more to say about that! :)  It is not known to be extant, but it would be in public domain.


A GAMBLE WITH DEATH: Jim Benton, the Bartender Released June 30, 1913. Directed by Anthony O'Sullivan, with Walter Miller, Claire McDowell, and Harry Carey. Moving Picture World in June 1913 tells us: "The stakes were to go to the one who outlived the other two. In a quarrel one ended the chance of another. In the mountain the two survivors of the bet came together again, one now an outlaw but through a woman's subterfuge the money fell to the less likely of them all, Reed, declared to be "on his last legs." Not clear if it still exists, but appears doubtful.

THE ENEMY'S BABY:  Ben Brown Released July 10, 1913. Possibly directed by DW Griffith. With William Butler, Harry Carey, Kate Bruce, and Claire McDowell (all four the Miller family). I believe Ben Brown would be the "enemy". In the ad below, it seems it is William Butler as grandad Sam Miller and Kate Bruce as grandma Miller.

The Enemy's Baby ad and Almost a Wild Man summary

ALMOST A WILD MAN: Listed as In audience, Uncredited Released June 19, 1913. I have no idea what the heck this film was about. Dell Henderson directed and most of the old Biograph crowd were apparently in the audience. The Moving Picture World synopsis is not that helpful: "Rooly, Pooly and Dooly were "picture sandwiches," but hardly shining lights, even in that capacity. Consequently they were "canned" by the management. A brilliant idea; one would play the wild man in the village square, a real live show of their own. Rooly and Pooly then basked in the society of fair country belles, but Dooly at length was rescued by Miss Smart, looking for excitement. She was not disappointed." Charles Murray, Edward Dillon (as Rooly, Pooly, AND Dooly), Clarence Barr, and Dorothy Gish are named in the cast with parts. William Beaudine is credited with writing it. It exists at MOMA. It was a split-reel with The Rise and Fall of McDoo. **NOTE: Marshall in her comprehensive book on William Beaudine (WB: From Silents to Television) does not show LB in the cast of this film scripted by him, but DOES show him in the cast of a film not listed in AFI or Wiki, Pa Says, along with Dorothy Gish. Her list is pulled from his scrapbooks and other sources, so she might be right about it! His name does appear on the list in IMdB, so it's been missing from his filmography for a while.

PA SAYS: (per Marshall's Beaudine biography): Teddy's Rival Released July 21, 1913. Directed by Dell Henderson, written by Anita Loos. Here's the MPWorld summary: 

THE MIRROR: Daisy's Father Released July 24, 1913, directed by Anthony O'Sullivan. The ad is above. Henry B. Walthall is The Station Agent, Claire McDowell is Daisy, and Harry Carey, Charles West, and John T. Dillon and 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Tramp, respectively. The ad above may show LB as Daisy's father and McDowell as Daisy.

UNDER THE SHADOW OF THE LAW: Charles Darnton, the Employer. Released August 7, 1913, directed by Anthony O' Sullivan and written by Harry Carey. Harry Carey is the Convict, Charles West is John Haywood, a Clerk, Claire McDowell is Haywood's Sister, Walter Miller is a Bookkeeper, Kate Toncray is Mother, and John T. Dillon the Doctor. MPWorld of July 1913 has both summary and ad. I suppose Mr. B is nefarious in this one. It is not known to be extant.

I WAS MEANT FOR YOU: Lavina's Father. Released August 11, 1913, directed by Anthony O'Sullivan. Charles West is Theron, Harry Carey is Luke, and Claire McDowell is Lavina. Not extant, apparently.

Ad for I Was Meant for You and An Indian's Loyalty. McDowell, Carey, and West seem to be far left.

AN INDIAN'S LOYALTY: The Cattle Buyer. Released August 16, 1913. Directed by Christy Cabanne. Frank Opperman as The Ranchero, Lillian Gish as The Ranchero's Daughter, Edward Dillon as The Young Foreman, Eagle Eye as The Indian, Fred Burns as The Ranch Hand. Above right, it seems to be Gish and Burns or Dillon. Not sure if extant.

THE SUFFRAGETTE MINSTRELS: Unknown. Marshall's Beaudine biography appendix has LB listed as in the cast but no character names. Released August 18, 1913. Does not appear extant. Directed by Dell Henderson, assisted by William Beaudine, story by Lillian Gish.There was apparently a show of some theatrical type of the same name,and I do wonder if Lillian Gish got her concept from it.

