Richard Semler Barthelmess was an American film actor, principally of the Hollywood silent era. He starred opposite Lillian Gish in D. W. Griffith's Broken Blossoms (1919) and Way Down East (1920) and was among the founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 1927. The following year, he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor for two films: The Patent Leather Kid and The Noose.
The year 1916 in film involved some significant events.
The Noose is an American silent drama film adaptation of the Willard Mack play The Noose, which was released in 1928 by First National Pictures. It stars Richard Barthelmess, Montagu Love, Robert Emmett O'Connor, and Thelma Todd. It was directed by John Francis Dillon and Richard Barthelmess's performance was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor. The movie was adapted by Garrett Graham and James T. O'Donohoe from the play. The play was also the basis of the Paramount Pictures film I'd Give My Life (1936).
The Pretty Sister of Jose was a 1915 American silent romantic drama written and directed by Allan Dwan, and distributed by Paramount Pictures. Based on Frances Hodgson Burnett's 1889 novel of the same name and the 1903 stage play starring Maude Adams, the film starred Marguerite Clark and Jack Pickford. The Pretty Sister of Jose is now presumed lost.
Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch is a 1919 silent American comedy-drama film produced by Famous Players–Lasky Corporation and distributed through Paramount Pictures. Directed by Hugh Ford, the film stars Marguerite Clark and is based on the 1904 Broadway play by Anne Crawford Flexner, which itself is taken from the novel of the same name by Alice Hegan Rice.
Scarlet Days is a 1919 American silent Western film produced and directed by D. W. Griffith and released through Paramount/Artcraft Pictures, Artcraft being an affiliate of Paramount. Richard Barthelmess stars in a role for which Griffith had screentested Rudolph Valentino. In today's time, this film is considered by many to be one of Griffith's worst films though it might have worked better as a short film. This film was unlike others created by D.W. Griffith. According to an article written for The Cincinnati Enquirer, written on the 16 of November 1919: "Unlike other recent Griffith production, Scarlet Days is a story of the old West, of the gold rush days of 49- Bret Harte transferred to the screen!" The Western film genre was expanding at this time and Scarlet Days fits into this category. Western films were popular for this time.
Less than the Dust is a 1916 American silent feature film produced by and starring Mary Pickford with a release by Artcraft Pictures, an affiliate of Paramount Pictures. John Emerson directed and Eric von Stroheim was one of the assistant directors. There is a 35mm copy of this film that still survives.
Uncle Tom's Cabin was a 1918 American silent drama film directed by J. Searle Dawley, produced by Famous Players–Lasky Corporation and distributed by Paramount Pictures under the Famous Players–Lasky name. The film is based on Harriet Beecher Stowe's 1852 novel Uncle Tom's Cabin and George Aiken's eponymous play.
Bab's Diary is a 1917 American silent romantic comedy film directed by J. Searle Dawley and starring Marguerite Clark. The film's scenario was written by Martha D. Foster, based on the screen story "Her Diary" by Mary Roberts Rinehart. This was the first in a trilogy of Babs films all starring Clark.
Bab's Burglar was a 1917 American silent romantic comedy film directed by J. Searle Dawley and distributed by Paramount Pictures. The film followed Bab's Diary, released on October 17, 1917, and was the second in the trilogy of Babs films that starred Marguerite Clark.
Bab's Matinee Idol is a 1917 American silent romantic comedy film, based on the Mary Roberts Rinehart novel Bab: a Sub-Deb, produced by Famous Players–Lasky, and directed by J. Searle Dawley. This was the final film in the trilogy of Babs films that starred Marguerite Clark.
The Amazons is a 1917 American silent comedy film directed by Joseph Kaufman and starred Marguerite Clark, Elsie Lawson, and Helen Greene. The film was based on the 1883 play of the same name by Sir Arthur Wing Pinero, and adapted for the screen by Frances Marion. It was produced and distributed by Famous Players–Lasky and distributed by Paramount Pictures under the Famous Players–Lasky name. The film is now presumed lost.
Frank Losee was an American stage and screen actor. A veteran of the Broadway stage he began in silent films in 1915. Often he played the father of Mary Pickford, Pauline Frederick and Marguerite Clark.
Three Men and a Girl is a lost 1919 American romantic comedy film directed by Marshall Neilan and starring Marguerite Clark. It was produced by Famous Players–Lasky and distributed by Paramount Pictures. The film is based on the off-Broadway play The Three Bears by Edward Childs Carpenter.
Rich Man, Poor Man is a lost 1918 American silent romantic drama film starring Marguerite Clark and directed by J. Searle Dawley. It is based on a 1916 Broadway play by George Broadhurst. It was produced by Famous Players–Lasky and distributed by Paramount Pictures.
Miss George Washington is a lost 1916 silent film comedy directed by J. Searle Dawley and starring Marguerite Clark. It was produced by Adolph Zukor through his Famous Players Film Company and distributed by Paramount Pictures.
The Innocent Lie is a 1916 American silent film produced by Famous Players Film Company and distributed by Paramount. It was directed by Sidney Olcott with Valentine Grant as leading woman.
Sunshine Nan is a surviving 1918 American silent comedy-drama film starring Ann Pennington and directed by Charles Giblyn. It is based on the novel Calvary Alley by Alice Hegan Rice. It was produced by Famous Players–Lasky and distributed by Paramount Pictures.
Under Cover is a lost 1916 American silent drama film directed by Robert G. Vignola, written by Doty Hobart and Roi Cooper Megrue, and starring Hazel Dawn, Owen Moore, William Courtleigh Jr., Ethel Fleming, Frank Losee, and Ida Darling. It was released on July 20, 1916, by Paramount Pictures. It was based on the 1914 Broadway play of the same name.
The Seventh Day is a 1922 American silent drama film directed by Henry King and starring Richard Barthelmess, Louise Huff, Frank Losee and Anne Cornwall. A group of high society New Yorkers on a yachting vacation put into a small New England fishing village for repairs. While there they strike up relationships with locals that threaten the harmony of their party.
