Once Upon a Time

The Country Girl

June 1915 •English

Sisters Phyllis and Alithea are kept in the countryside until they reach the age of eighteen when their guardian, the Squire, takes them to London. Planning to marry them off to rich older men for mercenary reason he is thwarted when the girls both fall in love with more suitable men. When the Squire works to split the couples, the girls resort to subterfuge to gain their happiness.

A Freight Car Honeymoon

June 1915 •English

When telegraph operator Dan Boynton is dismissed shortly after his marriage, he and his new bride Alice decide they will take their honeymoon at the road's expense, and in one of its own cars. The train crew, learning of romance, decide to wink at the violation of rules. Dan contrives to make the situation permanent sending a message purportedly from the general manager, ordering the station agent to hold the car on the siding until further orders. When his former boss Bushkirk discovers the situation the couple’s "nerve" makes a great hit with him and he appoints Dan Boynton his chief assistant.

Gretna Green

March 1915 •English

On a whim and to save the good name of her sister, Dolly Erskine, a light-hearted young woman, declares that a riding master is her husband, not realizing that they have crossed the border into Scotland and that the confession of marriage is binding. However, she has unwittingly become the wife of an earl, falling in love with him in time to prevent a divorce decree. While Dolly is falling in love, the earl continues to pose as a riding master, and as such wins the heart of his pretty bride. Based on the play "Gretna Green," by Grace Livingston Purniss.

Almost a Wild Man

June 1913 •English

Rooly, Pooly and Dooly were "picture sandwiches," but hardly shining lights, even in that capacity. Consequently they were "canned" by the management. A brilliant idea; one would play the wild man in the village square, a real live show of their own. Rooly and Pooly then basked in the society of fair country belles, but Dooly at length was rescued by Miss Smart, looking for excitement. She was not disappointed.

The Misleading Widow

September 1919 •English

The Misleading Widow is a 1919 silent film comedy starring Billie Burke as Betty Taradine. It was based on the 1917 stage play Billeted by F. Tennyson Jesse and H.M. Harwood. The film was produced by Famous Players-Lasky and distributed through Paramount Pictures. It appears to be a lost film.

Keep Moving

November 1915 •English

Musty gets a job in a grocery store. Through a series of very bad encounters with various customers it becomes clear he is ill-suited to the job and ultimately he goes his own way.

Bread on the Waters

March 1913 •English

A son, down and out on liquor, finds redemption.

How Sir Andrew Lost His Vote

December 1911 •English

A tale of English political intrigue. A certain member of Parliament, whose voice and vote would have passed an objectionable measure, is prevented from reaching the house in time by the opposition's subterfuge of a girl calling for assistance just as he passed her house. The young lady being an actress merely re-enacts a scene from the amateur theatricals she appeared in. The plan works holding him until it is too late to take part in the debate or vote upon the question and the bill did not pass.

It's a Bear

March 1919 •English

As an entomologist and all-around wimp, Orlando Winthrop gets little respect from his wealthy parents. But when business needs to be taken care at the Winthrop sheep ranches out West, Orlando is raring to go. Upon his arrival, the ranchers see Orlando as an easy mark, but it turns out they're wrong. They try to take Orlando's money in a poker game -- and wind up broke themselves.

The Lost Bridegroom

March 1916 •English

Suffering from aphasia after being conked on the head, a man is coerced into robbing his fiancée's home.

The Lord Loves the Irish

December 1919 •English

Miles Machree (J. Warren Kerrigan) meets Irish-American Sheila Lynch (Fritzi Brunette) when she travels through Ireland with her father (James O. Barrows). Soon after the Lynch's return to the States, Miles follows, and through his uncle's connections, gets a job on the New York City police force.

Figures Don't Lie

October 1927 •English

Figures Don't Lie is a showcase for the physical charms of lovely Esther Ralston, who in one scene proves the accuracy of the title by donning a fetching one-piece bathing suit. The main story concerns wise-guy insurance salesman Richard Arlen, who through a combination of hard work and sheer gall lands a job as sales manager. But he can't land heroine Ralston, who has remained cool to his charms ever since he tried to make a play for her on the street. A lost film.

Auto Suggestion

May 1912 •English

Billy takes his friend Tom out for a drive in his new car. Tom asks Billy to wait while he makes a purchase. Along comes the beautiful Marian who assumes he is a public chauffeur and hires him. Billy goes along with the misunderstanding and tells Marian that she may always have his car at cut rates if she phones him at the garage. This leads to comic adventures and eventual love for the couple.

A Question of Hair

May 1912 •English

Cobbler’s daughter May has beautiful, long blond hair. Her fiancée Billy, her father's youthful apprentice, loves both May and her hair. But Billy has a weakness for long hair and is ensnared by Madge, who wears an elaborate wig. Billy wants May to fix her hair as prettily as Madge does, but when Madge’s hairdresser demands payment for the wigs she refuses because the hairdresser has turned her hair green. The case lands in court with Billy summoned to serve on the jury. When Madge pulls off her wig Billy runs back to May ready and willing to eat his humble pie.

Billy's Troublesome Grip

April 1912 •English

Billy Quirk starts out in the morning for his office. Billy has important papers in his valise (grip) and important matters on his mind. The trouble starts when Billy takes a streetcar and, in his hurry, he grabs not his but a similar valise which happens to belong to a woman with a bad temper. When Billy discovers that his valise, instead of containing valuable papers, contains lingerie and false hair, he panics. Billy tries to get his back before his wife misinterprets the situation, but she finds it just as the rightful owner enters the scene and the two clash, Billy runs for dear life complicating things still more.

The Boarding House Heiress

March 1912 •English

Old Betsey Older lives in a boarding house in which money-loving Bud Doolittle and wise Tom Dear are also unfortunate boarders. Poor Betsey loses her heart to both of these gentlemen. Betsey tries hard to win the love of these gentlemen, but the harder she tries the less progress she makes. In fact, she gets so tangled up that before long she thinks she "sees things." Bud and Tom try to stake her to each other, for they are both victims of flirting Marian. Tom finally gets Bud to propose to Betsey, misleading him with a phantom legacy. Bud learns the truth of the heiress' real financial position and then leaves her at the altar.

Americký souboj

January 1913 •Czech

Rozvedená paní

January 1913 •Czech

Much Ado about Nothing

February 1913 •Czech

Young lovers Hero and Claudio, soon to wed, conspire to get verbal sparring partners and confirmed singles Benedick and Beatrice to wed as well.

Zamilovaná tchýně

February 1914 •Czech