Constance Talmadge
The edition of Screen Snapshots celebrates 25 years of production. It looks at the content of edition #1, then a tribute to movie people who have died in those 25 years. Finally there are tributes to the Screen Snapshots series by Cecil De Mille, Walt Disney, Louella Parsons and Rosalind Russell.
A slick caper movie about a petty thief falls for a wealthy American artist.
While plotting together to win back their lovers, the rich Madeleine and the penniless Pierre fall for each other.
An American dancer on a tour of pre-Boleshevik Russia falls for a young army officer, and the feeling is mutual. However, the officer's father is the Grand Duke of Russia, and he has designs on the girl himself--not letting a minor detail like his already being married bother him--and refuses to let his son marry her.
Struggling stockbroker Jimmie Shannon learns that, if he gets married by 7 p.m. on his 27th birthday -- which is today -- he'll inherit $7 million from an eccentric relative.
Helen has a twin sister, who is a famous actress named "La Perry". Helen and her sister decide to trick Helen's husband to prove his love.
A newly married husband and wife make an agreement that should either of them want to terminate their relationship then a bowl with goldfish would be presented to the other signalling the end of their marriage.
A sequel of sorts, the Jewish ethnic comedy characters of Potash and Perlmutter return from their 1923 debut film, also produced by Goldwyn, but with a different actor for Potash.
An impoverished British lord (Paul Menford) impersonates a doctor in order to woo an ailing American heiress (Dorothy Adams). The lord is in it for love, but his business associate (Joe Diamond) smells money.
She'd wink till hearts went on the blink. And staid professors couldn't think. And everywhere they'd stop to stare. And say "Some Chink!" when Ming Toy winked.
A free-spirited girl is caught between her love for her husband and her attraction to a handsome adventurer.
A romantic comedy, focusing on the love triangle between Bob Jones, Alysia Potter and Polly Meachum. Originally engaged, Bob and Alysia elope to Bowling Green, Connecticut, where they meet Silas Meachum, a campaigner against motion pictures, and his daughter, Polly. The eloping couple’s family arrive, chasing them, and persuade them to wait to get married. Polly goes to New York to join the Ziegfeld Follies, but is ultimately replaced by Alysia. As Bob consoles Polly, Alysia breaks off the engagement, and Bob and Polly may now marry.
Miss Norma and Miss Constance Talmadge among the girls one of whom they are to select as the New British Film Star.
Rosalie Wayne (Talmadge) meets Reginald Carter (Ford) after he introduces himself while chasing her dog with one of his oxfords, and she marries him in haste. Reggie comes down with the measles following a quarrel over her bobbed hair, not knowing he is ill she leaves for Reno and then Europe. After a year's absence and having secured her divorce, she meets Reggie again and finds him engaged to another. Jealousy arouses her to break up the match, but the wedding is progressing before she devises a means of doing so. Reggie, however, is satisfied and glad to be reunited with his Rosalie despite her sharp tongue and unusual method of winning his love.
While often overlooked by the lens of contemporary cinema, Constance Talmadge was one of the silent era's most popular and brightest comedic stars, making nearly 50 feature films before retiring as an independently wealthy woman in 1929. Good References was her sixth and final release of 1920, with a plot revolving around a down-on-her-luck woman named Mary (played by Talmadge) whose lack of references makes it impossible for her to gain employment. When a friend falls ill, Mary impersonates her in order to take a job as secretary to an elderly socialite. Things immediately start going downhill when she is tasked to introduce a ne'er-do-well nephew to high society—but ends up bailing him out of a string of scandals instead.
In this comedy, Constance Talmadge plays Babs, a girl who is thrown out of boarding school because she's more interested in studying romance than she is in studying books. The object of her affections is Jim Winthrop, but before they can wed, he has to find suitable mates for his two plain sisters, Dorcas and Matilda -- and Winthrop's elderly aunt, too. To speed things up, Babs takes it upon herself to find them all men.
A flirtatious young woman takes a job in a busy office, where her presence is terribly disruptive. None of the men in the office can concentrate on their jobs while her charms are on display. Of course, she sets her eye on the one man who seems oblivious to her.
Happiness a la Mode is a 1919 American silent comedy film directed by Walter Edwards and starring Harrison Ford and Constance Talmadge.
Romance and Arabella is a 1919 American silent romantic comedy film directed by Walter Edwards and starring Constance Talmadge, Harrison Ford, and Monte Blue.
After the relatively low box office takings of 'Intolerance', D. W. Griffith would revisit his epic film three years later by releasing two of the film's interlocking stories as standalone features, with some new additional footage. The first of the two was 'The Fall of Babylon', which depicts the conflict between Prince Belshazzar of Babylon and Cyrus the Great of Persia.
