Friday, August 12, 2011

The Tiniest of Stars - 1913



The Tiniest of Stars: One reel, approx. 1,000 feet, released January 14, 1913.
Family drama of a a brother ("The Kid" Marie Eline) and sister ("The Kidlet" Helen Badgley) who take to the stage.
Print source: Library of Congress, 15 minutes, 45 seconds.
Cast: James Cruze, Marie Eline (the little boy), Helen Badgley (the little girl).
Original music composed and performed by Ray Burbacher thanhouser.org/​people/​Rayb.htm.
An air of authenticity infuses this family drama of a brother and sister who take to the variety stage. The popular stage was a source of everyday entertainment for most Americans of the time, and had been Edwin Thanhouser’s career before 1910. Audiences were beginning to recognize and demand more of the little actresses Marie Eline (who plays the little boy) and Helen Badgley, which led to the studio promoting them, and demand for their movies helped create the star system which survives today stronger than ever. Deft mixture of comedy and sentimentality.

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

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