Jean Hersholt Movies
Danish actor Jean Hersholt was already a stage and movie veteran when he arrived in the USA in 1913. An apprenticeship as an extra and bit player led to a long and lucrative silent film career in the '20s, during which time Hersholt was firmly entrenched as the slimiest and most monstrous of movie villains. Towards the end of the silent era, Hersholt began playing nicer characters, still taking on the occasional bad guy or "surprise" killer in murder mysteries. Hersholt's screen image was altered permanently in 1936, when he was cast as Dr. Dafoe, the Canadian obstetrician who delivered the celebrated Dionne Quintuplets, in 20th Century-Fox's The Country Doctor. Plans to create a Dr. Dafoe movie series were blocked by the real Dafoe, but Jean Hersholt was anxious to sustain the characterization of a beneficent, lovable small-town medico; thus Dr. Christian -- named for Hersholt's favorite author, Hans Christian Andersen -- was born. The actor created the role of Dr. Christian on radio in 1937, then commenced a series of six low-budget Christian features for RKO Radio in 1939. Extending the ethics and generosity of Dr. Christian into his private life, Hersholt set up the Motion Picture Relief Fund, which provided medical care and a livable income for actors, directors, and other studio employees who were no longer able to care for themselves. While serving as president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Hersholt was lauded with three Academy Awards for his own charity work, and in 1948, he was knighted by King Christian X of Denmark. In 1956, a TV series based on Dr. Christian was produced by ZIV Studios; appearing on the first episode to bestow his practice upon the new Dr. Christian (MacDonald Carey) was Jean Hersholt, who had valiantly agreed to help launch the series even though he was dying of cancer and had wasted away to only 95 pounds. After the actor's death, the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award was set up to honor conspicuous acts of selflessness and kindness in the movie industry. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1921
The Man of the Forest was one of a seemingly endless stream of Zane Grey novels that were brought to the screen. Carl Gantvoort makes a rather colorless hero, and he's up against two impressive villains: Robert McKim and Jean Hersholt. Ailing ranch owner Al Auchincloss (Harry Lorraine) sends for his two nieces, Helen and Bo Raynor (Claire Adams and Charlotte Pierce), who are his heirs. Milt Dale, who lives in the forest (Gantvoort), comes down to help round up the cattle, and a romance springs up between him and Helen. This does not please Harvey Riggs (McKim), who is trying to get control of the ranch. Riggs gets help from bootlegger Lem Beasley (Jean Hersholt), who sends his henchmen to kidnap the girls. Dale, meanwhile, has been framed to keep him out of the way, but he still manages to rescue Helen and Bo. Beasley's attempt to poison Auchincloss is foiled when he is shot by Las Vegas, a cowboy (Frank Hayes). The bad guys are put to rout, and Dale can continue his romance with Helen. This story was filmed again in 1926 and 1933. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carl Gantvoort, Claire Adams, (more)
- 1920
Mary Ann (Shirley Mason) is a drudge who works in a London boardinghouse run by Mrs. Leadbatter (Georgia Woodthorpe). One of the boarders is Lancelot (Casson Ferguson), a handsome young composer who has a problem making ends meet, primarily because he refuses to write commercial music. He befriends Mary Ann and slowly they fall in love. A stranger comes skulking around the boarding house, showing an interest in Mary Ann. It turns out that she has inherited a fortune from her brother, and the stranger is hoping to win her love and marry into the inheritance. Lancelot helps chase him off. He has already asked Mary Ann to be his own housekeeper, but her sudden wealth scares him off. Eventually he writes a composition that becomes a success and he and Mary Ann are united. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- 1920
In this Universal programmer, Frank Mayo plays Norman Aldrich, a revenue officer whose beat is the north woods of Maine, near the Canadian border. He runs for legislature and is elected in the last reel. Before that happens, however, he saves townsfolk who are being evicted from their homes, battles smugglers, including saloon keeper Vetal Beaulieu (Jean Hersholt) and saves Beaulieu's daughter Marie (Lillian Rich) from being married off to the villainous David Roi (James Mason). ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- 1920