Constance Talmadge stars as a vivacious, carefree young girl who is disgusted by the thought of growing old. In her despondency she adopts the motto "Who cares?" and does her best to live up to it, even after she marries the handsome and dashing Martin Grey (Harrison Ford).
Mrs. Leffingwell's Boots is a 1918 American silent comedy film directed by Walter Edwards and starring Constance Talmadge, Harrison Ford and George Fisher.
The Studio Girl is a 1918 American silent comedy film directed by Charles Giblyn and starring Constance Talmadge, Earle Foxe and Edna Earle.
Bored by the slow pace of life in her little home town, Helen Drayton rebels when her friends and relatives assume that she will marry her friend and escort, Chet Vernon. Helen is so anxious to experience life in the big city that she falls in love with visiting New York architect John Galvin almost immediately after his arrival. Several weeks later, the two marry and move to New York, where, after a series of painful experiences, Helen finally realizes John's selfishness.
The Honeymoon is a 1917 American silent comedy film directed by Charles Giblyn and starring Constance Talmadge, Earle Foxe and Maude Turner Gordon.
Betsy Harlow is a hard-working maid in a boarding house. Her dream. however, is to be a detective, a dream she shares with her boyfriend Oscar, a delivery boy for a local grocer. One day a mysterious character named Harry Brent takes a room at the boarding house. Harry, seeing that Betsy is falling for his rather shady charms, persuades her to help him get a box of jewels owned by the Jaspers, an elderly couple who lives across the hall. It turns out that Harry is not quite who he seems; neither, however, are the Jaspers.
When a wealthy hypochondriac is dissatisfied by the care of the town doctor (Doc Arnold), he consults with a new physician in town who swindles him out of a large sum of money. When his daughter tries to retrieve the check, the quack (Dr. Bell) turns up dead with a gun shot wound to the chest. Doc Arnold lends his expertise to the investigation and solves the case by finding microscopic evidence on the murder weapon left at the scene.
The story of a poor young woman, separated by prejudice from her husband and baby, is interwoven with tales of intolerance from throughout history.
A young couple attempts to elope, with the bride's irate father in hot pursuit. The train stops briefly and the young man dashes off to find a minister, but before he can get himself and the minister onto the train, it leaves, carrying his bride-to- be away. Now the young man, minister in tow, pursues his bride while her father and a horde of lawmen pursue them both.
Bill Pike, recently married, hits his home town about seven in the evening, and immediately is seized by a bunch of his old cronies who drag him into a hotel to have a game of poker. He protests wildly and at last escapes long enough to phone Dill, his young wife, who is anxiously awaiting his return. He's going to be very late. At home, Mrs. Pike receives a telegram telling her that her brother Steve will be there soon and he is anxious to meet Bill..
Sam Hubert, a theatrical manager, learns that his greatest rival in the theatrical field has signed up a new and brilliant star, Corinne, the dancer, whom Hubert has never met. He feels that he must do something to counteract this scoop and decides to leave at once for Philadelphia for the purpose of signing up a certain European celebrity who has just arrived from abroad.
Finding that his attentions to Nellie are undesirable in the eyes of Jenkins, her father. Billy tries to elope with the girl, but the young people's plans are overheard by the old gentleman, who disguises himself in Nellie's cloak and veil and attends the meeting place himself. Father beats Billy up and chases him away from the place after ordering him never to come back. Billy conceives a brilliant idea. With his handkerchief over his face, bandit-fashion, he sneaks up to the Jenkins home that evening and climbs in a convenient window...
The new stenographer is right there when it comes to class which does not escape the notice of her boss. He showers attentions upon her and asks her out to the beach with him the following Sunday. She accepts. It is perfect day for her Boss. She enters into the spirit of everything and he has things all his own way. She even ignores the glances of other men and when a certain one gets too fresh, the fresh one takes a beating at the hands of the boss. But then the boss wakes up. It was only a dream.
Within twenty-four hours after Bedelia, an old maid, has lost her green cat, she is begging Boggs, of the National Detective Agency, to find her lost pet and offering him $1,000 reward as an added inducement. Billy, Boggs' assistant, goes out on the case and finally tracks down a kitten which had received an accidental bath from a can of green paint. Boggs decides he will earn the reward a little easier, and tells his daughter Constance to get him a stray cat, which he intends to paint green, then claim the reward.
Bobby Tucker, while strolling about a Railroad Station, spies Nan Tubbs, a charming young lady whom her father and mother are very anxious to marry off to some rich young man. While waiting for a train she smiles at Bobby and he smiles back. Papa catches them at it, and horrified, hustles her away, after delivering a severe lecture on the subject of flirting. A few minutes later Pa Tubbs happens to pick up a sheet of paper on which Bobby had been industriously "figgering," and finds written on it, "My profit $50,000." Deciding the young man must be a millionaire in disguise, Pa Tubbs immediately makes amends by introducing his daughter to Bobby, who is rather bewildered, but tells them, "My father is Major-Gen. Tucker." This augments the young man's prestige, and he is invited to spend a week at the Tubbs' home.