This is from April 1913, so maybe Lillian got her idea from this?? Variety

Here is something else on what seems to have been a variety kind of show called the Suffragette Minstrels:

Here is something from Duluth, MN, of all places, on the film:

THE WORK HABIT: The Father. Released August 21, 1913. Directed by Anthony O'Sullivan. Intriguing-sounding film, which I've seen described as a "comedy-drama". Now we see actor names appear with some regularity in reviews. The film does not appear to be extant

Mr. B. left as the elderly father. (Today's Cinema News & Property Gazette Sep 1913)

THE CROOK AND THE GIRL: The Nephew. Released August 25, 1913. Directed by Anthony O'Sullivan. **According to Today's Cinema News and Property, 1913, the film was actually released as below (Oct 23rd--note Strong Man's Burden released Oct 27th. I'll verify changes if possible!)

Left, LB reading--right, LB as the officer

THE STRONG MAN'S BURDEN: Police Officer Brother (John). Released September 6, 1913 (ad indicates otherwise above: Oct 27th) and directed by Anthony O'Sullivan, this film is both extant and available online via EYE Institute in the Netherlands. It's easily understood, even with Dutch subtitles, and Mr. B does a nice job as the conflicted brother (see ad below and image above). Harry Carey is Bob, Kate Bruce is their mother.

The Strong Man's Burden (Dutch subtitles)

THE STOLEN TREATY: The Japanese Diplomat Released September 18, 1913, directed by Anthony O'Sullivan. As far as I can tell, LB IS playing a Japanese person. And it IS different from the other film, In Diplomatic Circles, where he ALSO plays a Japanese diplomat. I am confused. I note a slight cat's eye look to Mr. B in certain films or images, but it is a stretch to cast a  quite Euro-white actor as an Asian. Yes, I know, it was 1913.

LB "looks, acts, and...felt" Japanese?? Oct 1, 1913 NY Mirror review

SO RUNS THE WAY: Undetermined/Unconfirmed Role Released October 11, 1913, directed and written by Christy Cabanne. Lillian Gish appears, but not much is known of this film. It is not likely extant.

Note also the ad for LB's first directorial job, His Secret, 1913.

ALL FOR SCIENCE: In Detective Agency Released November 24, 1913, directed by Anthony O'Sullivan. LB seems to be one of three detectives; the film does not appear to be extant. Harry Carey and James Cooley are the two main characters. Around this time, Klaw and Erlanger moved to grab up Biograph (so to speak). DW Griffith would soon leave.

MPWorld Nov 1913

THE HOUSE OF DISCORD: The Daughter's Sweetheart  Henry Stanton, May's Father--see serialization below. Released December 13, 1913, directed by James Kirkwood, Sr, and produced by theatrical empresarios Klaw and Erlanger. It was much reviewed, as you can see below:

Horrific scan of The House of Discord ad.

MPWorld Dec 1913 review

NY Dramatic Mirror review, Jan 7, 1914

Motion Picture Story Magazine of January 1914 serialized it:

LB, center

Easy to see, LB as Henry Stanton here.

AND THAT'S IT FOR 1913!

  Around this time, Motography mentions Biograph was going to issue a poster including the names and images of 26 Biograph performers:

1914 AHEAD!

THE BARTERED CROWN: Landlord Released January 10, 1914. Director uncertain. This film is not on AFI or Wiki, but is on IMDb and was pulled from Motion Picture Story Magazine of May 1914 (p 137). It's a sweet little melodrama--I believe in the rough image below LB is on the right. It does not seem to be extant.

 AT THIS POINT, THEATER EMPRESARIOS KLAW AND ERLANGER TOOK CONTROL OF BIOGRAPH AND IN JANUARY 1914 PRODUCED THEIR FIRST RELEASE, THE FATAL WEDDING (3 reels, released Jan 19, 1914) Lionel Barrymore would appear in their second film, Classmates.

CLASSMATES: Dumble Released February 14, 1914, a four-reeler. Directed by James Kirkwood. Henry B. Walthall and Blanche Sweet are the stars of this extant film, last shown apparently in 2012. It concerns "West Point and the South American Jungle", according to a MPWorld ad in May 23, 2014:

In that same issue was this ad for DW Griffith and Majestic films:

HER FATHER'S SILENT PARTNER: Unknown Released February 23, 1914. Directed by Donald Crisp. Harry Carey, Dorothy Gish, and Claire McDowell also appear. It is unknown if it's extant. I also am not sure which LB played, the partner or the father! This is a ten-minute short.

