Thais was a 1917 silent

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...

 film by the Goldwyn company. It was based on the 1890 novel Thaïs

Thaïs (novel)

Thaïs is a novel by Anatole France published in 1890. It is based on events in the life of Saint Thaïs of Egypt, a legendary convert to Christianity who is said to have lived in the 4th century...

 by Anatole France

Anatole France

Anatole France , born François-Anatole Thibault, , was a French poet, journalist, and novelist. He was born in Paris, and died in Saint-Cyr-sur-Loire. He was a successful novelist, with several best-sellers. Ironic and skeptical, he was considered in his day the ideal French man of letters...

. This film featured prima donna Mary Garden

Mary Garden

Mary Garden , was a Scottish operatic soprano with a substantial career in France and America in the first third of the 20th century...

, who was making her film debut at the then-lavish weekly salary of US$15,000. Other cast members include Lionel Adams, Crauford Kent

Crauford Kent

Crauford Kent was an English-born film actor. Between 1915 and 1952 he appeared in 208 films, although frequently without screen credit, including The Menace, Little Miss Marker, The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Dolly Sisters, and Pat and Mike.Kent was born in London, England and died in Hollywood,...

, and Charles Trowbridge

Charles Trowbridge

Charles Trowbridge was an American film actor. He appeared in 233 films between 1915 and 1958.He was born in Veracruz, Mexico and died in Los Angeles, California.-Selected filmography:*Tycoon...

. This film is considered "one of the most colossal flops in movie history, both artistically and financially".

Cast

• Mary Garden
  Mary Garden
  Mary Garden , was a Scottish operatic soprano with a substantial career in France and America in the first third of the 20th century...
  
   - Thais
• Hamilton Revelle - Paphnutius
• Crauford Kent
  Crauford Kent
  Crauford Kent was an English-born film actor. Between 1915 and 1952 he appeared in 208 films, although frequently without screen credit, including The Menace, Little Miss Marker, The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Dolly Sisters, and Pat and Mike.Kent was born in London, England and died in Hollywood,...
  
   - Lollius
• Lionel Adams - Cynius
• Alice Chapin - Mother Superior
• Margaret Townsend - Nun
• Charles Trowbridge
  Charles Trowbridge
  Charles Trowbridge was an American film actor. He appeared in 233 films between 1915 and 1958.He was born in Veracruz, Mexico and died in Los Angeles, California.-Selected filmography:*Tycoon...
  
  - Nicius