David Powell
Encyclopedia
David Powell was a Scottish born stage and later film actor of the silent era
. In his twenties Powell appeared in stage companies of Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree
, Ellen Terry
and Johnston Forbes-Robertson
. In 1907 he appeared with Terry on Broadway in the first American presentation of Shaw's
Captain Brassbound's Conversion
. He later appeared with Forbes-Robertson in the United States and decided to stay in that country.
In 1912 Powell started his film career in one to three reel shorts. Possessed of dark good looks and shiny dark eyes, he was often cast opposite or in support of well-known star actresses of the time. Many of these actresses include Mary Pickford
, Clara Kimball Young
, Billie Burke
, Hazel Dawn
, Ann Murdock
, Alice Brady
, Edna Goodrich
, Elsie Ferguson
, Mae Murray
, Mary Glynne
and Ann Forrest
amongst others. At the beginning of the 1920s he starred in several Paramount produced English films. Alfred Hitchcock
was the title card writer for several of these films. As with other silent screen performers Powell has a lot of his filmography missing. Extant films that feature Powell are The Dawn of A Tomorrow (1916), Less Than Dust (1916), Idols of Clay
(1920), The Virtuous Liar (1924), The Green Goddess
(1923 version), The Average Woman (1924). Several of these however are in film vaults and foreign archives.
Powell died of pneumonia
in April 1925 at the age of 42. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Powell is not related to William Powell
, of The Thin Man fame even though the two actors appeared in one silent film together Outcast
(1922). In February 1925 William Powell's son, William David Powell
was born. It's not known if the boy's middle name, David, was in honour of actor David Powell who died two months later.
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...
. In his twenties Powell appeared in stage companies of Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree
Herbert Beerbohm Tree
Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree was an English actor and theatre manager.Tree began performing in the 1870s. By 1887, he was managing the Haymarket Theatre, winning praise for adventurous programming and lavish productions, and starring in many of its productions. In 1899, he helped fund the...
, Ellen Terry
Ellen Terry
Dame Ellen Terry, GBE was an English stage actress who became the leading Shakespearean actress in Britain. Among the members of her famous family is her great nephew, John Gielgud....
and Johnston Forbes-Robertson
Johnston Forbes-Robertson
Sir Johnston Forbes-Robertson was an English actor and theatre manager. He was considered the finest Hamlet of the nineteenth century and one of the finest actors of his time, despite his dislike of the job and his lifelong belief that he was temperamentally unsuited to acting.-Early life:Born in...
. In 1907 he appeared with Terry on Broadway in the first American presentation of Shaw's
George Bernard Shaw
George Bernard Shaw was an Irish playwright and a co-founder of the London School of Economics. Although his first profitable writing was music and literary criticism, in which capacity he wrote many highly articulate pieces of journalism, his main talent was for drama, and he wrote more than 60...
Captain Brassbound's Conversion
Captain Brassbound's Conversion
Captain Brassbound's Conversion is a play by G. Bernard Shaw. It was published in Shaw's 1901 collection Three Plays for Puritans . The first American production of the play starred Ellen Terry in 1907....
. He later appeared with Forbes-Robertson in the United States and decided to stay in that country.
In 1912 Powell started his film career in one to three reel shorts. Possessed of dark good looks and shiny dark eyes, he was often cast opposite or in support of well-known star actresses of the time. Many of these actresses include Mary Pickford
Mary Pickford
Mary Pickford was a Canadian-born motion picture actress, co-founder of the film studio United Artists and one of the original 36 founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences...
, Clara Kimball Young
Clara Kimball Young
Clara Kimball Young was an American film actress, who was highly regarded and publicly popular in the early silent film era.-Early life:...
, Billie Burke
Billie Burke
Mary William Ethelbert Appleton "Billie" Burke was an American actress. She is primarily known to modern audiences as Glinda the Good Witch of the North in the musical film The Wizard of Oz. She was nominated for an Academy Award for her performance as Emily Kilbourne in Merrily We Live...
, Hazel Dawn
Hazel Dawn
Hazel Dawn was a stage, film and television actress. She was born as Hazel Tout to a Mormon family.-Stage career:...
, Ann Murdock
Ann Murdock
Ann Murdock was a stage and silent film actress popular during the 1910s. She is sometimes billed as Anna Murdock.-Filmography:* A Royal Family* Captain Jinks of the Horse Marines...
