Leo White Movies
A music-hall favorite in his native England, dapper, diminutive Leo White was brought to America by theatrical impresario Daniel Frohman. In 1914, White joined the Essanay film company, where he appeared in support of Wallace Beery in the Sweedie comedies. Within a year he was a member in good standing of Charlie Chaplin's stock company, playing a variety of dandies, noblemen, and anarchists. He moved to Hal Roach's "Rollin'" comedies in 1917, where he co-starred with such funmakers as Harold Lloyd, Harry "Snub" Pollard, Bebe Daniels, and Bud Jamison. White showed up in several features of the 1920s, including Lloyd's Why Worry (1923), Valentino's Blood and Sand (1922), and the mighty Ben-Hur (1926, as Sallanbat). In the talkie era, he played supporting roles in Columbia and RKO two-reel comedies, and bits in features: in the Marx Brothers' Night at the Opera, for example, he's one of the three bearded Russian aviators. From 1934 to 1948, he was on call at Warner Bros. for bits and extra roles. Leo White spent his last decade essaying one-scene roles in such Warner features as Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942), Arsenic and Old Lace (1944), and The Fountainhead (1949), and even had a part in the animated Looney Tune Eatin' on the Cuff (1943). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1914
In 1914 The Ladies' World magazine held a screenwriting contest and the fourth prize winner was Mrs. Wilson Woodrow (no connection to then-president Woodrow Wilson). Mrs. Woodrow's screenplay became this picture, starring Francis X. Bushman and Ruth Stonehouse. Two wealthy clubmen are overjoyed that their children -- Arthur Chandler (Bushman) and Bessie Wells (Stonehouse) have become engaged. But an actress, Vivian LaMar (Lillian Drew), is still chasing after Chandler, and this causes a rift between the couple. Another clubman by the name of Jack Fixit (Harry Dunkinson) bets the two fathers a thousand dollars each that he can get the couple back together by morning. He enlists the help of Vivian, who drives Chandler out into the country and leaves him stranded there. Fixit then calls up Bessie to tell her that Vivian has been found murdered and that Chandler is the main suspect. When Chandler finds his way back home, he insists that he is innocent and Bessie believes him. However, her father (who knows the whole plot) forbids her to have anything to do with her sweetheart. Bessie stands by Chandler and her father throws her out of the house. The Chandlers won't have anything to do with the couple, either. Fixit says that the only way they can solve things is to escape out to sea in the Chandler yacht, get married, and wait until things cool down. They take him up on this suggestion only to find all their relatives -- and even Vivian -- on board, cheering them on. The couple wed and Fixit wins the bet. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
