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{{short description|1913 film}}
{{use mdy dates|date=September 2016}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox film
{{Infobox film
| name = Almost an Actress
| name = Almost an Actress
| image =
| image = Almost an Actress 1913 film still.jpg
| caption =
| caption =
| director = [[Allen Curtis]]
| director = [[Allen Curtis]]
| producer =
| producer =
| writer =
| writer = Unknown
| starring = [[Louise Fazenda]]<br>Max Asher<br>[[Lon Chaney, Sr.|Lon Chaney]]
| starring = [[Louise Fazenda]]<br>[[Max Asher (actor)|
Max Asher]]<br>[[Lon Chaney]]
| distributor = [[Universal Pictures|Universal Film Manufacturing Company]]
| distributor = [[Universal Pictures|Universal Film Manufacturing Company]]<br> Joker Comedies
| released = {{film date|1913|11|15}}
| released = {{film date|1913|11|15}}
| runtime = 10 minutes
| runtime = 10 minutes (one reel)
| country = United States
| country = United States
| language = Silent with English intertitles
| language = Silent with English intertitles
| budget =
}}
}}


'''''Almost an Actress''''' was a 1913 American [[silent film|silent]] [[Short film|short]] [[drama film]] directed by [[Allen Curtis]] and starring [[Louise Fazenda]], Max Asher, and [[Lon Chaney, Sr.|Lon Chaney]]. The film is now considered [[lost film|lost]].<ref name="silentera">{{cite web |url=http://www.silentera.com/PSFL/data/A/AlmostAnActress1913.html |title=Silent Era: Almost an Actress |accessdate=2008-06-10|work=silentera| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20080512030035/http://www.silentera.com/PSFL/data/A/AlmostanActress1913.html| archivedate=May 12, 2008 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref>
'''''Almost an Actress''''' was a 1913 American [[silent film|silent]] [[Short film|short]] [[comedy film]] directed by [[Allen Curtis]] and starring [[Louise Fazenda]], [[Max Asher (actor)|Max Asher]], [[Lon Chaney]] and [[Bobby Vernon|Silvion de Jardin]]. A surviving still from the film shows Lon Chaney as the exasperated cameraman, grimacing in frustration as chaos envelops the film set.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://lonchaney.org/filmography/7.html |title=Almost an Actress|last=Mirsalis|first=Jon C.|accessdate=October 1, 2020|website=Lonchaney.org}}</ref> The film is now considered [[lost film|lost]].<ref name="silentera">{{cite web |url=http://www.silentera.com/PSFL/data/A/AlmostAnActress1913.html |title=Silent Era: Almost an Actress |accessdate=June 10, 2008|work=silentera| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20080512030035/http://www.silentera.com/PSFL/data/A/AlmostanActress1913.html| archivedate=May 12, 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> It is unknown when the film was lost, but if it was in Universal's vaults it would have been deliberately destroyed along with the remaining copies of Universal's silent era films in 1948.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thewire.com/culture/2013/12/most-americas-silent-films-are-lost-forever/355775/ | title=Most of America's Silent Films Are Lost Forever | publisher=[[The Atlantic Wire|The Wire]] | date=December 4, 2013 | access-date=November 4, 2014 | author=Ohlheiser, Abby |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141105020735/http://www.thewire.com/culture/2013/12/most-americas-silent-films-are-lost-forever/355775/ |archive-date=November 5, 2014}}</ref>

Comedian Silvion de Jardins, who later changed his name to Bobby Vernon, also worked for the Kolb and Dill burlesque and stage company, which had also once starred Lon Chaney in its productions.<ref>Blake, Michael F. (1998). "The Films of Lon Chaney". Page 6. Vestal Press Inc. {{ISBN|1-879511-26-6}}.</ref>


==Plot==
==Plot==
Susie [[Louise Fazenda]] turns down Lee's (Lee Morris) offer of love to become an actress. The director of a film team engages Susie after losing his leading lady, but chaos ensues. Susie is forced to accept Lee's love and give up acting forever.
Susie ([[Louise Fazenda]]) turns down Lee's (Lee Morris) offer of love, planning instead to become a famous actress. The director of a film team engages Susie to star in an exciting serial after his leading lady's false teeth break, but chaos ensues. Susie's brother Benny sees her being menaced by a villain who is preparing to burn her alive, not realizing they are just making a movie. He alerts the fire department, who create a deluge on the set with their hoses. The director finally manages to chase the firemen away.

Later, while filming a scene on a beach, Susie is almost drowned accidentally when the film crew leaves her tied up in a rising tide. Her boyfriend rescues her just in time, and Susie decides to marry him and give up acting forever. Realizing how dangerous filmmaking can be, she exclaims "Never again!" as she falls into her beau's arms.


