Etzel von Oeringen, better known as Strongheart, was a male German Shepherd that was one of the early canine stars of feature films.
Laurence Norwood Trimble was an American silent film director, writer and actor. Trimble began his film career directing Jean, the Vitagraph Dog, the first canine to have a leading role in motion pictures. He made his acting debut in the 1910 silent Saved by the Flag, directed scores of films for Vitagraph and other studios, and became head of production for Florence Turner's independent film company in England (1913–1916). Trimble was most widely known for his four films starring Strongheart, a German Shepherd dog he discovered and trained that became the first major canine film star. After he left filmmaking he trained animals exclusively, particularly guide dogs for the blind.
The Family Secret is a 1924 American silent drama film directed by William A. Seiter and featuring child star Baby Peggy. It is based on Editha's Burglar, a story by Frances Hodgson Burnett first published in 1881 by St. Nicholas Magazine and adapted for the stage by Augustus E. Thomas.
Jean, also known as the Vitagraph Dog (1902–1916), was a female collie that starred in silent films. Owned and guided by director Laurence Trimble, she was the first canine to have a leading role in motion pictures. Jean was with Vitagraph Studios from 1909, and in 1913 went with Trimble to England to work with Florence Turner in her own independent film company.
Jane Murfin, née Macklem was an American playwright and screenwriter. The author of several successful plays, she wrote some of them with actress Jane Cowl—most notably Smilin' Through (1919), which was adapted three times for motion pictures. In Hollywood Murfin became a popular screenwriter whose credits include What Price Hollywood? (1932), for which she received an Academy Award nomination. In the 1920s she lived with Laurence Trimble, writing and producing films for their dog Strongheart, the first major canine star.
Lightning was a German Shepherd from a line of canine silent film stars. A grandson of Strongheart, Lightning was billed as "The Wonder Dog" and "The Marvel Dog". He began life as a runt but grew to be larger than average for the breed, and he was very intelligent. Lightning appeared in numerous movies.
The Last Frontier is a 1926 American silent Western film directed by George B. Seitz and starring William Boyd, Marguerite De La Motte, and Jack Hoxie. The plot of this film was later reused in the 1948 Columbia Pictures serial Tex Granger.
Dearie is a 1927 American silent drama film produced and distributed by Warner Bros. and directed by Archie Mayo. It is from a story by Victorian author Carolyn Wells about a woman who sacrifices for her ungrateful son. This film starred Irene Rich and it is possible that the film may have been released with a Vitaphone soundtrack.
Lilies of the Field is a 1924 American silent drama film directed by John Francis Dillon, produced by and starring actress Corinne Griffith, and distributed by Associated First National Pictures. It is based on a 1921 play, Lilies of the Field, by William J. Hurlbut. The film was remade by Griffith as an early sound film in 1930.
A Broadway Butterfly is a 1925 American silent comedy film directed by William Beaudine.
The Love Master is a 1924 American silent family drama film starring canine star Strongheart and actress Lillian Rich, directed by Laurence Trimble. The film survives in a French archive.
Rustling A Bride is a lost 1919 silent film comedy-Western directed by Irvin Willat and starring Lila Lee.
The Honeymoon Express is a lost 1926 silent film drama based on Ethel Clifton and Brenda Fowler's play The Doormat. It was directed by James Flood, starring Willard Louis and Irene Rich. It was never originally meant to be released. Two runtimes were reported at two separate showings.
Powder My Back is a 1928 synchronized sound film comedy directed by Roy Del Ruth and starring Irene Rich. While the film has no audible dialog, it was released with a synchronized musical score with sound effects using the sound-on-disc Vitaphone process. The film was produced and distributed by Warner Bros.
Spotlight Sadie is a lost 1919 American silent film drama directed by Laurence Trimble and starring Mae Marsh and Wallace MacDonald. It was produced and distributed by Goldwyn Pictures. It was alternately known as The Saintly Show Girl.
Snowdrift is a 1923 American action film directed by Scott R. Dunlap and written by John Stone. It is based on the 1922 novel Snowdrift by James Hendryx. The film stars Buck Jones, Bert Sprotte, Gertrude Ryan, Colin Chase, Evelyn Selbie and Annette Jean. The film was released on April 22, 1923, by Fox Film Corporation.
North Star is a 1925 American silent drama film directed by Paul Powell and starring Virginia Lee Corbin, Stuart Holmes, and Ken Maynard. The film was made as a showcase for Strongheart the Dog, a rival of Rin Tin Tin. Future star Clark Gable appears in a supporting role.
The Speed Maniac is a lost 1919 silent action drama film directed by Edward LeSaint and starring Tom Mix and Eva Novak. It was produced and distributed by Fox Film Corporation.
White Fang is a 1925 American silent Western film directed by Laurence Trimble and featuring Theodore von Eltz, Ruth Dwyer, and Matthew Betz. It was produced by FBO Pictures as a starring vehicle for Strongheart, a German Shepherd who appeared in a number of films during the decade. It is based on the 1906 novel White Fang by Jack London.
The Silent Call is a 1921 American silent adventure film directed by Laurence Trimble and featuring John Bowers, Kathryn McGuire and William Dyer. It was produced as a vehicle for the canine star Strongheart who appeared in several silent films. Strongheart was trained by Trimble.