South Bend, IND newspaper ad, March 1914

THE MASSACRE*: Unknown if in it This is one of those films where LB COULD have appeared as an extra, but I looked for the scene he describes in his bio as one where he is playing a soldier who is shot, and staggers under an eave to die, thereby avoiding horse hooves--and for which Griffith yelled at him and others to stop it and "die miserably" in the open. I'll link the film, but I don't really see him in it. Perhaps more research will reveal more... It was actually filmed in late 1912 by Bitzer and Griffith and released in Europe then (November 12), but only released in the US in 1914 (February 26). As LB only made a few films in 1912, (15), and he had films released on November 4, 12, 14, & 21, while it is conceivable he was in the film as an extra, it would have been made just about concurrently with something like The Informer, a Civil War film in which he played a Union soldier. So here's the link to the film, enjoy!

The Massacre (1912/ 1914)

JUDITH OF BETHULIA: Extra in several scenes Released March 8, 1914***according to Moving Picture World of Nov 1914, the film was released in Novemebr of that year. Lionel Barrymore was more than happy to appear in this Griffith epic, a game-changer for cinema (about 61 minutes long!). He did not, he recounted in We Barrymores, expect to be recognized but allowed he appeared in more than one scene as an extra. For what it's worth, here's a link to the film online: Judith of Bethulia

I don't find the film particularly compelling, but it is pretty darn valuable in motion picture history, so we'll leave that right here!

STRONGHEART: Billy Saunders Released March 9, 1914. One of my favorite of his early films, LB shows a facility for physical comedy as well as physical acting. He whangs away on a piano, courts a young lady, intrigues, plays football... all in all very amusing--AND he gets the girl! It is extant and exists in relatively high quality online. HB Walthall stars as the titular character, a Native American who is given permission to go east for college and plays on the football team with LB's Saunders and a host of other characters. There is the (almost) inevitable sad part thanks to one character's unforgivable racism. But it is entertaining and well-written, well-directed by James Kirkwood.

Strongheart on YouTube

Below is a screengrab rundown of much of the film (ok, the parts with LB in them. He is introduced to Strongheart and we see a young lady, Molly (Gertrude Robinson) who runs Billy ragged--he plays piano for her--romance! Then we see the Colombia football team at halftime, learning their signals have been given to the opposing team. Strongheart keeps the suspect secret, though he lets Billy see the copy of the signals. Billy thinks his girl might have handed them over. He keeps a member of the team from attacking Strongheart, but the thin young man is lef tbehind as Colombia go back out, eventually winning. The rest of the movie is about proving who did it and why, and Strongheart leaning he has no place in the White Man's world with the woman he is attracted to (and who is attracted to him) and goes home to lead his tribe. Billy and Molly seem to come to an amicable end. Billy has hurt his hand in the game, though, and comically smacks it twice in the end of the film, both Molly and his fellow football players comforting him.  One of my favorites of his silent films. Walthall is typically great.

That's our 5'10, 175 pound Barrymore!

 

LB left under the blanket. Football was rough!

 

Billy knows who it probably is... so he hopes!

Watching this scene, you get the sense LB was big and pretty strong!

 

Strongheart and Billy plot to catch the culprit--it's not Molly!

Billy trying to apologize...

He slaps the chair with his injured hand and howls in pain

 

The guys come in to surprise them...

..and Billy tries to hit with his injured hand. OW!

  

 

 

RANDOM SIDE NOTE: IN APRIL, 1914, LIONEL BARRYMORE FINALLY MADE IT INTO THE LIST OF "PICTURE PLAYERS" IN MOTION PICTURE MAGAZINE (formerly Motion Picture Story Magazine) AFTER HAVING BEEN IN SEVERAL OF THEIR SERIALIZATIONS OF BIOGRAPHS:

BRUTE FORCE: Random caveman (likely an "enemy" of Harron's tribe) Released April 25, 1914. Directed by DW Griffith and one of two films on a similar theme of cavemen and dinosaurs (the other apparently was Man's Genesis in 1912). A largish dino appears and moves in the film, which may have made this one of the first if not the first to have an "animatronic" puppet dino in a film. Robert Harron and Mae Marsh star. I have looked at the film online, and I THINK I can actually tell LB because of his boxing hobby. And his height. But they're all pretty furry, the attackers. An interesting footnote in Griffith's career.

