Dell Henderson Movies
Tall, stocky comic actor Dell Henderson left his stage career behind when he and his actress wife Florence joined D. W. Griffith's Biograph players in 1909. He was frequently co-starred with fellow Biograph contractee Mack Sennett, and when Sennett set up his own Keystone studio, Henderson went along as an actor and director. He continued directing into the 1920s, also functioning as producer on such features as Gambling Wives (1924), Quick Change (1925) and Rough Stuff (1925). In 1927, Henderson resumed his acting career; one of his best late-silent performances was as Marion Davies' father in 1928's Show People. During the talkie era, Henderson appeared in dozens of two-reel comedies produced by Sennett, Hal Roach and Columbia. Most of his feature-film roles at this time were bits, with such notable exceptions as the kindly used-car dealer in Leo McCarey's Make Way For Tomorrow (1937) and the night court judge in Laurel and Hardy's Our Relations (1936). Del Henderson's last public appearance was on a 1954 This is Your Life TV installment honoring his former colleague Mack Sennett. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1913
A besieged blockhouse containing a frightened Lillian Gish, marauding Indians, and a Mexican who heroically brings the cavalry to the rescue, are the none-too-original components of D.W. Griffith's endurable 2-reeler The Battle at Elderbush Gulch, made during the director's final year with Biograph. Griffith called the film his finest up to that time, and he might very well have been correct. It was, one could say, all in the editing, which here builds to a crescendo of excitement as Gish is rescued in the nick of time. Timeworn, yes, but the master knew what he was doing and demanded longer pictures in which to do it. The old-fashioned Biograph refused, and Griffith walked, taking with him the stars of "Elderbush Gulch": Mae Marsh, Gish and Robert Harron. They all reunited the following year for the director's masterpiece, the 12-reel The Birth of a Nation. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- 1912
Old Stephen Rutherford (Gerald Griffin) is a wealthy curmudgeon who disowned his son when he married a poor girl. The son is now dead and he still refuses to acknowledge the wife, Prue (Mabel Taliaferro), or his grandson Bobby (Warner Anderson). Prue works at Rutherford's candy factory and is the one bright spot in the dreary place. She has become involved with former crook Danny O'Maddigan (Raymond McKee) and has encouraged him to follow the straight and narrow. One day Prue and little Bobby are out walking when Bobby is run over by one of the Rutherford factory vehicles. He is taken to Stephen Rutherford's home and the old man is enamored of the boy, even though he does not realize he is his grandson. When this fact is revealed, a reconciliation is effected between Rutherford and Prue. Meanwhile, Danny has "borrowed" ten dollars out of the Rutherford factory safe to finance a party for his granny's 75th birthday. He is scared away before he can close the safe, and his ex-associates come in and take the rest. Danny is jailed for the theft, but when Rutherford learns that the young man is in love with Prue, he gets him off, leading to a happy end for all concerned.
~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- 1912
A wagon train is attacked by marauding Indians in this typically grisly Biograph one-reel western melodrama preserved in the print collection of the Library of Congress. After the massacre of the title, a soldier searches for his wife and child. He finds them -- under a pile of dead soldiers. Griffith and his faithful players "took" this picture in California during the company's winter and spring sojourn of 1912. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- 1911
D.W. Griffith's The Two Paths is frequently written off as a "potboiler," but, in 1911 at least, any one of Griffith's potboilers was worth three of anyone else's films. This cautionary drama charts the lives of two sisters, one frivolous, the other sensible. The frivolous one heads off to the Big City, where she becomes the mistress of a callous millionaire; the sensible one marries for love, settling down happily as the wife of a hard-working carpenter. Guess which one of these romances ends in tragedy? In his book on Griffith's Biograph films, Robert Henderson has noted that The Two Paths contains many of the director's trademarks-to-me, including one scene illuminated solely by the light of a fireplace. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1911
This simple and very effective melodramatic short film was a landmark in its day; in fact, today it is still a fine example of intercutting from one scene to another to build up to an exciting climax. In 1911, director D.W. Griffith was changing the face of filmmaking by his skilled use of this technique. The Lonedale Operator is also an example of excellent storytelling. In a few charming scenes we are introduced to the girl (Blanche Sweet) and her sweetheart, a railroad engineer (Francis J. Grandon). The girl's father is the operator at the Lonedale station, and when he becomes sick his daughter takes over for him. Because of a big payroll shipment, the girl finds herself in charge of a large suitcase full of money. A pair of hobos see the lone girl as easy prey and attempt to break into the station. In a panic, the girl telegraphs for help but the operator on the other end is dozing. When the word finally gets out, her engineer sweetheart takes his train to her rescue. In a series of short cuts, we see the panicked girl, the hobos breaking through the door, the train rushing along, and the scenery flying by. By the time the engineer arrives, the girl is holding off the would-be bandits with what appears to be a gun, but which is really a small monkey wrench. It's worth noting that Sweet was an inspired choice for this role: She's not fluttery and fragile, like many of Griffith's favorite actresses. Instead, she creates the strong presence of a young girl who is able to take care of herself. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
