Alice Howell
Encyclopedia
Alice Howell was a silent film
comedy actress from New York City
.
Early reviews of her movies describe her as the scream of the screen.
One reviewer likened her to a "sort of Charlie Chaplin
, Douglas Fairbanks, Sr., and Max Linder
." All of this was compressed into "one more or less diminutive package of femininity." She was sometimes called "the girl Charlie Chaplin." she worked for Mack Sennett
and later L-KO Kompany
and her early comedies were often produced by Universal Pictures
.
Among more than one hundred screen credits Howell made such motion pictures as Caught in a Cabaret
(1914), Mabel and Fatty's Married Life
(1915), Neptune's Naughty Daughter (1917), Green Trees (1924), and Madame Dynamite (1926). Her Bareback Career (1917) was the first of twelve two reel comedies for a new corporation which was formed to manufacture and distribute Alice Howell comedies.
In this era such female slapstick
stars as Howell, Dorothy Devore
, and Billie Rhodes were inhibited by second-rate films and the absence of genuine star buildup.
Howell's film career continued into the sound movie era with a role as a mute servant of the master murderer in the motion picture The Black Ace (1933).
Alice Howell died in Los Angeles, California
in 1961.
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
comedy actress from New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Early reviews of her movies describe her as the scream of the screen.
One reviewer likened her to a "sort of Charlie Chaplin
Charlie Chaplin
Sir Charles Spencer "Charlie" Chaplin, KBE was an English comic actor, film director and composer best known for his work during the silent film era. He became the most famous film star in the world before the end of World War I...
, Douglas Fairbanks, Sr., and Max Linder
Max Linder
Max Linder was an influential French pioneer of silent film.-Birth and early career:Born Gabriel-Maximilien Leuvielle in Saint-Loubès, Gironde, France to a Catholic wine-growing family, he grew up with a passion for the theatre and as a young man joined a theatre troupe touring the country...
." All of this was compressed into "one more or less diminutive package of femininity." She was sometimes called "the girl Charlie Chaplin." she worked for Mack Sennett
Mack Sennett
Mack Sennett was a Canadian-born American director and was known as the innovator of slapstick comedy in film. During his lifetime he was known at times as the "King of Comedy"...
and later L-KO Kompany
L-KO Kompany
The L-KO Kompany, or L-KO Komedies, was an American motion picture company founded by Henry Lehrman that produced silent one-, two- and very occasionally three-reel comedy shorts between 1914 and 1919...
and her early comedies were often produced by Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures
-1920:* White Youth* The Flaming Disc* Am I Dreaming?* The Dragon's Net* The Adorable Savage* Putting It Over* The Line Runners-1921:* The Fire Eater* A Battle of Wits* Dream Girl* The Millionaire...
.
Among more than one hundred screen credits Howell made such motion pictures as Caught in a Cabaret
Caught in a Cabaret
Caught in a Cabaret is a short film from 1914 starring Charlie Chaplin and the film's writer/director Mabel Normand. Chaplin plays a waiter who fakes being a Greek Ambassador to impress a girl. He then is invited to a garden party where he gets in trouble with the girl's jealous boyfriend...
(1914), Mabel and Fatty's Married Life
Mabel and Fatty's Married Life
Mabel and Fatty's Married Life is a 1915 short comedy film directed by and starring Fatty Arbuckle.-Cast:* Mabel Normand - Mabel* Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle - Fatty, her husband* Al St...
(1915), Neptune's Naughty Daughter (1917), Green Trees (1924), and Madame Dynamite (1926). Her Bareback Career (1917) was the first of twelve two reel comedies for a new corporation which was formed to manufacture and distribute Alice Howell comedies.
In this era such female slapstick
Slapstick
Slapstick is a type of comedy involving exaggerated violence and activities which may exceed the boundaries of common sense.- Origins :The phrase comes from the batacchio or bataccio — called the 'slap stick' in English — a club-like object composed of two wooden slats used in Commedia dell'arte...
stars as Howell, Dorothy Devore
Dorothy Devore
Dorothy Devore was a leading and popular American silent-film actor and comedian in her time.-Early life:...
, and Billie Rhodes were inhibited by second-rate films and the absence of genuine star buildup.
Howell's film career continued into the sound movie era with a role as a mute servant of the master murderer in the motion picture The Black Ace (1933).
Alice Howell died in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
in 1961.
Partial filmography
- Tillie's Punctured RomanceTillie's Punctured Romance (1914 film)Tillie's Punctured Romance is the first feature-length comedy film from Keystone Film Company and the Christie Film Company, produced in 1914. A silent film directed by Mack Sennett, the film stars Marie Dressler, Mabel Normand, Charles Chaplin, and the Keystone Cops...
(19141914 in filmThe year 1914 in film involved some significant events, including the debut of Cecil B. DeMille as a director.-Events:*The 3,300-seat Mark Strand Theatre opens in New York City....
) - Lover's LuckLover's LuckLover's Luck is a 1914 short comedy film directed by and starring Fatty Arbuckle.-Cast:* Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle - Fatty* Minta Durfee - The Girl* Al St. John - Fatty's Rival* Josef Swickard - The Girl's Father* Phyllis Allen - The Girl's Mother...
(1914) - Laughing GasLaughing Gas (1914 film)Laughing Gas is a 1914 film starring Charlie Chaplin. It is also known as "Busy Little Dentist", "Down and Out", "Laffing Gas", "The Dentist", and "Tuning His Ivories".-Plot:...
(1914) - Caught in the RainCaught in the RainCaught in the Rain is a 1914 American comedy silent film made by Keystone Studios starring Charlie Chaplin. This film was the first of many movies that Charlie Chaplin both directed and starred.-Cast:* Charles Chaplin - Tipsy hotel guest...
(1914) - Caught in a CabaretCaught in a CabaretCaught in a Cabaret is a short film from 1914 starring Charlie Chaplin and the film's writer/director Mabel Normand. Chaplin plays a waiter who fakes being a Greek Ambassador to impress a girl. He then is invited to a garden party where he gets in trouble with the girl's jealous boyfriend...
(1914) - Mabel and Fatty's Married LifeMabel and Fatty's Married LifeMabel and Fatty's Married Life is a 1915 short comedy film directed by and starring Fatty Arbuckle.-Cast:* Mabel Normand - Mabel* Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle - Fatty, her husband* Al St...
(19151915 in filmThe year 1915 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* February 8 : D.W Griffith's The Birth of a Nation premieres at Clune's Auditorium Los Angeles and breaks box office and film length records, running at a total length of 3 hrs 10 minutes.* June 18 : The Motion Picture Directors...
) - Her Bareback Career (1917)
- Neptune's Naughty Daughter (1917)
- Distilled LoveDistilled LoveDistilled Love is a 1920 silent comedy film featuring Oliver Hardy.-Cast:* Alice Howell - The Milkmaid* Richard Smith - The Color Blind Artist * Oliver Hardy - Mr. Peeble Ford * Billy Bevan* Fay Holderness...
(19201920 in filmThe year 1920 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* November 27 - The Mark of Zorro, starring Douglas Fairbanks opens.-Top grossing films :-Films released in 1920:U.S.A. unless stated*The $1,000,000 Reward...
) - Green Trees (1924)
- Madame Dynamite (1926)