Priscilla Bonner
Encyclopedia
Priscilla Bonner was an American silent film
actress.
, Bonner made her film debut opposite Charles Ray
in the 1920 film Homer Comes Home, after being signed to MGM that same year. She went on to co-star with Jack Pickford
in The Man Who Had Everything (1920), Lon Chaney, Sr.
in Shadows
(1922), Colleen Moore
in April Showers
, and comedian Harry Langdon
in The Strong Man
. In 1925 she successfully sued Warner Bros.
and won a substantial cash settlement when she was originally chosen and then dropped as leading lady from John Barrymore
's The Sea Beast
in favor of Barrymore's new real life love interest Dolores Costello
. That same year she starred in the controversial independent film The Red Kimona
produced and directed by Dorothy Davenport
, the widow of Wallace Reid
. In 1927, Bonner was loaned to Paramount Pictures
to co-star in the box office hit It
, starring Clara Bow
.
In 1928, Bonner married Dr. E. Bertrand Woolfan and retired from films the following year. On February 21, 1996, Bonner died at the age of 97.
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...
actress.
Career
Born in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, Bonner made her film debut opposite Charles Ray
Charles Ray
Charles Ray was a silent film star. Extremely popular in a series of films casting him in juvenile roles, primarily rural young men, Ray's career faded as he lost his youthful looks- he also had a reputation of being demanding and having an outsized ego...
in the 1920 film Homer Comes Home, after being signed to MGM that same year. She went on to co-star with Jack Pickford
Jack Pickford
Jack Pickford was a Canadian-born American actor. He was best known for his tabloid lifestyle, marriage to the top starlets of his day, and being of the famous Pickford acting family.-Early life:...
in The Man Who Had Everything (1920), Lon Chaney, Sr.
Lon Chaney, Sr.
Lon Chaney , nicknamed "The Man of a Thousand Faces," was an American actor during the age of silent films. He was one of the most versatile and powerful actors of early cinema...
in Shadows
Shadows (1922 film)
Shadows is a 1922 silent drama film starring Lon Chaney, Sr., Marguerite De La Motte, Harrison Ford, and John St. Polis. Shadows is a tale of deception, sacrifice and humility by a gentle Chinese immigrant in a small New England town directed by Tom Forman.-Plot:A boastful and proud yet abusive...
(1922), Colleen Moore
Colleen Moore
Colleen Moore was an American film actress, and one of the most fashionable stars of the silent film era.-Early life:...
in April Showers
April Showers (1923 film)
April Showers was a silent romantic film with Colleen Moore, an "Irish" story that capitalized on her wholesome Irish persona.-Story:Danny O'Rourke is the son of a police officer who was killed in the line of duty. Eager to join the police force, Danny fails his exams. The failure causes him to...
, and comedian Harry Langdon
Harry Langdon
Harry Philmore Langdon was an American comedian who appeared in vaudeville, silent films , and talkies. He was briefly partnered with Oliver Hardy.-Life and career:...
in The Strong Man
The Strong Man
The Strong Man is a 1926 American comedy silent film starring Harry Langdon and directed by Frank Capra.Along with Tramp, Tramp, Tramp, The Strong Man is Langdon's best known film...
. In 1925 she successfully sued Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
and won a substantial cash settlement when she was originally chosen and then dropped as leading lady from John Barrymore
John Barrymore
John Sidney Blyth , better known as John Barrymore, was an acclaimed American actor. He first gained fame as a handsome stage actor in light comedy, then high drama and culminating in groundbreaking portrayals in Shakespearean plays Hamlet and Richard III...
's The Sea Beast
The Sea Beast
The Sea Beast is a silent film adaptation of the novel Moby Dick by Herman Melville, a story about a monomaniacal hunt for a great white whale...
in favor of Barrymore's new real life love interest Dolores Costello
Dolores Costello
Dolores Costello was an American film actress who achieved her greatest success during the era of silent movies. She was nicknamed "The Goddess of the Silent Screen"...
. That same year she starred in the controversial independent film The Red Kimona
The Red Kimona
The Red Kimona is a 1925 silent film drama about prostitution produced by Dorothy Davenport and starring Priscilla Bonner. The film is notable today for being one of the few independent productions produced and written by women. The film is based on a real case of prostitution that took place in...
produced and directed by Dorothy Davenport
Dorothy Davenport
Dorothy Davenport was an American actress, screenwriter, film director, and producer who appeared in silent film for Biograph Studios under the direction of D.W. Griffith.-Early career:...
, the widow of Wallace Reid
Wallace Reid
Wallace Reid was an actor in silent film referred to as "the screen's most perfect lover".-Early life:Born William Wallace Reid in St...
. In 1927, Bonner was loaned to Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
to co-star in the box office hit It
It (1927 film)
It is a 1927 silent romantic comedy film which tells the story of a shop girl who sets her sights on the handsome and wealthy boss of the department store where she works. Because of this film, actress Clara Bow became known as the "It girl"...