While stopping at the Bronzegilt Hotel, Slick and Slim, two high-class and well-dressed burglars, overhear Baroness Vodka tell the manager she wishes to place her million-dollar box of jewels in the hotel vault, which is set into the wall at the end of the hallway. The manager accordingly escorts her to the big safe, and she watches him place the little box inside. Next morning the manager goes to cash a check for the Baroness, and finds the whole vault has completely vanished.
Becoming extremely tired of his wife's propensity for indulging in bridge whist parties and other social functions, to the sad neglect of her domestic duties, Walter Greene determines to teach her a lesson.
The wealthy Mr. Billy gives a party at his palatial residence. He is in love with the handsome widow, Mrs. Constance, and has a deadly rival, the Count De Meaux. During the evening the latter makes a wager for five thousand dollars with Billy that he could not earn his own living for one month without help. Billy takes the bet and the widow promises to marry him if he wins it. He is not to accept assistance of any kind from friends, nor draw any money from his bank, and he is to start out penniless. The wager is to expire at twelve midnight on Hallowe'en.
Aching for an opportunity to get square with strong-willed Mrs. Drexel, boarding house mistress and mother of his sweetheart, Constance, Billy sees his opportunity when his uncle Battledore is suddenly called out of town. He hangs out a "Boarders Wanted" sign in front of his uncle's house, then with a big roll of bills the young man, just after Mrs. Drexel has given all the servants a raking over, lures them all away from her. When her boarders troop down to breakfast and find no breakfast awaiting them they all quit on the spot with feelings beyond description.
Because of a family feud, Bobby Scrawn's love for Mary Stretch seems hopeless, particularly after the young man has been spanked with a fence picket wielded by the sturdy arm of Pa Stretch. A few days later Mrs. Stretch gives a preliminary talk on tramps and how they can be saved. She announces the subject will be continued at her home on the following Thursday. Mary gets a startling idea and tells Bobby of it. Thursday arrives and twenty or more women are listening to Mrs. Stretch talk on hobos, when "Hungry Hank," a tough-looking and ragged tramp, applies at the kitchen door for a "hand-out."
At the reading of her uncle's will, Honoria Spavin, a spinster lady, learns that his entire fortune is to be left to her on condition that she marry her cousin, Benvenuto Torrini, a young man who is not an Italian, but an American, living in America. If she refuses to marry Ben, all the fortune goes to him, but if he refuses to marry her, she is to get the money. Ben happens to be already engaged to Ella Cunningham, and when he receives a copy of the will he shows it to Ella who thinks up a plan.
On discovering that their beau, Timothy, the village schoolmaster, is quite unable to choose between them for a life partner, Ivy and Lily Skinner agree to draw lots. Ivy, who is of a romantic, novel-reading nature, loses and is broken hearted. She seeks solace in her favorite, Tennyson, and in reading "The Lady of Shalott" becomes imbued with the determination to die as did the heroine in the book.
A young man's girlfriend is forbidden by her father to see him again. When the father takes his family on a hunting trip to the woods, the girl and her suitor hatch a plan where he dresses up in a bear suit to "menace" the family, then leaves and reappears as himself to "save" them. However, things don't go quite to plan.
In the Latin Quarter is a 1915 silent short film directed by Lionel Belmore and starring Edith Storey and Antonio Moreno. It was produced and distributed by the Vitagraph Company of America.
Just out of college, in love with Letty Grey, whose father is quick-tempered and opposed to him, also possessing a wealthy rival, Bertie feels he doesn't stand much show until he tells his troubles to Belle Chester, his cousin. Her sympathy and encouragement brace him up wonderfully. Meanwhile, Letty's father has bullied her into submitting to an engagement with the rival, Clarence Merkle, who is a susceptible gentleman of some 40 summers. Bertie learns of this, and in despair, again consults Belle. She tells him she will reconnoiter the enemy. She visits Letty, is introduced to Merkle, and learns he simply cannot resist a woman's wiles. She then secures a classy walking rig, tells Bertie to put it on, assists him to fix up as a fair young damsel, and gets him introduced at Grey's house as her friend from the West.
Left behind by his brothers on their fishing trip, Buddy is disconsolate until he sees Lilly, a stylish young lady from the city, who is visiting Mrs. Boyd, their next-door neighbor. He awkwardly makes her acquaintance, and it proves to be a case of love at first sight on his part. She is older than he and although secretly amused, is gracious to Buddy and he acquires such a swelled head that he passes haughtily by his old friends, Grace and Elsa Forster.