, Alice Brady
Alice Brady
Alice Brady was an American actress who began her career in the silent film era and survived the transition into talkies. She worked up until six months before her death from cancer in 1939...
, Edna Goodrich
Edna Goodrich
Edna Goodrich was an American Broadway actress, Florodora girl, author, and media sensation during the early 1900s. At one point, she was known as one of America's wealthiest and best dressed performers. She was married to Edwin Stacey of Cincinnati, Ohio, and later Nat C...
, Elsie Ferguson
Elsie Ferguson
Elsie Louise Ferguson was an American stage and film actress.-Early life:Born in New York City, Elsie Ferguson was the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Hiram Benson Ferguson, a successful attorney...
, Mae Murray
Mae Murray
Mae Murray was an American actress, dancer, film producer, and screenwriter. Murray rose to fame during the silent film era and was known as "The Girl with the Bee-Stung Lips" and "The Gardenia of the Screen"....
, Mary Glynne
Mary Glynne
Mary Glynne was a British film actress. She appeared in 24 films between 1919 and 1939. She was born in Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan South Wales and died in London....
and Ann Forrest
Ann Forrest
Ann Forrest was a Danish actress of Hollywood silent films.-Biography:...
amongst others. At the beginning of the 1920s he starred in several Paramount produced English films. Alfred Hitchcock
Alfred Hitchcock
Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, KBE was a British film director and producer. He pioneered many techniques in the suspense and psychological thriller genres. After a successful career in British cinema in both silent films and early talkies, Hitchcock moved to Hollywood...
was the title card writer for several of these films. As with other silent screen performers Powell has a lot of his filmography missing. Extant films that feature Powell are The Dawn of A Tomorrow (1916), Less Than Dust (1916), Idols of Clay
Idols of Clay (1920 film)
Idols of Clay is a 1920 silent drama directed by George Fitzmaurice and starring Mae Murray and David Powell. A copy of the film survives in the Gosfilmofond Archive in Moscow.-Cast:* Mae Murray - Faith Merrill* David Powell - Dion Holme...
(1920), The Virtuous Liar (1924), The Green Goddess
The Green Goddess
The Green Goddess is an American talking motion picture released in 1930 and directed by Alfred E. Green. It was a remake of 1923 silent film, which was in turn based on the play of the same name by William Archer. It was produced by Warner Bros. using their new Vitaphone sound system, and adapted...
(1923 version), The Average Woman (1924). Several of these however are in film vaults and foreign archives.
Powell died of pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
in April 1925 at the age of 42. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Powell is not related to William Powell
William Powell
William Horatio Powell was an American actor.A major star at MGM, he was paired with Myrna Loy in 14 films, including the popular Thin Man series in which Powell and Loy played Nick and Nora Charles...
, of The Thin Man fame even though the two actors appeared in one silent film together Outcast
Outcast (1922 film)
Outcast is a 1922 silent film drama directed by Chester Withey. The film starred Elsie Ferguson and David Powell. William Powell has a small supporting part in this which was his third film. The movie is based on the play of the same name by Hubert Henry Davies and had been performed on Broadway...
(1922). In February 1925 William Powell's son, William David Powell
William David Powell
William David Powell , an American, was a writer for television.-Early life:Powell was the only child of actor William Powell and actress Eileen Wilson...
was born. It's not known if the boy's middle name, David, was in honour of actor David Powell who died two months later.
Selected filmography
- The Dawn of a TomorrowThe Dawn of a Tomorrow (1915 film)The Dawn of a Tomorrow is a 1915 silent film starring Mary Pickford, produced by Adolph Zukor's Famous Players Film Company and directed by James Kirkwood. It is based on a 1909 stage play starring Eleanor Robson Belmont, her last stage role. This film was rereleased by Paramount in 1919 under...
(1915) - Gloria's RomanceGloria's RomanceGloria's Romance is a 1916 silent film serial starring Billie Burke. It was written by Rupert Hughes and his wife and produced by George Kleine. Two men Walter Edwin and Colin Campbell served as principal directors. It is Burke's second outting as a film actress and one of the very rare occasions a...
(1916) - The Lie (1918)
- The Beautiful AdventureThe Beautiful AdventureThe Beautiful Adventure is a 1917 silent film drama starring Ann Murdock, a stage star. The film is based on a Broadway stage play The Beautiful Adventure that had starred Murdock on Broadway. The film was directed by Dell Henderson and released through the Mutual Film company. It is lost...
