A Weaver of Dreams | |
---|---|
Directed by | John H. Collins |
Written by | John H. Collins William Parker Myrtle Reed |
Produced by | B. A. Rolfe |
Starring | Viola Dana |
Cinematography | John Arnold |
Distributed by | Metro Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 5 reels |
Country | United States |
Language | Silent..English titles |
A Weaver of Dreams is a lost [1] silent film directed by Edison's John H. Collins and released under Metro Films February 18, 1918, at the height of Mr. Collins' career. It was the 36th of 41 films credited to his direction. The young director succumbed to Spanish Influenza and died later that year; October 23, 1918, at the age of 28. The film stars his actress wife Virginia Flugrath, who is best known by her screen name Viola Dana. The screenplay, written by John H. Collins and William Parker, is an adaptation of Myrtle Reed's (1874-1911) posthumously published novel A Weaver of Dreams (1911); the author took her own life earlier that year on August 17, 1911.
The plot concerns Viola Dana's character; Judith Sylvester, [2] who is niece to a wealthy invalid. Confident in her relationship, Judith introduces her beau to the niece of another invalid. Over time he transfers his affection to the other girl; possibly with ulterior motives. Judith does little to intervene, saying, "What is not mine, I do not want." She locks herself away in her house and dreams of a "perfect" lover. Perfection to her is the gentleman who once courted her dying aunt, to which his love letters bear testament. As Judith wallows in unrequited love, she discovers that the writer of her aunt's love letters is the uncle of her romantic rival, Margery Gordon, played by actress Mildred Davis. As the film continues, her aunt is reunited with her long lost love and poor Judith is left alone with nothing but dreams of perfection, but she remains hopeful.
Ruth Gordon Jones was an American actress, screenwriter, and playwright. She began her career performing on Broadway at age 19. Known for her nasal voice and distinctive personality, Gordon gained international recognition and critical acclaim for film roles that continued into her 70s and 80s. Her later work included performances in Rosemary's Baby (1968), What Ever Happened to Aunt Alice? (1969), Where's Poppa? (1970), Harold and Maude (1971), Every Which Way But Loose (1978), Any Which Way You Can (1980), and My Bodyguard (1980).
Viola Dana was an American film actress who was successful during the era of silent films. She appeared in over 100 films, but was unable to make the transition to sound films.
Ben Lyon was an American film actor and a studio executive at 20th Century-Fox who later acted in British radio, films and TV.
Mildred Dorothy Dunnock was an American stage and screen actress. She was nominated twice for an Academy Award for her works in Death of a Salesman (1951) and Baby Doll (1956).
Mildred Harris was an American stage, film, and vaudeville actress during the early part of the 20th century. Harris began her career in the film industry as a child actress when she was age 10. She was also the first wife of Charlie Chaplin.
Myrtle Reed was an American author, poet, journalist, and philanthropist. She wrote a number of bestsellers and even published a series of cookbooks under the pseudonym Olive Green.
Gareth Hughes was a Welsh stage and silent screen actor. Usually cast as a callow, sensitive hero in Hollywood silent films, Hughes got his start on stage during childhood and continued to play youthful leads on Broadway.
Eugenie Besserer was an American actress who starred in silent films and features of the early sound motion-picture era, beginning in 1910. Her most prominent role is that of the title character's mother in the first talkie film, The Jazz Singer.
Viola Barry was an American silent film actress who starred in a number of films during the 1910s.
Kate Toncray was an American actress of the silent era. She appeared in more than 170 films between 1905 and 1925. She was born in St. Louis, Missouri and died in Manhattan, New York City.
Claire McDowell was an American actress of the silent era. She appeared in 350 films between 1908 and 1945.
Haunted Spooks is a 1920 American silent Southern Gothic comedy film produced and co-directed by Hal Roach, starring Harold Lloyd and Mildred Davis.
Gertrude McCoy was an American film actress of the silent era. She appeared in more than 160 films between 1911 and 1926.
Shirley Mason was an American actress of the silent era.
Riders of the Night is a 1918 American silent drama film directed by John H. Collins and starred his wife Viola Dana. It was produced and distributed by the Metro Pictures company.
The House of the Lost Court is a 1915 American drama silent film directed by Charles Brabin and written by A.M. Williamson. The film stars Robert Conness, Duncan McRae, Helen Strickland, Sally Crute, Viola Dana and Margery Bonney. The film was released on May 6, 1915, by Paramount Pictures.
Aladdin's Other Lamp is a 1917 American fantasy-comedy silent film based on the play, The Dream Girl by Willard Mack. It was adapted for the screen by June Mathis and directed by John H. Collins. The film stars Viola Dana and Robert Walker, and was distributed by Metro Pictures Corp., a forerunner of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It is not known whether the film currently survives.
Breakers Ahead is a 1918 American silent drama film, directed by Charles Brabin. It stars Viola Dana, Clifford Bruce, and Mabel Van Buren, and was released on March 25, 1918.
John H. Collins was an American writer and director of the silent film era. He married film actress Viola Dana. His career was cut short when he died at the age of 28 due to the 1918 influenza epidemic. During his career which began in 1914, he directed more than 40 features and film shorts, and wrote the scenario for over a dozen more features. His 1917 film The Girl Without a Soul was selected by the National Film Registry to be preserved by the Library of Congress. His final works were shown posthumously in 1919.
Crinoline and Romance is a 1923 American silent comedy film directed by Harry Beaumont and starring Viola Dana, Claude Gillingwater, and John Bowers.