WATCH BRUTE FORCE ONLINE HERE

Horrid scan, but there's the Biograph ad

Harron in  Man's Genesis...an earlier, similar film

The Dino!

WOMAN AGAINST WOMAN: Gilbert Craven. Released June 27, 1914.  Directed by Paul Powell. Apparently it is extant, though there is not very much information on this. LB, Vivian Prescott, and Alan Hale star. There was an argument between two film companies, the Klaw & Erlanger era Biograph and the Lewis Pennant Features company--K&E claimed the Lewis film (Woman against Woman, or Rescued in the Clouds) violated copyright by using the same title. Pennant declared they had the copyright. Here's some info:

 

THE CRACKSMAN'S GRATITUDE: Unknown. Released July 4, 1914, directed by Anthony O'Sullivan for Biograph. ANOTHER non-AFI or Wiki film! The South Bend News-Times has a brief blurb for it July 23, 1914, as does Motion Picture Magazine of November 1914, which has Lionel Barrymore and Claire McDowell in the cast. the News-Times adds Jospeh McDermott.

MEN AND WOMEN: Robert Stevens/ Stephen Rodman. Released August ?, 1914. Directed by James Kirkwood, apaprently with some guidance from DW Griffith. Basically all of Biograph short a few are in this, with  Blanche Sweet as Agnes, and Alan Hale and Antonio Moreno appearing as creditors. It seems to be extant. Lionel Barrymore is mentioned in a review--his marquee value was finally rising.

Moving Picture World had this (extensively) as a summary: Robert Stevens robs the bank where he is employed, and through the efforts of Calvin Stedman, the prosecuting attorney, he is sentenced to six years' imprisonment. While in jail his wife dies and his little daughter, Agnes, is placed in a convent. At the expiration of his sentence, Stevens locates his daughter and settles in Arizona, assuming the name of Stephen Rodman. He prospers and later is elected governor.

Agnes, now in an Eastern school, is first to hear the good news, and tells her chum Dora Prescott. Will Prescott, Dora's brother, is in love with Agnes, and before the closing of school, he sends her his photograph. Dora returns to her home in New York and Agnes to Arizona. Will Prescott is cashier of the Jefferson National Bank, and Ned Seabury, his chum and assistant, is in love with Dora. Calvin Stedman, now counsel for the bank, is in love with Dora, and when he learns that she is engaged to Ned, he plans to be revenged. Agnes confesses to her father that she is in love with Will. She receives an invitation to visit the Prescotts and is delighted when her father gives his consent.

Ned and Will speculate in stocks through Arnold Kirke, a broker, and Ned wins. Stedman sees Ned in Kirk's office, and, knowing that speculating is contrary to the rules of the bank, he decides to tell Israel Cohen, the president. Kirke is on the brink of ruin, and, to save himself, he begs Will to lend him some bonds, promising to return them after showing them to his creditors. Will is indebted to Kirke, and lends him bonds belonging to the bank. Stedman informs Cohen that Ned is speculating.

Governor Rodman comes east to meet his prospective son-in-law and is introduced to Will. A panic occurs, and Kirke disposes of the bonds loaned by Will. Cohen's bank is also in trouble, and Will is worried. Governor Rodman decides to tell Will his secret before the latter marries Agnes, and confesses that he served time in prison for a bank theft. Will realizes that he is not worthy of Agnes, but if he breaks his engagement Agnes will believe it is on account of her father's crime. Kirke commits suicide.

Calvin Stedman is instrumental in bringing about Ned's discharge, and when the bonds are discovered missing, Ned is placed under suspicion. Stedman is introduced to Governor Rodman and recognizes Robert Stevens, the ex-convict. Rodman is overcome at his discovery. Stedman tries to turn Dora against Ned by stating that her lover is a defaulter, but he is unsuccessful, as Dora believes Ned to be innocent. Will confesses to Agnes that Ned is innocent and that he took the bonds. Agnes half faints when she realizes that Will is telling the truth, but assures him of her love despite everything and plans to save Ned.

