All Films

Bobbie of the Ballet

1916 • 50 min • United States of America

Wealthy Jack Stimson (Jay Belasco) falls in love with Broadway diva Velma Vrooman (Gretchen Lederer), and for her sake bankrolls the musical production in which she is currently starred. But when Velma proves to be fickle and unreliable, Jack shifts his affections to humble chorus girl Bobbie (Louise Lovely).

Mice and Men

1916 • 50 min • United States of America

Mark Embury sets out to create the perfect wife by adopting Peggy. His work is a success until the girl falls in love with another man. Ultimately, he must give her up and become satisfied with knowing, he did create the perfect wife, albeit for someone else.

Sally in Our Alley

1916 • 50 min

Sally McGill, a little Irish girl, brought up in a particularly sordid section, is compelled to work to support her entire family. Ben Blaney, the young foreman where she works, loves little Sally. Mrs. Rockwell, wealthy and childless, finds joy in taking a limited number of the poorest children to her country home each summer, and she selects those whom she will take. Sally's ambition is to become a refined lady like those about her, and she is attracted to Paul Taylor, but knows she is inferior to him.

The Devil at His Elbow

1916 • 50 min • United States of America

Young mechanical engineer John Ashton is trying to complete the plans for a new submarine. Under pressure to meet a deadline he has been leaning on whiskey to handle the stress which his friend Robert Gray warns him against, but to no avail. His fiancée, Grace, telephones wanting him to take a break and attend a dinner party with her. Against his better judgement and still drinking he accepts but nods off while getting ready. What follows are booze infused visions of loss and degradation so horrifying that upon awaking he swears off "the devil at his elbow”!

A Race with Death

1916 • 12 min • United States of America

Film #112 in the Hazards of Helen series.

Life's Shadows

1916 • 50 min • United States of America

The townspeople of Purity despise Martin Bradley because of his heavy drinking, but he still does his best to make life better for the town. He helps to support two women who have been socially ostracized by the townspeople, and during the election campaign for mayor, exposes the corruption and dirty tricks of candidate James Durkel, resulting in the election of his opponent Chester Thorndyke. However, the voters of Purity insist that Thorndyake disavow his ties to Bradley, whom they regard as disreputable.

The Decoy

1916 • 20 min • United States of America

Glory Moore, a young girl, finds herself left unprovided for after her father's death, as the farm has to be sold to pay his debts.

The Black Crook

1916 • 50 min • United States of America

A Faust-like meringue involving a wealthy Count who enters into a deal with the Devil: for every soul he delivers to Satan, the count will be granted an extra year of life. One of the count's victims, an artist named Rodolphe, dedicates his life to punishing the nobleman, a mission he accomplishes with the help of the beautiful Fairy Queen.

Captain Jinks of the Horse Marines

1916 • 50 min • United States of America

Jonathan Jinks, a man known for his charm, gets into a bet about seducing opera star Aurelia Trentoni, leading to a series of comical misunderstandings and a secret engagement before a happy resolution.

The Taming of Grouchy Bill

1916 • 12 min • United States of America

The Taming of Grouchy Bill is a silent Tom Mix Western.

Captain Jinks' Evolution

1916 • 14 min

Mrs. Jinks dreams that her milquetoast husband was more of a manly brute—at least until a life-saving blood transfusion changes him into her worst nightmare.

Defying Death

1916 • 12 min • United States of America

Dick Benton, a young attorney of the railroad, is on his way to the Capitol to deliver evidence involving Riggs in a conspiracy arising out of a fight with the railroad over a franchise. At Lone Point he learns that by leaving the package to be picked up by the express it will reach the Governor sooner than he can bring it on the local.

The Closed Road

1916 • 50 min • United States of America

Dr. Hugh Annersley, on the trail for a cure for cancer, is framed for murder by Dr. Appledan, who had accidentally killed a patient. Hugh’s sister Julia pleads with the fatally ill and suicidal Frank Sargeant to take the blame which he does only to discover that the insane Dr. Appledan had lied to him as well and he is healthy. As his execution looms Julia races to exonerate him.

The Serenade

1916 • 10 min • United States of America

Plump and Runt are street musicians who are rivals for Florence's affection.

Them Was the Happy Days!

1916 • 10 min • United States of America

Luke is a movie actor who falls asleep and dreams that he and his fellow actors are school children again.

Gold and the Woman

1916 • 60 min • United States of America

The daughter of a Mexican aristocrat endures the travails of the Mexican revolution.

The Curse of Quon Gwon: When the Far East Mingles with the West

1916 • 35 min • United States of America

The Curse of Quon Gwon is the oldest known Chinese-American film and one of the earliest American silent features made by a woman. Only two reels of the film survive, and no intertitles are known to exist, making it difficult to parse out the exact plot. An article in the July 17, 1917 issue of The Moving Picture World states that the film "deals with the curse of a Chinese god that follows his people because of the influence of western civilization." The film also touches on themes of Chinese assimilation into American society. Formally premiering in 1917, no distributor was willing to purchase a Chinese-American film without racial stereotypes. Considered a devastating financial failure, the film was only screened two more times until its rediscovery in 2004. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 2005.

The White Roses

1916 • 57 min • Germany

The actress Thilda Wardier is courted by the wealthy Adam de Rochord, who presents her with a large bouquet of white roses every time they see each other. When Thilda is brought on board by a prestigious theatre in Ostend and wants to look suitably refined for the occasion, she borrows an expensive piece of family jewellery from Adam. However, a criminal gang staying in the same hotel as Adam and Thilda gets wind of the jewellery, and they cleverly manage to steal it and replace the real stones with fake ones. The precious loot now proceeds to pass through many different bouquets of white roses before ending up in the right hands again.

The Gilded Cage

1916 • 50 min • United States of America

In The Gilded Cage, Alice Brady plays Princess Honore, who falls in love with a handsome prince who doesn't know her true identity (nor does she know his).

The Ballet Girl

1916 • 50 min • United States of America

Aerial dancer La Syrena, whose jealous husband kills her while she performs in midair. Her daughter, Jennie Raeburn, soon orphaned, grows up unaware of her mother's occupation, but nonetheless feels the urge to dance.

The Gate of Death

1916 • 12 min • United States of America

Film 104 in the Hazards of Helen series

Krazy Kat Goes A-Wooing

1916 • 3 min • United States of America

Krazy Kat tries to serenade Ignatz Mouse.

The Lineman's Peril

1916 • 12 min • United States of America

Film #109 in the Hazards of Helen series

Kennedy Square

1916 • 50 min

At a dance on his parents' plantation in the early nineteenth century, Harry Rutter wins a duel with Langdon Willetts, but loses his fiancée, Kate Seymour, who disapproves of fighting. He is thrown out of his family home and forced to stay with others. Tired of accepting charity, Harry leaves for South America. Now he returns a rich man to a ruined home.