The Lamb (1915 film)
Encyclopedia
The Lamb is a 1915 silent
film that was Douglas Fairbanks's first starring role in a film. Fairbanks apparently played an extra or warm up part in Martyrs of the Alamo
before releasing The Lamb. Surviving stills of The Lamb show Fairbanks at one point as an Indian brave in a near state of nudity. The Lamb was directed by Christy Cabanne
and is preserved at the George Eastman House, Rochester New York.
The genesis of this film comes from a popular 1913 Broadway play called The New Henrietta, in which Douglas Fairbanks co starred with William H. Crane, Amelia Bingham
and a very young Patricia Collinge
. D. W. Griffith
, writing as Granville Barker, along with director Christy Cabanne
essentially expanded the play beyond the plush nouveau riche apartment setting of the play and provided a western element to the story. This would give Fairbanks a chance to show his physical prowess cinematically and loosen the play from what would be stage bound constraints. Also Griffith altered characters ie Fairbanks in the film is called Gerald with his parent being his mother(Kate Toncray
) , whereas in the play he was called Nick with his parent being his father played by Crane.
unbilled
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 that was Douglas Fairbanks's first starring role in a film. Fairbanks apparently played an extra or warm up part in Martyrs of the Alamo
Martyrs of the Alamo
Martyrs of the Alamo is an American film directed by Christy Cabanne.- Cast :*Sam De Grasse as Silent Smith*Allan Sears as David Crockett*Walter Long as Santa Anna*Alfred Paget as James Bowie*Fred Burns as Captain Dickinson...
before releasing The Lamb. Surviving stills of The Lamb show Fairbanks at one point as an Indian brave in a near state of nudity. The Lamb was directed by Christy Cabanne
Christy Cabanne
Christy Cabanne , born William Christy Cabanne, was an American film director, screenwriter and silent film actor. Christy Cabanne was, along with Sam Newfield and William Beaudine, one of the most prolific directors in the history of American film.-Biography:Cabanne graduated from the U.S...
and is preserved at the George Eastman House, Rochester New York.
The genesis of this film comes from a popular 1913 Broadway play called The New Henrietta, in which Douglas Fairbanks co starred with William H. Crane, Amelia Bingham
Amelia Bingham
Amelia Swilley Kingham' was an Australian dancer from Hicksville, Ohio. Her Broadway career extended from ....
and a very young Patricia Collinge
Patricia Collinge
Patricia Collinge was an Irish American actress. She was born in Dublin, Ireland.-Early life:She was born to F. Channon Collinge and Emmie Russell. Her birth name was Eileen Cecilia Collinge. Collinge was educated first by a visiting governess and then at a girls' school. She took dancing and...
. D. W. Griffith
D. W. Griffith
David Llewelyn Wark Griffith was a premier pioneering American film director. He is best known as the director of the controversial and groundbreaking 1915 film The Birth of a Nation and the subsequent film Intolerance .Griffith's film The Birth of a Nation made pioneering use of advanced camera...
, writing as Granville Barker, along with director Christy Cabanne
Christy Cabanne
Christy Cabanne , born William Christy Cabanne, was an American film director, screenwriter and silent film actor. Christy Cabanne was, along with Sam Newfield and William Beaudine, one of the most prolific directors in the history of American film.-Biography:Cabanne graduated from the U.S...
essentially expanded the play beyond the plush nouveau riche apartment setting of the play and provided a western element to the story. This would give Fairbanks a chance to show his physical prowess cinematically and loosen the play from what would be stage bound constraints. Also Griffith altered characters ie Fairbanks in the film is called Gerald with his parent being his mother(Kate Toncray
Kate Toncray
Kate Toncray was an American actress of the silent era. She appeared in 178 films between 1905 and 1925. She was born in St...
) , whereas in the play he was called Nick with his parent being his father played by Crane.
Cast
- Douglas Fairbanks - Gerald
- Seena OwenSeena OwenSeena Owen was a Danish-American silent film actress.-Early Life:She was born Signe M. Auen at Spokane, Washington, the youngest of three children raised by Jens Christensen and Karen Auen. Her father and mother came from Denmark in the late 1880s and settled in Minnesota where they married in 1888...
- Mary - William LoweryWilliam LoweryWilliam Lowery was an American silent film actor. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and was signed by the Thanhouser Company in 1914. His first film was The Ten of Spades also starring William Garwood. He starred in about 60 films between 1914 and his retirement from film in 1927...
- Yaqui Indian Chief (*billed William E. Lowery) - Lillian LangdonLillian LangdonLillian Langdon was a New Jersey-born American film actress of the silent era. She appeared in 86 films between 1912 and 1928.She died in Santa Monica, California, aged 82.-Selected filmography:...
- Mary's Monther - Monroe SalisburyMonroe SalisburyMonroe Salisbury was an American actor. He appeared on the stage for several years and then became an early movie star....
- Mary's Cousin - Kate ToncrayKate ToncrayKate Toncray was an American actress of the silent era. She appeared in 178 films between 1905 and 1925. She was born in St...
- Gerald's Mother - Alfred PagetAlfred PagetAlfred Paget was an English silent film actor. He appeared in 239 films between 1908 and 1918.-Selected filmography:-External links:...
- Bill Cactus - Eagle Eye - Yaqui Indian Chief
unbilled
- Tom KennedyTom Kennedy (American actor)Tom Kennedy was an American actor best known for his roles in Hollywood comedies from the silent days, with such producers as Mack Sennett and Hal Roach, mainly supporting lead comedians such as the four Marx Brothers, WC Fields, Mabel Normand, Shemp Howard and Laurel and Hardy.-Career:For over 50...
- White Hopeless - Julia FayeJulia FayeJulia Faye was a motion picture actress from Richmond, Virginia.-Career overview:Faye had resided in St. Louis, Missouri prior to coming to Hollywood in 1916, to visit friends. She visited one of the film studios and was introduced to Christy Cabanne. The two reminisced about St...
- Woman(*uncredited) - Charles StevensCharles Stevens (actor)Charles Stevens was an American actor.The grandson of Geronimo, Stevens appeared in nearly 200 films between 1915 and 1961...
- Lieutenant(*uncredited) - Mary ThurmanMary ThurmanMary Thurman was an American actress of the silent film era.-Career:Born Mary Christiansen in Richfield, Utah, Thurman's film career began with roles in the comedies of Mack Sennett, as one of the Sennett Bathing Beauties, and featured appearances in Bombs! and The Fool...
- extra role (*uncredited)