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Summary:

In the early decades of cinema, some of the most innovative and celebrated filmmakers in America were women. Alice Guy-Blaché helped establish the basics of cinematic language, while others boldly continued its development: slapstick queen Mabel Normand (who taught Charlie Chaplin the craft of directing), action star Grace Cunard, and LGBTQ icon Alla Nazimova. Unafraid of controversy, filmmakers such as Lois Weber and Dorothy Davenport Reid tackled explosive issues such as birth control, abortion, and prostitution. This crucial chapter of film history comes alive through the presentation of a wide assortment of films, carefully curated, meticulously restored in 2K and 4K from archival sources, and presented with new musical scores.

Table of Contents:

• Disc one : Alice Guy-Blaché: Mixed pets / Solax Film Company ; directed by Alice Guy-Blaché (1911) (14 min.)
• Tramp strategy / Solax Film Company ; directed by Alice Guy-Blaché (1911) (12 min.)
• Greater love hath no man / Solax Film Company ; directed by Alice Guy-Blaché (1911) (16 min.)
• Algie the miner / Solax Film Company ; directed by Alice Guy-Blaché (1912) (10 min.)
• Falling leaves / Solax Film Company ; directed by Alice Guy-Blaché (1912) (12 min.)
• The little rangers (fragment) (aka Two little rangers) / Solax Film Company ; directed by Alice Guy-Blaché (1912) (11 min.)
• Canned harmony / Solax Film Company ; directed by Alice Guy-Blaché (1912) (16 min.)
• A fool and his money / Solax Film Company ; directed by Alice Guy-Blaché (1912) (11 min.)
• The high cost of living / Solax Film Company ; directed by Alice Guy-Blaché (1912) (14 min.)
• Matrimony's speed limit / Solax Film Company ; directed by Alice Guy-Blaché (1913) (14 min.)
• The ocean waif / Solax Film Company ; directed by Alice Guy-Blaché (1916) (36 min.)
• The colleen bawn / The Kalem Company ; directed by Gene Gauntier and Sidney Olcott (1911) (35 min.)
• On the brink (fragment) / Rex Motion Picture Company ; directed by Edwin S. Porter and Lois Weber (1911) (12 min.).
• Disc two : Lois Weber: From death to life / Rex Motion Picture Company ; directed by Lois Weber and Phillips Smalley (1911) (13 min.)
• Fine feathers / Rex Motion Picture Company ; directed by Lois Weber (1912) (15 min.)
• The rosary / Rex Motion Picture Company ; directed by Lois Weber and Phillips Smalley (1913) (14 min.)
• Suspense / Rex Motion Picture Company ; directed by Lois Weber and Phillips Smalley (1913) (11 min.)
• Lost by a hair (fragment) / Rex Motion Picture Company ; directed by Lois Weber and Phillips Smalley (1914) (4 min.)
• Hypocrites / Hobart Bosworth Productions ; written and directed by Lois Weber (1915) (51 min.)
• Sunshine Molly (fragment) / Hobart Bosworth Productions ; directed by Lois Weber and Phillips Smalley (1915) (31 min.)

