Edward Earle Movies
One of the first stars to emerge from the old Edison film company, Canadian-born actor Edward Earle had toured in vaudeville and stock before settling on movies in 1915. The blonde, muscular Earle quickly rose to the rank of romantic lead in films like Ranson's Folly (1915), The Gates of Eden (1916), and East Lynne (1921). In the '20s he could be seen supporting such luminaries as George Arliss (The Man Who Played God [1922]) and Lillian Gish (The Wind [1928]). In talkies, Earle became a character player. Though his voice was resonant and his handsome features still intact, he often as not played unbilled bits, in everything from prestige pictures (Magnificent Obsession [1935]) to B-items (Laurel and Hardy's The Dancing Masters [1943] and Nothing but Trouble [1944]). In Beware of Blondie, Earle assumed the role of Dagwood's boss, Mr. Dithers -- but his back was turned to the camera and his voice was dubbed by the Blondie series' former Dithers, Jonathan Hale. Earle's best sound opportunities came in Westerns and serials; in the latter category, he was one of the characters suspected of being the diabolical Rattler in Ken Maynard's Mystery Mountain (1934). Edward Earle retired to the Motion Picture Country Home in the early '60s, where he died at age 90 in 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1921
East Lynne, the most famous of all melodramas, was filmed many times (including once with screen vamp Theda Bara!), and this time around it was brought up to modern times (or 1921, the year it was released), and its location changed from England to America. Otherwise the plot is pretty much the same: Isabel Vane (Mabel Ballin) believes her husband, Archibald Carlyle (Edward Earle) is romantically involved with Barbara Hare (Gladys Coburn). He isn't -- he's trying to save Barbara's brother, Richard (Gilbert Rooney), from a murder conviction. But Isabel doesn't know this, so she leaves him, and her estate, East Lynne, and goes to Quebec with Francis Levison (Henry G. Sell). Isabel has nothing but misfortune in Quebec -- Levison (who, it turns out, committed the murder Hare was believed guilty of) leaves her and her child dies. So she decides to go back to East Lynne and beg Archibald's forgiveness. But the train bringing her home wrecks and she is seriously injured. Her husband hears she has died and marries Barbara. But Isabel shows up on his doorstep at East Lynne, and she dies there. Star Mabel Ballin was the wife of the film's director Hugo Ballin. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- 1921
Filmed on location at Monterey, CA, and starring exotic stage dancer Mlle. Doraldina, this long-lost South Seas romance featured Stuart Holmes as a vicious plantation overseer who poisons his boss (W.A. Bainbridge) in order to possess both the unfortunate man's estate and his daughter. When the latter instead entrusts management of the plantation to handsome Edward Earle, Holmes almost create a native uprising by claiming that the girl is a half-caste. A devoted maid (Florence Turner) sets the record straight, however, and Doraldina is free to marry Earle. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- 1919
This farce comedy was based on the play by Lawrence Irving Rising. Moving Picture World, expressing the delicate mores of the era's movie audience, asserted, "it is not, after all, the sort of picture to flaunt in the face of an innocent debutante," in part because one of the characters reveals an identifying mole -- on her ankle! Alice Brady has a dual role, as the mischievous Vi Playfair (the one with the mole), and her tamer twin sister Tiny. Vi is about to marry Joe Damorel (Edward Earle), but first she wants to have a secret meeting with a former suitor, Lent Trevett (James L. Crane). Tiny -- who's more than a little in love with Trevett herself -- is shocked at her sister's plan, and goes to meet him herself. After receiving the kisses and affection meant for her sister, Tiny sends him on his way, but the next day, after the wedding, Trevett shows up in an attempt to convince Vi to run off with him. Tiny is furious when Vi agrees, and since there is a second dress identical to the wedding gown, she puts it on and goes off with Damorel. Now it's Vi's turn to become incensed, but after a lot of confusion, husband and wife get back together, while Tiny and Trevett decide they're happy with each other. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- 1917
For those not around in 1917, "bar sinister" referred to illegitimacy. In this case, the person whose heritage in question is Southern belle Hedda Nova, who has been listed in the record books as "part-colored". She must prove that she's 100% white in order to gain acceptance in the community. Yes, it was a strange, strange world we lived in, Master Jack. Bar Sinister was based on a poem by Anthony Kelly-which, for obvious reasons, is no longer part of the American classroom curriculum. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1917
Hero Gerald Ackland (Edward Earle) is not inclined to wait for America's entry into WWI. Long before his own country's official declaration, he heads to France to defend the Forces of Democracy against the Kaiser's hordes. While flying his airplane across enemy lines, our hero is forced to bail out, whereupon he locates a conveniently abandoned machine gun. As German bullets whizz around him, he remains at his post, mowing down the enemy with ruthless determination. Even in 1917, audiences didn't swallow the fabricated heroics of For France, so the producer felt obliged to insert a shot of the American flag at the end, just so he could claim that his film ended with a standing ovation. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1916
Although the "star system" was discouraged at Edison studios, actress Viola Dana managed to rise to fame under the Edison banner -- thanks in no small part to her favorite director (and her husband!) John H. Collins. In The Innocence of Ruth, Dana plays the title character, who upon the death of her father is placed under the guardianship of bachelor and man-about-town Mr. Carter (Edward Earle). For the next five reels, Carter dedicates himself to the attempted deflowering of the wide-eyed Ruth. By and by, however, her sweet ingenuousness deflects him from his mission -- so much so that he rescues her from being seduced by another libidinous bachelor. Just like her spiritual sister Doris Day, Ruth uses her virginity as a weapon with which to conquer the man of her dreams. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1915
There was "star power" aplenty in this first screen version of Richard Harding Davis' Ranson's Folly. The popular Edward Earle headed the cast as Lt. Ranson, a Cavalry officer who, on a dare, turns stagecoach outlaw for a day. To cover his tracks, Ranson uses the modus operandi of the notorious bandit known only as "The Red Rider." Little does he suspect that the real Red Rider is local innkeeper Patrick Cahill (Marc McDermott) -- who happens to be the father of Ranson's girl friend Mary (Mabel Trunnelle). Later on, circumstantial evidence suggests that Ranson and the Red Rider are one in the same, earning him an arrest and possible execution. The real Red Rider saves the day by committing suicide, but not before leaving behind a note in which he reveals his secret identity, thereby exonerating Ranson and leaving him free to wed sweet Mary. An even better version of Ranson's Folly was filmed eleven years later, with Richard Barthelmess as the title character. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1915
In this silent tragic crime drama, an impoverished fellow becomes so desperate that he goes along with a plot to murder a rich man. He goes to do the killing and much to his surprise, discovers that someone has beaten him to the punch. Later his fortune abruptly changes when he receives a generous inheritance. He falls in love and is preparing to marry when the vindictive son of the late tycoon shows up and accuses him of murder. It was the real killer who tipped off the son. The fellow ends up convicted of the crime. Meanwhile, his delicate fiancee dies from shock and grief. He becomes so bereaved that he welcomes the hangman's noose around his neck. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1914
Jack Leigh portrays Eugene Aram, a poverty-stricken 18th-century scholar. In dire straits, Aram plans to murder a wealthy man. Arriving at his potential victim's home, he finds that another murderer has beaten him to it. When Aram later inherits some money, suspicions arise that he has killed to attain the windfall. Thus it is that Eugene Aram is executed for a crime he didn't commit--a denouement that, curiously, is a happy one, given a last-minute plot twist. American distribution of this British adaptation of Edgar Bulwer Lytton's novel was scotched when the Edison Company produced a rival Eugene Aram in 1915. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
