| A Woman Who Understood | |
|---|---|
 A newspaper advertisement for the film. | |
| Directed by | William Parke |
| Written by | Isabel Johnston (story) |
| Starring | Bessie Barriscale |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Robertson-Cole |
Release date |
|
Running time | 5 reels |
| Country | United States |
| Language | Silent (English intertitles) |
A Woman Who Understood is a 1920 American silent drama film, directed by William Parke, distributed by Robertson-Cole, and starring Bessie Barriscale. [1]
As described in a film magazine, [2] Madge Graham (Barriscale), a sculptress who pays for her art work by conducting a tea room in Greenwich Village, New York City, saves violinist Robert Knight (Stanley) during an attempted suicide by throwing a tea cup through his window. She learns that he is despondent over a rejection by the young woman he loves and from losing his position in an orchestra. Her efforts get him his place back with the orchestra and they are married. Her interest in their children leads him to seek appreciation of his talent elsewhere, and he goes to his former sweetheart who is now Mrs. Alden (Cumming). In a fire he burns his hands. Mrs. Alden declines to offer her skin for an operation to save his hands, but when his wife consents he sees that she really understands him.
With no prints of A Woman Who Understood located in any film archives, it is considered a lost film. [3] [4] [5]
Bessie Barriscale was an American actress who gained fame on the stage and in silent films.
Film Booking Offices of America (FBO), registered as FBO Pictures Corp., was an American film studio of the silent era, a midsize producer and distributor of mostly low-budget films. The business began in 1918 as Robertson-Cole, an Anglo-American import-export company. Robertson-Cole began distributing films in the United States that December and opened a Los Angeles production facility in 1920. Late that year, R-C entered into a working relationship with East Coast financier Joseph P. Kennedy. A business reorganization in 1922 led to its assumption of the FBO name, first for all its distribution operations and ultimately for its own productions as well. Through Kennedy, the studio contracted with Western leading man Fred Thomson, who grew by 1925 into one of Hollywood's most popular stars. Thomson was just one of several silent screen cowboys with whom FBO became identified.
Bears and Bad Men is a 1918 American silent comedy film directed by Larry Semon and featuring Stan Laurel.
The Green Swamp is a 1916 silent drama starring Bessie Barriscale and written by C. Gardner Sullivan.
Woman to Woman is a 1923 British silent drama film directed by Graham Cutts, with Alfred Hitchcock as the uncredited assistant director and co-screenwriter. The film was the first of three adaptions of the 1921 play Woman to Woman by Michael Morton. To capitalise on the success of the film, Cutts and Hitchcock made another film, The White Shadow, with Compson before she returned to the United States.
Her Purchase Price is a 1919 silent film romance distributed by newly formed Robertson-Cole. It was directed by Howard C. Hickman and starred Bessie Barriscale.
The Riddle: Woman is a 1920 American silent drama film directed by Edward José, distributed by Pathé Exchange, and starring opera singer Geraldine Farrar in her last film. This film was also the film debut of Madge Bellamy.
Josselyn's Wife is a 1919 American silent drama film based on a novel by Kathleen Norris. It was directed by Howard C. Hickman and starred Bessie Barriscale, Nigel Barrie, and Joseph J. Dowling. The novel was adapted to film again in 1926 with Pauline Frederick.
The Enchanted Barn is a 1919 American silent drama film produced by Vitagraph Studios. It was directed by David Smith and starred Bessie Love and J. Frank Glendon. The script was written by Kathryn Reed, based on the novel by Grace Livingston Hill Lutz. Bessie Love had been familiar with the source novel, and was instrumental in optioning it for this film.
Pegeen is a 1920 American silent drama film based on the 1915 novel of the same name by Eleanor Hoyt Brainerd. It was produced by Vitagraph Studios and directed by David Smith. It stars Bessie Love in the title role.
An Amateur Devil is a 1920 American silent comedy film directed by Maurice Campbell and written by Douglas Bronston based upon the short story "Wanted: A Blemish" by Henry J. Buxton and Jessie Henderson. The film stars Bryant Washburn, Charles Wingate, Ann May, Sidney Bracey, Graham Pettie, and Anna Dodge. The film was released on December 19, 1920, by Paramount Pictures. It is not known whether the film currently survives.
Life's Twist is a 1920 American silent drama film directed by Christy Cabanne with Bessie Barriscale in a dual role.
The Notorious Mrs. Sands is a 1920 American silent drama film directed by Christy Cabanne and produced by and starring Bessie Barriscale.
The Woman Michael Married is a 1919 American silent society drama film directed by Henry Kolker and produced by and starring Bessie Barriscale. Distribution of the film was through newly formed Robertson-Cole, soon to form into the FBO company.
Hearts Asleep is a 1919 American silent crime drama film directed by Howard Hickman and produced by and starring his wife Bessie Barriscale. It was distributed through the Robertson-Cole Company.
The Woman Gives is a 1920 American silent drama film directed by Roy William Neill and starring Norma Talmadge, John Halliday, and Edmund Lowe.
The Luck of Geraldine Laird is a 1920 silent film drama directed by Edward Sloman and starring Bessie Barriscale. It was produced by Bessie Barriscale Productions and released through the Robertson Cole Distributing Corp.
Within the Cup is a 1918 American silent drama film directed by Raymond B. West and starring Bessie Barriscale, George Fisher and Edward Coxen.
Maid o' the Storm is a 1918 American silent drama film directed by Raymond B. West and starring Bessie Barriscale, George Fisher and Herschel Mayall. The film takes place in Scotland and London.
The Cup of Life is a 1915 American silent drama starring Bessie Barriscale. It was directed by Thomas Ince and Raymond B. West with a scenario written by C. Gardner Sullivan and Ince.
 | This article about a silent drama film from the 1920s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