Manson, a servant (Jean Hersholt), comes to work for a curate, William Smythe (Edward Piel). The curate has spent his life pretending to be one of the elite, when he actually worked his way up from the gutter with the help of his brother, Robert Smith, a drain man (Jack Curtis). He now refuses to acknowledge his common beginnings, or his brother. Manson, a powerful believer in the brotherhood of man, teaches the curate about real faith and truth. This picture showed the division between real Christian values and organized religion, something that was not often discussed in its day. It was adapted from the play by Charles Rann Kennedy. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- 1919
When her pickpocket father is sent up the river, Nancy (Olive Thomas) has to provide for her younger sisters. She places them in the care of Jonathan Twist (William V. Mong), a jeweler and a fence, then goes to work as a demonstrator in a drug store. There she meets wealthy old Englishman Lord Cleveland and marries him. He dies not long after, and Nancy discovers that she has no title to his fortune. She returns to the States, playing the society dame by day and by night, dressed in boy's clothing, she robs rich people's homes. (However, she gives some of her ill-gotten earnings to the poverty-stricken people she grew up with, showing that she hasn't completely forgotten her roots!) Her skill at burglary inspires the police to put their craftiest detective, Jim Garside (Joe King), on her trail. He's probably not quite so sharp as he appears, since it takes him several weeks to nail Nancy, and that's only after he finds Twist -- who has been fencing the items she's stolen -- dead. He is about to accuse her of the murder when he finds out the real killer has been captured. So instead he falls in love with her. Needless to say, this preposterous film did not do Olive Thomas's career much good. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ann Forrest, Dolly Dare, (more)
- 1918
Jack Mulhall stars as the ne'er-do-well son of a US admiral. When Mulhall discovers that his dad's butler is really a German spy, he is handed a golden opportunity to make good. Upon the arrival of "Madame Spy" (Claire DuBrey), Mulhall waylays the lady and assumes her identity-evening gown, mascara and all! One is left with the impression that Madame Spy wasn't meant to be taken as gospel. The film's director was Douglas Gerrard, who ironically spent much of the talkie era playing "sissy" types. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1918
Socialism is given sympathetic, if unrealistic, treatment in this Triangle drama. John Warfield (Joe King) has been raised a socialist and after his father dies, he continues speaking out against wealth and luxury. Goldie Shepard (Claire Anderson), a telephone operator, takes an interest in him and becomes his stenographer. She is angry because her father (Jean Hersholt) was hit and killed by a car in which wealthy Lorraine Van Allen (Alma Rubens) was riding. Guido Garcia (Francis MacDonald), who is something of a fanatic, helps Warfield by funding a home for the poor. Lorraine comes by to speak with Goldie, who wants nothing to do with her. After seeing the good work Warfield is doing, however, she decides to stick around and get involved. Warfield, meanwhile, discovers that he has inherited a fortune and sails to England to claim it. He sends for Goldie and they are married. But her sudden plunge into wealth changes her. She no longer cares about the poor and refuses to accompany her husband back to the States. Garcia arrives, and when he discovers how much trouble Goldie is causing, he kills her and then jumps into the Thames. Warfield returns to America to find Lorraine taking care of his mission. A romance develops and they embark on a life together, helping the poor. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- 1917
John Ford -- then billed as Jack Ford -- had recently begun directing his own features when he made this Western with Harry Carey. Harry wakes up one morning in jail with a hangover, and is informed by the sheriff that because of his wild behavior the night before he is to get out of town. On the road Harry comes upon an Indian attack, during which a young minister, John Marks (Jean Hersholt), hides his little daughter (Elizabeth Janes) before being killed by his attackers. When the Indians have gone, Harry rescues the little girl, who insists that he dress like her daddy. He obliges, finding a note to John from his sister-in-law Jane (Fritzi Ridgeway) asking him to come to the town of Buckhorn. Harry does as the letter instructs, the child in tow. Jane assumes that he is John at first, but when he gets in a fight with one of the town's bad guys, it becomes clear that he is no minister. Harry, however, is willing to give it a try and he forces the saloon's patrons to attend a sermon, which he gives cowboy-style, guns and all. Unfortunately, the town's ruffians blame Jane for being forced to go to church, and they kidnap her, compelling Harry to shoot it out with the bad guys and rescue Jane. He returns victorious and closes down the saloon. Carey and Ford would make films together for several years, and the blend of action and humor here is typical of their output. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- 1917