, starring Clara Bow
Clara Bow
Clara Gordon Bow was an American actress who rose to stardom in the silent film era of the 1920s. It was her appearance as a spunky shopgirl in the film It that brought her global fame and the nickname "The It Girl." Bow came to personify the roaring twenties and is described as its leading sex...
.
In 1928, Bonner married Dr. E. Bertrand Woolfan and retired from films the following year. On February 21, 1996, Bonner died at the age of 97.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1920 | Homer Comes Home | Rachel Prouty | |
| 1920 | Honest Hutch | Ellen | |
| 1920 | The Man Who Had Everything | Prue Winn | |
| 1920 | Officer 666 | Sadie | |
| 1921 | The Son of Wallingford | Mary Curtis | |
| 1921 | Bob Hampton of Placer | Schoolteacher | |
| 1921 | Home Stuff | Susan Deep | |
| 1922 | Shadows Shadows (1922 film) Shadows is a 1922 silent drama film starring Lon Chaney, Sr., Marguerite De La Motte, Harrison Ford, and John St. Polis. Shadows is a tale of deception, sacrifice and humility by a gentle Chinese immigrant in a small New England town directed by Tom Forman.-Plot:A boastful and proud yet abusive... |
Mary Brent | |
| 1923 | Galloping Thru | ||
| 1923 | Purple Dawn | Ruth Ketchell | |
| 1923 | Where's My Wandering Boy This Evening? | ||
| 1923 | Pitfalls of a Big City | Alternative title: The Pitfalls of a Great City | |
| 1923 | April Showers April Showers (1923 film) April Showers was a silent romantic film with Colleen Moore, an "Irish" story that capitalized on her wholesome Irish persona.-Story:Danny O'Rourke is the son of a police officer who was killed in the line of duty. Eager to join the police force, Danny fails his exams. The failure causes him to... |
Shannon O'Rourke | |
| 1924 | A Desperate Adventure | ||
| 1924 | Hold Your Breath | The Sister | |
| 1924 | Tarnish | Aggie | |
| 1924 | Chalk Marks | Betty Towner | |
| 1925 | Charley's Aunt | Kitty | |
| 1925 | The Mansion of Aching Hearts | A City Girl | |
| 1925 | Proud Flesh Proud Flesh (film) Proud Flesh is a 1925 silent comedy-drama film directed by King Vidor.-Plot:A San Francisco earthquake orphan is adopted by relatives in Spain and gets wooed by a Romeo there. She turns him down to return to a San Francisco plumber.-Cast:... |
San Francisco Girl | |
| 1925 | The White Desert | Mrs. Foster | |
| 1925 | Drusilla with a Million | Sally May Ferris | |
| 1925 | Eyes of Hollywood | ||
| 1925 | The Red Kimona The Red Kimona The Red Kimona is a 1925 silent film drama about prostitution produced by Dorothy Davenport and starring Priscilla Bonner. The film is notable today for being one of the few independent productions produced and written by women. The film is based on a real case of prostitution that took place in... |
Gabrielle Darley | |
| 1926 | The Earth Woman | Sally | |
| 1926 | 3 Bad Men 3 Bad Men -Cast:* George O'Brien as Dan O'Malley* Olive Borden as Lee Carlton* Lou Tellegen as Sheriff Layne Hunter* Tom Santschi as 'Bull' Stanley* J. Farrell MacDonald as Mike Costigan* Frank Campeau as 'Spade' Allen* Priscilla Bonner as Millie Stanley... |
Millie Stanley | |
| 1926 | The Strong Man The Strong Man The Strong Man is a 1926 American comedy silent film starring Harry Langdon and directed by Frank Capra.Along with Tramp, Tramp, Tramp, The Strong Man is Langdon's best known film... |
Mary Brown | |
| 1926 | The False Alarm | Bessie Flannigan | |
| 1927 | It It (1927 film) It is a 1927 silent romantic comedy film which tells the story of a shop girl who sets her sights on the handsome and wealthy boss of the department store where she works. Because of this film, actress Clara Bow became known as the "It girl"... |
Molly | |
| 1927 | Long Pants Long Pants Long Pants is a 1927 American comedy silent film starring Harry Langdon and directed by Frank Capra. Additional cast members include Gladys Brockwell, Alan Roscoe, Priscilla Bonner, and others.-Plot:... |
His Bride (Priscilla) | |
| 1927 | Paying the Price | ||
| 1927 | The Prince of Headwaiters | Faith Cable | |
| 1927 | Broadway After Midnight | Queenie Morgan/Gloria Livingston | Alternative title: Gangsters on Broadway |
| 1928 | Outcast Souls | Alice Davis | |
| 1928 | Golden Shackles | Lucy Weston | |
| 1929 | Girls Who Dare | Sally Casey |