• Idle wives (fragment) / Universal Film Manufacturing Company ; directed by Lois Weber and Phillips Smalley (1916) (23 min.)
• What do men want? (fragment) / Lois Weber Productions ; written and directed by Lois Weber (1921) (40 min.).
• Disc three : Pioneers of genre: The hazards of Helen. Episode 13, The escape on the fast freight / The Kalem Company (1915) (11 min.)
• The hazards of Helen. Episode 26, The wild engine / The Kalem Company (1915) (10 min.)
• The purple mask. Episode 12, The vault of mystery / Universal Film Manufacturing Company ; written and directed by Grace Cunard and Francis Ford (1917) (19 min.)
• The purple mask. Episode 13 reel 1, The leap / Universal Film Manufacturing Company ; written and directed by Grace Cunard and Francis Ford (1917) (10 min.)
• A daughter of "the law" / Star Ranch Productions ; written and directed by Grace Cunard (1921) (22 min.)
• Eleanor's catch / Rex Motion Picture Company ; directed by Cleo Madison (1916) (13 min.)
• '49 - '17 / Universal Film Manufacturing Company ; written and directed by Ruth Ann Baldwin (1917) (70 min.)
• Caught in a cabaret / Keystone Film Company ; directed by Mabel Normand (1914) (23 min.)
• Mabel's blunder / Keystone Film Company ; directed by Mabel Normand (1914) (16 min.)
• Mabel and Fatty's wash day / Keystone Film Company ; directed by Mabel Normand and Roscoe Arbuckle (1915) (13 min.)
• That ice ticket / Gibson Studios ; directed by Angela Murray Gibson (1922) (10 min.)
• Ethnographic films / directed by Zora Neale Hurston (1929) (12 min.).
• Disc four : Social commentary 1: Where are my children? / Universal Film Manufacturing Company ; directed by Lois Weber and Phillips Smalley (1916) (65 min.)
• Her defiance / Universal Film Manufacturing Company ; directed by Cleo Madison and Joe King (1916) (21 min.)
• When little Lindy sang / Powers Picture Plays ; directed by Lule Warrenton (1916) (10 min.)
• The curse of Quon Gwon : when the Far East mingles with the West / Mandarin Film Company ; written and directed by Marion E. Wong (1917) (35 min.)
• Scandal / Universal Film Manufacturing Company ; directed by Lois Weber and Phillips Smalley (1915) (35 min.)
• The dream lady / Universal Film Manufacturing Company ; directed by Elsie Jane Wilson (1918) (54 min.).
• Disc five : Social commentary 2: The risky road (fragment) / Universal Film Manufacturing Company ; written and directed by Ida May Park (1918) (2 min.)
• Bread (fragment) / Universal Film Manufacturing Company ; written and directed by Ida May Park (1918) (16 min.)
• Salomé / Nazimova Productions ; directed by Charles Bryant and Alla Nazimova [uncredited] (1923) (71 min.)
• The red kimona / Mrs. Wallace Reid Productions ; directed by Walter Lang and Dorothy Davenport Reid [uncredited] (1925) (77 min.)
• Linda / Mrs. Wallace Reid Productions ; directed by Dorothy Davenport Reid (1929) (73 min.).
• Disc six : The feature film: The call of the Cumberlands / Pallas Pictures ; produced by Julia Crawford Ivers (1916) (64 min.)
• Back to God's country / Canadian Photoplays Ltd., Shipman-Curwood Company, First National ; directed by David Hartford and Nell Shipman [uncredited] (1919) (73 min.)
• The song of love / Norma Talmadge Film Corporation ; directed by Frances Marion and Chester M. Franklin (1923) (81 min.).

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Contributors:

Stamp, Shelley, 1963- , editor

Wood, Bret , film producer

Martins, Eunice , composer, performer

Mendoza, Ava , composer, performer

Morley, Meg , composer, performer

Magnes, Liz , composer, performer

Matsumura, Makia , composer, performer

Simpson, Andrew, 1967- , composer, performer

Model, Ben , composer, performer

Swartz, Carolyn , composer, performer

Nelissen, Maud , composer, performer

Hudson, Deborah , composer, performer

Aydingoz, Esin , composer

Nam, Skylar , composer

Gal, Rob , composer, performer

Denio, Amy , composer, performer

Mezzacappa, Lisa , composer, performer

Snyder, Bill , arranger of music

Rosenberg, Judith, 1946- , composer, performer

Tsambis, Chris , composer, performer

Vrebalov, Aleksandra, 1970- , composer, performer

Meyer, Libby , composer, performer

Baker, Renée , composer

Seaton, Joanna , composer, performer

Sosin, Donald , composer, performer

Reason, Dana , composer, performer

Guy, Alice, 1873-1968 , film director

Gauntier, Gene, 1885-1966 , film director

Olcott, Sidney, 1873-1949 , film director

Porter, Edwin S. , film director

Weber, Lois, 1879-1939 , film director, screenwriter

Smalley, Phillips, 1865-1939 , film director

Cunard, Grace, 1893-1967 , screenwriter, film director

Ford, Francis, 1882-1953 , screenwriter, film director

Madison, Cleo, 1883-1964 , film director

Baldwin, Ruth Ann , screenwriter, film director

Normand, Mabel, 1894-1930 , film director

Arbuckle, Roscoe, 1887-1933 , film director

Gibson, Angela Murray, 1878-1953 , film director

Hurston, Zora Neale , film director

King, Joseph, 1883-1951 , film director

Warrenton, Lule, 1863-1932 , film director

Wong, Marion E., 1895-1969 , screenwriter, film director

Wilson, Elsie Jane, 1885-1965 , film director

Park, Ida May , screenwriter, film director

Bryant, Charles, 1879-1948 , film director

Nazimova, 1879-1945 , film director

Lang, Walter, 1898-1972 , film director

Davenport, Dorothy, 1896-1977 , film director

Ivers, Julia Crawford , film producer

Hartford, David, 1873-1932 , film director

Shipman, Nell, 1892-1970 , film director

Marion, Frances, 1888-1973 , film director

Franklin, Chester M., 1890-1954 , film director

Oppenheim, James, 1882-1932

Cook, William Wallace, 1867-1933

Payton, Lucy, 1877-1969

Widdemer, Margaret

Robbins, Katherine Leiser

Campbell, Evelyn

Wilde, Oscar, 1854-1900

Curwood, James Oliver, 1878-1927

Peterson, Margaret, 1883-1933

Berklee Silent Film Orchestra , performer, http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators/prf

Chicago Modern Orchestra Project , performer, http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators/prf

Solax Company , production company, http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators/prn

Kalem Company , production company, http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators/prn