Jack Mulhall has an unsympathetic role as gunman Chuck Connelly in this melodrama. Killer Connelly begins to think about mending his ways when a Salvation Army girl takes a special interest in him. But he still leads a life of crime until he is sent to do a job on the district attorney. He goes to the DA's home with several accomplices, but at the last moment he decides not to go through with the murder. His three confederates come into the house, determined to finish the job themselves, but Chuck comes to the DA's defense, and as a result loses his life. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- 1917
In this comedy-adventure, Jack Calvert (Jack Mulhall) makes a bet that he can make it from Kansas to Constantinople without any financial aid, and without a woman's help. Meanwhile, Betty Calvert (Ruth Stonehouse) is on the run from Reginald (Jean Hersholt), a suitor of whom she is less than fond. Betty has disguised herself as a boy and when she meets up with Jack, they decide to stick together. Their trek takes them through various strange lands, including a cannibal island, but it isn't until they reach Constantinople that Betty reveals that she is a girl. Jack loses his bet but wins a wife. Reginald doesn't lose out, though -- after chasing Betty for the better part of the film, he winds up being named king on the cannibal island and acquiring a harem of native women. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- 1917
Director Lynn Reynolds adapted the screenplay of The Greater Law from The Code of the Klondike, a magazine story by Charles J. Wilson Jr.. Myrtle Gonzalez stars as Barbara Henderson, who journeys to Alaska to avenge the reported death of her brother Jimmy (G. M. Rickets). Determined to become a crack shot, Barbara is instructed in the intricacies of gunplay by good-looking prospector Cort Dorian (Lawrence Peyton). Barbara falls in love with Cort, a fact that causes her no end of anguish when she is led to believe that Cort was responsible for her brother's death. Grimly, Barbara challenges Cort to a gun duel, which she wins. Fortunately, Cort recovers from his wounds, while Barbara's brother, who hasn't been killed after all, returns in the company of his new bride "Seattle" Lou (Gretchen Lederer). George Hernandez, the husband of star Myrtle Gonzalez, showed up in a scene-pilfering supporting role. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1917
A judge who had taken part in the gold rush of 1849 hires an acting troupe to recreate the experience in this rather fanciful silent Western. The make-believe turns serious when a real gold-mine is discovered nearby and a local girl (Donna Drew) is kidnapped by a nasty gambler (Jean Hersholt). Filmed near San Diego, California, the '49 - '17 is notable for having been directed by a woman, Universal scenario-writer Ruth Ann Baldwin. Miss Baldwin directed or co-directed a handful of feature films, several of which, including this one, featured her husband Leo O. Pierson in important roles. Baldwin returned to screen writing in 1919. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joseph W. Girard, Leo Pierson, (more)
- 1917
This amusing film is an absurd blend of two genres popular in the late 1910's -- the western and the mythical kingdom adventure. Jack Mulhall plays Jim, an Arizona cowboy who, along with his college-bred Indian pal (Noble Johnson), strike gold. With their newfound wealth they decide to go to Europe and happen upon the aforementioned mythical kingdom. Jim climbs over the wall to the Queen's palace -- he's never seen a queen before. In fact, he doesn't recognize her (Ruth Stonehouse) when he sees her, but he does fall instantly in love. The Queen, Sylvia, tells him she must marry the dissipated King Ferdinand (Jean Hersholt), who rules the neighboring kingdom; if she doesn't there will be war. Jim and the Indian take at look at the King's forces and tells Queen Sylvia that they're a sorry bunch. He knows a group of rough riders who fought in the Spanish War who could whup them. So Jim sends for his buddies and they vanquish the King's forces, enabling the Queen to marry the cowboy. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- 1916
William S. Hart took a respite from his "good-badman" groove to play a preacher in Apostle of Vengeance. Ministering to one of the toughest towns in the West, Hart is determined never to rely upon physical force. But when forced into a showdown, he is sorely tempted to slap on the old six-shooters. Hart himself directed Apostle of Vengeance, with second-unit assistance from his faithful cohort Clifford Smith. Future stars John Gilbert and Jean Hersholt show up as extras, just as they did in Hart's Hell's Hinges (1916). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1916