The directors of the bank hold a midnight meeting at the president's home to decide what action to take. Agnes accompanies her father to the meeting, and pleads with him to make any proposition that will save Ned. Cohen is surprised when Agnes and her father are announced. Rodman is granted a private interview and tells Cohen that he is willing to supply the funds to save the bank if Ned is not prosecuted. Cohen promises to do all he can and to present the Governor's proposition before the directors. The meeting is called to order and the investigation is conducted by Cohen and Stedman. Ned pleads that he is innocent of the charge. Due to his having speculated in stocks, sentiment is not in his favor, and his statement in his own defense is not impressive. Stedman accuses Ned and Ned is wild with rage. Cohen submits Rodman's offer, but Stedman opposes its acceptance and discloses the fact that Rodman is an ex-convict. Rodman admits the charge, and pleads with the directors to allow him to save Ned from the disgrace he suffered. Stedman again refuses to agree. John Pendleton, one of the directors, realizing that the bank is on the brink of ruin, offers to advance the funds necessary to tide the bank over the panic. Ned refuses to confess and is left in the hands of the law.

Will contemplates suicide, but his courage fails him and he finally gives himself up. Governor Rodman makes good the amount of Will's defalcation. Governor Rodman returns to Arizona and resigns his office. Ned is reinstated as cashier of the bank and marries Dora. Will, due to the bank affair, is unable to hold the humblest of positions, and returns home time and again utterly discouraged. Agnes has been loyal to him through all his trouble, and comforts him. Will is overjoyed when Cohen hands him a letter from John Pendleton offering him a position in his factory. Will accepts, and leaves with Agnes to start life over again. WHEW!!

The less wordy version appears in MPWorld p 969, July-Sept 1914:

LB is in the left bottom photo, seated. I THINK he's also top, left.

THE POWER OF THE PRESS: Steve Carson Released October 1914. Extant film, public domain. I'll be looking for this dvd soon...

Steve Carson, a man wrongly convicted of a crime through the perjurous testimony of the real criminal, becomes friendly with his cellmate, Harold Norwood, a former bank teller. At the same time, Annie Carson is befriended by Julia Seymour, a prima donna and Norwood's wife. As a reward for good behavior, the two are released from prison on Christmas morning. At the same time, Annie discovers that huge deposits have been made in her name, and that of her sister Mary, by their uncle, George Hosford, a dying Alaskan prospector. Hosford gave his bankbook to fellow miner Joe Hawes, who has come to New York. Through happenstance, Joe encounters Turner Morgan, Steve's predecessor as foreman of his shipyard and the person who had him sent to jail. Meanwhile, Anstey, a cub reporter, learns the truth of Steve's situation and through "the power of the press" is able to expose Morgan for the criminal that he is, thus exonerating Steve.  (AFI)  Alan Hale appears!

It seems there was some Klaw/Erlanger issues at this point with Biograph productions: see this Variety excerpt from 1914:

THE WOMAN IN BLACK: Robert Crane. Released November 25-ish, 1914, based on a Nov 21, 1914 ad from K&E that headliners/specials more than two reels were NOT issued on M, T, Th, F, or Sat. K&E Biograph. Directed by Lawrence Marston from a play by Grattan Donnelly. Alan Hale again appears. Not extant.**UPDATE May 2019: LOC HAS IT! WOMAN IN BLACKVariety notes it released (re-released??) March 23, 1915.

From MPWorld Nov 21, 1914.

This seems to have been kind of lost in the shuffle (see Variety article above for K&E era Biograph problems) with LB's The Seats of the Mighty getting all the attention from the film mags (Mighty was the first release of Colonial Motion Picture company, which according to Motography of Sept 5, 1914, had LB under contract for the film, apparently in JULY 1914!) as well as the seemingly epic The Span of Life. LB left Biograph for Colonial, whose Mighty was picked up for distribution by Lewis Selznick's World Film Corporation in October 1914 (Motography Oct 10, 1914). Selznick called the film "the great American masterpiece"!.

THE SPAN OF LIFE: Richard Blunt. Released December 7, 1914 (MPWorld Dec 5 1914 p 1446). From Sutton Vane's play. This was a Kinetophote 5-reel production. LB recalls in Motography of October 31, 1914 "that playing in 'The Span' is a rather novel experience, in that he remembers being taken to see the stage production of the piece at either the 23rtd Street theater of the 14th Street theater when he was in short pants. How long ago that was, deponent saith not" (p 604). Not extant, alas!! It seems very exciting and involved a team of acrobats to do the "span of life" to bring a woman and her child to safety (see ad below).

