Friday, August 12, 2011

King Rene's Daughter - 1913



King Rene's Daughter: Three reels of approx. 3,000 feet, July 1, 1913.
A very romantic fiction set in renaissance France with florid, rich costuming. The story was originally a one-act verse play in Danish, “Iolanthe,” which also enjoyed great popularity in a fine English translation for the stage.
Print source: Blackhawk Films/David Shepard, 41 minutes 53 seconds.
Directed by W. Eugene Moore, Jr. Scenario (uncredited) based on the poetic drama “Iolanthe” by Henrik Heri.
Cast: Maude Fealy (Iolanthe), Harry Benham (Tristan), Mignon Anderson, David H. Thompson (Ebu Jahia), William Russell (Pierre).
Music by Raymond A. Brubacher (thanhouser.org/​people/​Rayb.htm).
Maude Fealy made her Thanhouser debut in the title role, and became a much-admired member of the Thanhouser stock company. Previously she had been a beauty contest winner and had a solid career on the legitimate stage.
Compared to just a year earlier, cinematic progress is seen in the increased narrative complexity and length, more confident use of inter-titles, and more flexible camerawork sometimes following actors’ movement.

For futher information on films by Thanhouser, visit the site above. Let’s keep memories of this great studio alive.

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