This Thomas H. Ince production contained enough plot, incidents and characters for three pictures. William Desmond stars as Prince Carl, ruler of a war-ravaged European kingdom. On the orders of pretender-to-the-throne Michael (Wyndham Standing), Carl is lured into a dank dungeon by Michael's vampish sister, Countess Olga (Bessie Barriscale). Sentenced to be executed on a trumped-up charge, Carl is rescued by Olga, who has fallen in love with him. In retaliation, Michael begins plotting Olga's demise, but she in turn is saved by the timely arrival of Carl, who dispatches the villain with his trusty saber. And the story still has at least three more reels to go! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1916
The quintessential William S. Hart western, Hell's Hinges stars two-gun Bill as gunslinger Blaze Tracy, "a man wholly evil." When a new preacher (Jack Standing) comes to town, Tracy and saloon proprietor Silk Miller (Alfred Hollingsworth) prepare to kick the "sky pilot" out of town. But while the preacher is weak-willed, his pretty sister (Clara Williams) is firm in her religious resolve. For her sake, Tracy decides to leave the preacher alone. From this point on, the film parallels the redemption of Tracy with the degeneration of the preacher, who is seduced by saloon-strumpet Dolly (Louise Glaum). Drunk and delirious, the preacher leads the townsfolk in burning down his own church! He comes to his senses just in time to be killed by Silk Miller, whereupon Blaze Tracy, exacting a near-Biblical retribution, guns down every nasty character within hailing distance and sets fire to the town. As the evil townspeople scurry about in terror, Tracy walks slowly and determinedly through the blazing inferno. His work done, he helps the girl bury her brother and rides off with her to a better life "over the rim". The direction of Hell's Hinges is credited to both William S. Hart and Charles Swickard, but it's easy to see which of the two had the most creative control. The poetic, larger-than-life qualities of the film are superbly complemented by writer C. Gardner Sullivan's florid subtitles. A 2-reel version of Hell's Hinges, retitled The Devil Dodger, was released to TV in the early 1950s as part of the silent-film retrospective series Movie Museum. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1916
Gambler John Kinkaid (R.A. Calvin) is suspected of stealing $10,000 to finance his Mexican gambling casino. Lady detective Nellie Gleason (Ruth Stonehouse) heads South of the Border, hoping to get the goods on Kinkaid and to retrieve the cash. Quite taken by Nellie, Kinkaid risks arrest to visit her in her Stateside headquarters. By now, Nellie has likewise fallen in love with Kinkaid and cannot bring herself to place him in custody. Ultimately, however, Duty wins out over Passion, and Nellie tearfully sets a trap for the moonstruck Kinkaid. Evidently hoping to have their cake and eat it too, the producers tacked on a happy ending, with the heroine aiding the hero in his daring escape from prison. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1916
With the assistant of his trusted associate Clifford Smith (who handled most of the second-unit stuff), William S. Hart directed his own starring vehicle The Aryan. Hart plays a westerner who suffers betrayal at the hands of seductive Louise Glaum. Seeking revenge, he resorts to robbery and murder. He is at last redeemed by virtuous Bessie Love. Incredibly, despite his box-office clout, William S. Hart's salary as both actor and director was a paltry $150 per week. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William S. Hart
- 1915
A typically moralistic William S. Hart western, The Disciple tells the story of preacher Jim Houston (Hart) who, while ministering to the Godforsaken frontier town of Barren Gulch, loses his wanton wife Dorothy Dalton to the local doctor and gambling-hall proprietor (Robert McKim). Forsaking the ministry after his wife's desertion, Jim escapes to the mountains with their young child (Thelma Salter). The wife, meanwhile, unknowingly arrives at the mountain lodge to find her child near death's door. Her lover, the only doctor in the district, is called for, and he manages to cure the child. The wife now has to make the choice between her lover and home and hearth. She chooses the latter, and peace and tranquility is restored. One of the many vamps of the early silent era, brunette Dorothy Dalton's best-known roles were Queen Anne in The Three Musketeers (1916) and Letty in Moran of the Lady Letty (1929). She retired after doing a version of the old melodrama Leah Kleschna, re-titled The Moral Sinner. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