While touring Algiers, Mrs. Osborne and her daughter, Winnifred, make the acquaintance of Schuyler Van Norden, a young American banker. At a little booth, Mrs. Osborne purchases "The Moonstone of Fez." On their way to their hotel, Winnifred and her mother are accosted by a beggar, who seizes Mrs. Osborne's hand and insists upon telling her fortune. The following night they retire in adjoining rooms. In the morning, Winnifred is frightened to find her mother has mysteriously disappeared.
The Payne family of Lonesomeville set up a Fairy Play, founded upon the story of "The Sleeping Beauty," and Helene Payne secures the wealthy Mrs. Wilson's financial support. She is a lady no longer young, but insists upon playing the ingenue lead. Miss Tibbitts. a mournful old maid, is secured for their "Danseuse." Willey Finley gives out the parts, while Doctor Heffernan is given the directorship.
Returning home from a matinee, Ralph Brent, a poor actor, finds his step-child dead. The child's mother returns intoxicated, having purchased drink instead of medicine for the child, with the money he had given her. He accuses her of causing the little one's death, and snatching the bottle of liquor from which she is about to drink, throws it away. Infuriated, she springs at her husband with a bread knife, stumbles and accidentally kills herself. Fearing that he will be suspected of murder. Brent hastily makes up in the disguise of an old man and leaves the house.
Through the carelessness of his office-boy, Stillwell drops his watch and puts a dent in the case. He arrives home in a rage to find his daughter Marjorie talking to Reggie, her lover, whom he detests. Stillwell sends the boy packing and his daughter tearfully leaves the room. Later, at a street crossing, Stillwell is knocked down by an auto and helped to his feet by "Slippery Jim," a pickpocket, who, at the same time relieves the old gentleman of his watch. Pete, a hobo, also runs to Stlllwell's assistance, and is accused of taking the watch. He is arrested and locked up. Reggie, looking to secure a cheap watch, visits the pawnshop where "Slippery Jim" had sold the dented timepiece, and purchases it.
In order to make money, a man hires a bum to pretend to be a mummy, so he can sell the "body" for scientific experiments.
Both deadly rivals for the hand of the Widow Hathaway, Kirkland and Livingston, gentleman farmers, are so bitter, they do all possible to break up the love match between Dick and Florence, their respective children, causing great unhappiness.
In search of a maid, Mrs. Cook, an aristocratic and extremely proud society woman, goes to an employment agency and hires Luna, fat, awkward and straight from Sweden. The new maid creates quite a stir in the staid and fashionable home of Mrs. Cook. While capering about in her room above, she brings down the ceiling. Mrs. Cook saves her from being discharged and then calls up the plasterer, whose name is John Haines, a widower, and the father of Bert, the chauffeur, in love with Marie Cook, their daughter. John fixes the ceiling, and on his return home finds a note from his son saying he is going to be married and suggests his father follow his example. John tells the news to Luna, proposes to her, and without a second's hesitation, she accepts him.
A young man finds himself forced to take a trolley car and a motorcycle in order to get to his wedding. Complications ensue.
Buddy Watson, the youngest of three brothers, and just getting accustomed to long pants, meets Elsie Forster at a church social and is smitten by the young lady's charms. He writes, addressing the letter simply, "Miss Forster," asking permission to call. Elsie gets the note and joyously answers "yes," but Grace, her sister, sees the letter and is quite sure he means her.
This is a very crudely made morality tale of a young college girl who is made a fuss of by a society sorority because she happens to have known a woman in society. She is very flattered and despite being in over her head in terms of financially keeping up with her wealthier sisters, she schemes how to do just that, stooping to theft.
Constance and Billy are sweethearts. Mr. and Mrs. Boggs, her parents, are both prim, straitlaced people. Pa Boggs has little use for young men of the present generation and when Billy awkwardly drops a race-track badge on the floor, Boggs rises up in his wrath and orders the "perfidious gambler" from his house forever.
On his way to New York to visit his relatives, the Masons, for the first time, Uncle Bill meets "Oiley" Curley, a crook. John Mason, Uncle Bill's nephew, is candidate for Governor and, on the eve of Uncle Bill's arrival, Mason and his political constituents are in secret conference with Murray of the money powers. Meantime, Julia, Mason's wife, goes on a little joy ride with Jack Trent, husband of Vivien, her friend who is on a joy ride with Mason's father, a delightful old rogue. Gladys, Julia's hoydenish sister with whose photo Uncle Bill has previously fallen in love, is left home alone.
Because of his effeminacy, Percival and Mildred are humiliated wherever they go. After some very distressing incidents in a restaurant, on the boardwalk and on the beach, she becomes thoroughly disgusted, and breaks off the engagement, saying she wants to marry a real man. Percival is almost heartbroken and confides his troubles to a friend, who suggests he make a hero of himself by fighting "Young Hickey," a pugilist.