Rex Motion Picture Company , production company, http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators/prn

Hobart Bosworth Productions (Firm) , production company, http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators/prn

Universal Film Manufacturing Company , production company, http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators/prn

Lois Weber Productions , production company, http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators/prn

Star Ranch Photoplays (Firm) , production company, http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators/prn

Keystone Film Company , production company, http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators/prn

Gibson Studios (Firm) , production company, http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators/prn

Powers Motion Picture Co. , production company, http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators/prn

Mandarin Film Company , production company, http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators/prn

Nazimova Productions, Inc. , production company, http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators/prn

Mrs. Wallace Reid Productions (Firm) , production company, http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators/prn

Pallas Pictures (Firm) , production company, http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators/prn

Canadian Photoplays Ltd. , production company, http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators/prn

Shipman-Curwood Company , production company, http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators/prn

Norma Talmadge Film Corporation , production company, http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators/prn

Library of Congress , production company, issuing body, http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators/prn, http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators/isb

Kino Classics (Firm) , production company, publisher, http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators/prn, http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators/pbl

Languages:

English

Language Notes:

Silent with English intertitles and added music.

Included Works:

Two little rangers

Related Works:

Motion picture adaptation of: Idle wives [by Oppenheim, J.]

Motion picture adaptation of: Old West per contract [by Cook, W.W.]

Motion picture adaptation of: Where are my children? [by Payton, L.]

Motion picture adaptation of: Why not? [by Widdemer, M.]

Motion picture adaptation of: Her fling [by Robbins, K.L.]

Motion picture adaptation of: Bread [by Campbell, E.]

Motion picture adaptation of: Salomé [by Wilde, O.]

Motion picture adaptation of: Wapi, the walrus [by Curwood, J.O.]

Motion picture adaptation of: Dust of desire [by Peterson, M.]

Subjects:

Women motion picture producers and directors — United States

Women in the motion picture industry — United States — History — 20th century

1900-1999

Women in the motion picture industry

Women motion picture producers and directors

United States

Genres:

Motion pictures

Silent films

Documentary films

Film adaptations

Short films

Feature films

Fiction films

Nonfiction films

History

System Details:

DVD; NTSC, region 1.

Production Credits:

Music, Eunice Martins, Ava Mendoza, Meg Morley, Liz Magnes, Makia Matsumura, Andrew Earle Simpson, Ben Model, Carolyn Swartz, Maud Nelissen, Deborah Hudson, Esin Aydingoz, Berklee Silent Film Orchestra, Skylar Nam, Rob Gal, Amy Denio, Lisa Mezzacappa, Bill Snyder, Judith Rosenberg, Chris Tsambis, Aleksandra Vrebalov, Libby Meyer, Renée C. Baker, Chicago Modern Orchestra Project, Joanna Seaton, Donald Sosin, Dana Reason.

General Notes:

Title from container.
Originally released as motion pictures 1911-1929.
Full screen (1.33:1).
Accompanying booklet (76 pages : illustrations (some color) ; 18 cm) comprises program notes, bibliographical references, and essays by Illeana Douglas, Shelley Stamp, Bret Wood, Arthur Dong, Charles "Buckey" Grimm, Kristen Larvick, and Deborah Levy.
Idle wives based on the novel by James Oppenheim; '49 -'17 based on a story by William Wallace Cook; Where are my children? based on a story by Lucy Payton and Franklin Hall; The dream lady based on the novel Why not? by Margaret Widdemer; The risky road based on the story "Her fling" by Katherine Leiser Robbins; Bread based on a story by Evelyn Campbell; Salomé based on the play by Oscar Wilde; Back to God's country based on the novel Wapi, the walrus by James Oliver Curwood; The song of love based on a novel by Margaret Peterson.
Special features: Audio commentaries by Alison McMahan (for Algie the miner, Falling leaves, Canned harmony, A fool and his money, and Matrimony speed limit); An introduction (documentary short); Alice Guy-Blaché (documentary short); About the restorations (documentary short); Lois Weber (documentary short); Mabel Normand (documentary short); Serial queens (documentary short); Social commentary (documentary short); commentary tracks: Bread (Anthony Slide), Salomé (Gaylyn Studlar), The red kimona (Anthony Slide); The end of an era (documentary short).
Public performance rights included.

Physical Description:

6 videodiscs (approximately 1320 min.) : sound, black & white ; 4 3/4 in. + 1 booklet (76 pages : illustrations (some color) ; 18 cm)

Physical Characteristics:

4 3/4 in.; monochrome

Audio Characteristics:

digital; optical

Video Characteristics:

NTSC

Digital Characteristics:

video file; DVD video; region 1

Call Numbers:

PN1995.9.W6 1911 DVD

Other Standard Numbers:

Universal Product Code: 738329234102
Publisher Number, Kino classics: K23410

OCLC Numbers:

1076273188