|
An Old Actor
(1913) United States of America
B&W : Short film
Directed by Colin Campbell
Cast: Frank Clarke (Frank Clark) [Richard Murdock, an old actor], Al W. Filson [Edwin Irving], Bessie Eyton [Irving’s leading lady], Henry W. Otto (Henry Otto) [Irving’s leading man], Tom Santschi [Irving’s stage director], William Hutchinson (William Hutchison) [the stage door tender]
The Selig Polyscope Company, Incorporated, production; distributed by The General Film Company, Incorporated. / Produced by William N. Selig. Scenario by Colin Campbell. / Released 5 May 1913. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? Murdock, a mediocre actor, is nearing the end of his career. All his life he has had the ambition to play the part of Richelieu. He is now, in his old age, playing a small part with Edwin Irving, a star who is impersonating the great Cardinal Richelieu. Old Murdock’s memory is beginning to fail him, and his heart has had “spells.” He fails to turn up on time at rehearsal one day, and when he does get there, he can’t recall his lines. A repetition of this sort o£ thing occurs, and he is discharged. He falls asleep in the “extra” dressing-room and dreams be is playing Richelieu. The other players dress for the street and depart. The electric lights are turned off. The old janitor comes around with a lantern to lock up. He discovers Murdock and throws him out. The old actor, bewildered and with his dreams still vividly before him, wanders back to the theater, gains entrance to the deserted stage through a coal chute, gets into the star's dressing-room, dons the Richelieu costume, turns on all the stage lights, and plays Richelieu grandiloquently and to his heart’s content. His ambition is realized; but his feeble spark of vitality spends itself in the heroic effort and old Murdock falls back into the throne chair, dead. The next day at rehearsal they find him there, a sublime old figure clothed in the scarlet and ermine of Cardinal Richelieu.
Reviews: [The Moving Picture World, 17 May 1913, page ?] An old story done in pictures; it makes a good, interesting offering. In the story, the actor is described as playing in Hamlet. He is found to be too old to play the grave digger and is discharged; but comes back at night, puts on Hamlet’s robes and dies on the throne. This makes very appropriate the quotation. “After this is silence.” The picture makes the drama “Richelieu,” and, even in this, the quotation is not very much out of place; but we think that the story was better as first told. This old actor is played well by Frank Clark and he is ably supported by Bessie Eyton, H.W. Otto, T. Santschi and W. Hutchinson. Colin Campbell is author and producer.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Keywords: Actors
Listing updated: 22 May 2024.
References: Lahue-Selig p. 148 : Website-IMDb.
|
