Silas Marner (1916 film) explained

Silas Marner is a 1916 American silent drama film directed by Ernest C. Warde and starring Frederick Warde, Valda Valkyrien, and Morgan Jones. It is an adaptation of the 1861 novel of the same name by George Eliot.^[1]

Cast

• Frederick Warde as Silas Marner
• Louise Bates as His sweetheart
• Morgan Jones as His supposed friend
• Thomas A. Curran as Godfrey
• Valda Valkyrien as Molly
• Ethel Jewett as Nancy
• Frank McNish as The Squire Cass
• Hector Dion as Dunstan
• Arthur Rankin as Lammeter

Production

The role of Marner was played by Frederick Warde, who was the father of director Ernest C. Warde. The film was originally planned that the film have a length of 5 reels, but, after filming was complete, it was found to require 7 reels for the story. Studio head Edwin Thanhouser justified this extension to Mutual Film president John R. Freuler under his "natural length theory," saying, "Only a naturally acted play will stand the test and justify the natural length principle. I am satisfied to let this production stand as my ideal illustration of the theory."^[2]

See also

• Silas Marner (1922 film)

Bibliography

• Goble, Alan. The Complete Index to Literary Sources in Film. Walter de Gruyter, 1999.

Notes and References

1. Goble p. 145
2. Why Silas Marner Runs to 7 Reels for Mutual . Motion Picture News . 13 . 9 . 1280 . Exhibitor's Times, Inc. . New York City . 4 March 1916 . 3 September 2024.