(1919) - CounterfeitCounterfeit (1919 film)Counterfeit is a 1919 silent film detective/ drama directed by George Fitzmaurice and starring Elsie Ferguson. The assistant director was C. Van Arsdale. The picture was the fourth film Fitzmaurice and Ferguson worked on and is now a lost film.-Cast:...
(1919) - On with the DanceOn with the Dance (1920 film)This article is about the 1920 film. For the 1925 musical revue, see On With the Dance . For the 1975 Upstairs, Downstairs episode, see On With the Dance....
(1920) - Right to LoveRight to Love (1920 film)Right to Love is a 1920 silent film drama directed by George Fitzmaurice. It starred Mae Murray, David Powell and Holmes Herbert. A copy of the film is preserved in the Nederlands Filmmuseum. -Cast:*Mae Murray as Lady Falkland...
(1920) - Lady Rose's DaughterLady Rose's DaughterLady Rose's Daughter is a 1920 silent film drama starring Elsie Ferguson and David Powell with directing being from Hugh Ford. It was produced by Famous Players-Lasky and released through Paramount Pictures. The film was based on a stage play performed in 1903 on Broadway. Both the film and the...
(1920) - Idols of ClayIdols of Clay (1920 film)Idols of Clay is a 1920 silent drama directed by George Fitzmaurice and starring Mae Murray and David Powell. A copy of the film survives in the Gosfilmofond Archive in Moscow.-Cast:* Mae Murray - Faith Merrill* David Powell - Dion Holme...
(1920) - AppearancesAppearances (film)Appearances is a 1921 short drama film directed by Donald Crisp. Alfred Hitchcock is credited as a title designer. The film is now lost.-Cast:* David Powell - Herbert Seaton* Mary Glynne - Kitty Mitchell* Langhorn Burton - Sir William Rutherford...
(1921) - The Mystery RoadThe Mystery RoadThe Mystery Road is a 1921 drama film directed by Paul Powell. Alfred Hitchcock is credited as a title designer. The film is now lost.-Cast:* David Powell - Gerald Dombey* Nadja Ostrovska - Myrtile Sargot* Pardoe Woodman - Christopher Went...
(1921) - The Princess of New YorkThe Princess of New YorkThe Princess of New York is a 1921 crime film directed by Donald Crisp. Alfred Hitchcock is credited as a title designer. The film is now lost.-Cast:* David Powell - Geoffrey Kingsward* Mary Glynne - Helen Stanton* Saba Raleigh - Mrs...
(1921) - Dangerous LiesDangerous LiesDangerous Lies is a 1921 drama film directed by Paul Powell. Alfred Hitchcock is credited as a title designer. The film is now lost.-Cast:* David Powell - Sir Henry Bond* Mary Glynne - Joan Farrant* Arthur M. Cullin - Eli Hodges* Ernest A...
(1921) - Her Gilded CageHer Gilded CageHer Gilded Cage is a 1922 silent drama film directed by Sam Wood and starring Gloria Swanson. It is a lost film.-Cast:* Gloria Swanson - Suzanne Ornoff* David Powell - Arnold Pell* Harrison Ford - Lawrence Pell* Anne Cornwall - Jacqueline Ornoff...
(1922) - Love's BoomerangLove's BoomerangLove's Boomerang is a 1922 crime film directed by John S. Robertson. Alfred Hitchcock is credited as a title designer...
(1922) - The Spanish JadeThe Spanish JadeThe Spanish Jade is a 1922 British silent drama film directed by John S. Robertson. Alfred Hitchcock is credited as a title designer. The film is now considered a lost film.-Cast:* David Powell as Gil Pérez* Marc McDermott as Don Luis Ramónez de Alavia...
(1922) - The Green GoddessThe Green Goddess (1923 film)The Green Goddess is a 1923 silent adventure film based on play of the same name by William Archer. Set during the British Raj, it stars George Arliss as the Rajah of Rukh, into whose land arrive three British subjects, played by Alice Joyce, David Powell, and Harry T. Morey. Arliss and Ivan F...
(1923)
External links
- David Powell at IBDb.com
- Blue Book interview with David Powell
- On David Powell's mustache
- David Powell portrait
- still of a scene from Lady Rose's Daughter(1920) with Powell and Elsie FergusonElsie FergusonElsie Louise Ferguson was an American stage and film actress.-Early life:Born in New York City, Elsie Ferguson was the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Hiram Benson Ferguson, a successful attorney...
- Powell with Billie Burke; in Gloria's Romance