==Cast==
==Cast==
* [[Louise Fazenda]] as Susie
* [[Louise Fazenda]] as Susie
* Max Asher as The Director
* [[Max Asher (actor)|Max Asher]] as The Director
* Edward Holland as The Heavy
* Edward Holland as The Villain
* Lee Morris as Lee
* Lee Morris as Lee
* [[Lon Chaney, Sr.|Lon Chaney]] as Cameraman
* [[Lon Chaney]] as a cameraman
* [[Bobby Vernon|Silvion de Jardins]] as Benny
* [[Bobby Vernon|Silvion de Jardin]] as Benny (Susie's brother)
* [[Lee Moran]]<ref>{{cite web|url= http://silentera.com/PSFL/data/A/AlmostAnActress1913.html|title=Almost an Actress|last=Bennett|first=Carl|accessdate=October 1, 2020|website=silentera.com}}</ref>

==Reception==
''Motion Picture World'' commented "A very laughable production of the low comedy type, full of chuckles and free from offense....The scenes are all of burlesque nature and furnish plenty of genuine amusement."<ref>Blake, Michael F. (1998). "The Films of Lon Chaney". Page 6. Vestal Press Inc. {{ISBN|1-879511-26-6}}.</ref>


==References==
==References==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Almost An Actress}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Almost An Actress}}
[[Category:1913 films]]
[[Category:1913 films]]
[[Category:1910s comedy films]]
[[Category:1913 comedy films]]
[[Category:1910s short films]]
[[Category:1913 short films]]
[[Category:American comedy films]]
[[Category:1913 lost films]]
[[Category:American films]]
[[Category:Silent American comedy films]]
[[Category:American silent short films]]
[[Category:American silent short films]]
[[Category:American black-and-white films]]
[[Category:American black-and-white films]]
[[Category:Films about actors]]
[[Category:Films about actors]]
[[Category:Films directed by Allen Curtis]]
[[Category:Films directed by Allen Curtis]]
[[Category:Lost films]]
[[Category:Lost American comedy films]]
[[Category:Universal Pictures short films]]
[[Category:Universal Pictures short films]]
[[Category:American comedy short films]]
{{1910s-short-comedy-film-stub}}
[[Category:1910s American films]]
[[Category:1910s English-language films]]
[[Category:English-language comedy short films]]

Latest revision as of 00:19, 8 October 2024

Almost an Actress
Directed byAllen Curtis
Written byUnknown
StarringLouise Fazenda
Max Asher
Lon Chaney
Distributed byUniversal Film Manufacturing Company
Joker Comedies
Release date
  • November 15, 1913 (1913-11-15)
Running time
10 minutes (one reel)
CountryUnited States
LanguageSilent with English intertitles

Almost an Actress was a 1913 American silent short comedy film directed by Allen Curtis and starring Louise Fazenda, Max Asher, Lon Chaney and Silvion de Jardin. A surviving still from the film shows Lon Chaney as the exasperated cameraman, grimacing in frustration as chaos envelops the film set.[1] The film is now considered lost.[2] It is unknown when the film was lost, but if it was in Universal's vaults it would have been deliberately destroyed along with the remaining copies of Universal's silent era films in 1948.[3]

Comedian Silvion de Jardins, who later changed his name to Bobby Vernon, also worked for the Kolb and Dill burlesque and stage company, which had also once starred Lon Chaney in its productions.[4]

Plot

[edit]

Susie (Louise Fazenda) turns down Lee's (Lee Morris) offer of love, planning instead to become a famous actress. The director of a film team engages Susie to star in an exciting serial after his leading lady's false teeth break, but chaos ensues. Susie's brother Benny sees her being menaced by a villain who is preparing to burn her alive, not realizing they are just making a movie. He alerts the fire department, who create a deluge on the set with their hoses. The director finally manages to chase the firemen away.

Later, while filming a scene on a beach, Susie is almost drowned accidentally when the film crew leaves her tied up in a rising tide. Her boyfriend rescues her just in time, and Susie decides to marry him and give up acting forever. Realizing how dangerous filmmaking can be, she exclaims "Never again!" as she falls into her beau's arms.

Cast

[edit]

Reception

[edit]

Motion Picture World commented "A very laughable production of the low comedy type, full of chuckles and free from offense....The scenes are all of burlesque nature and furnish plenty of genuine amusement."[6]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Mirsalis, Jon C. "Almost an Actress". Lonchaney.org. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  2. ^ "Silent Era: Almost an Actress". silentera. Archived from the original on May 12, 2008. Retrieved June 10, 2008.
  3. ^ Ohlheiser, Abby (December 4, 2013). "Most of America's Silent Films Are Lost Forever". The Wire. Archived from the original on November 5, 2014. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  4. ^ Blake, Michael F. (1998). "The Films of Lon Chaney". Page 6. Vestal Press Inc. ISBN 1-879511-26-6.
  5. ^ Bennett, Carl. "Almost an Actress". silentera.com. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  6. ^ Blake, Michael F. (1998). "The Films of Lon Chaney". Page 6. Vestal Press Inc. ISBN 1-879511-26-6.
[edit]
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