Mr B is heavily touted for his role in the film--his cred was greatly increasing in films, in spite of the Klaw/Erlanger fiascos of 1914. He was not on the Broadway stage at the time, just doing films, but he had become marketable already, in part due to his name and the fact all 3 Barrymores were in film in 1914--Ethel for The Nightingale (ALCO's first film) and John for several, including An American Citizen and The Man from Mexico. The streets were awash in Barrymore films (as well as Sidney Drew films)! It seemed they did well in first productions for several companies!

Ad for a re-release in April 1916.

MPWorld Nov 1914 review, pg 988 (2nd part below)

 

THE SEATS OF THE MIGHTY: Doltaire. Released Dec 7, 1914 (MPWorld Dec 5 1914 p 1446). A Fort Lee, NJ film! (Motography says it premiered in the "Casino theater" on Nov 29, 1914.) Not extant. Colonial Motion Picture's first film: "The most ambitious photoplay in America" sayeth one of the posters. A 100,000 investment to make, sayeth another! Eight moths in the making! A pre-American Revolution piece taking place in France and the colonies, with LB cast as a French villain "with other famous stars". He is again showing some good film cred with this role and his popularity is increasing as he manages a film career after Griffith-Biograph.

This seven (!) reel film got an enormous release, so let's just look at the info:

MPWorld Dec 1914 review (pt 2 below)

Amazing Motography article on the making of the film, 1914-Pt 2 below

THE EXPLOITS OF ELAINE (??): Undetermined. I have not been able to find one tiny bit of evidence, based on lots and lots of searching, that Lionel Barrymore was actually in this. Based on his popularity by late 1914 and the fact when he DID take a role in the next part of this serial, The Romance of Elaine (1915), it was ridiculously well-advertised, I'm going to say he's not actually in this film. So there. (And a huge MPWorld Dec 26, 1914 [pg 1790-91] ad for the film with the cast bears me out on this, given LB's fame at that point. Motography had a similar ad).

UNDER THE GASLIGHT: William Byke. Released December 1914** (according to MPWOrld Dec 5 1914 p 1444, it was released in November 1914. MPWorld Nov 21, 1914 on pg 1148 also has a November release date, see below) , a K&E/Biograph 4-reel film. Directed by Lawrence Marston. William Russell, Hector Sarno, and Irene Howley among others appear. It seems very complicated, based on an Augustin Daly Victorian play. A tiny note from the Broadway production of 1874: Maurice Barrymore played Ray Trafford in Daly's company in the revival of it that year. 

GOOD HEAVENS, THAT'S 1914!!!

***********Below are tentative notes and information found as I seek the films in the order they were made...please bear with me!****************

WRITING CREDITS:

The Vengeance of Galora (WRITER ONLY, scenario filed on July 24, 1913 as "Vengeance of Galora; by Lionel Barrymore")

The Criminal's Thumb (co-author, according to Motography Vol 15, p 1459)

DIRECTOR CREDITS  

His Secret  Director, first time*  Released Oct 6, 1913 Lionel Barrymore directed Where's the Baby in late 1913, according to the Biograph ad for it and the Herrick archive. It is extant!

Little cat, right on branch, which the girl is trying to rescue.

Where's the Baby? Director. Released November 6, 1913.  In What Women Wrote, 1912-1929 (1987 publication). Story by Beatrice Bush. The information on this comes from the Herrick digital archives, which has the script (as well as the little on SilentEra).

No Place for Father  Released November 10,1913. Director. With Antonio Moreno, Thomas Jefferson, and Julia Bruns, this is a Biograph short (1,000 feet) written by HL Johnson. I can't find much online thus far...

Binghamton NY Press, November 12, 1913

Just Boys Released January 19, 1914. Director. With Clarence Barr and Clara T. Bracy, this is a Biograph short and was released on a split reel with Reggie the Daredevil:

Chocolate Dynamite Released February 28, 1914. Director. A Biograph comedy on a split reel with Because of a Hat. Note the ad for Her Father's Silent Partner as well. That meant Mr. B was busy directing and acting in the same week a few times.