The Lambis a 1915 Americansilentcomedy/Westernfilm featuringDouglas Fairbanksin his first starring role.[1]Directed byW. Christy Cabanne,the film is based on the popular 1913 Broadway playThe New Henrietta,in which Fairbanks co-starred withWilliam H. Crane,Amelia Binghamand a very youngPatricia Collinge.[2]
| The Lamb | |
|---|---|
 Seena Owen, Douglas Fairbanks inThe Lamb | |
| Directed by | W. Christy Cabanne |
| Screenplay by | Christy Cabanne |
| Story by | Granville Warwick |
| Based on | The New Henrietta byBronson Howard,Victor MapesandWinchell Smith |
| Starring | Douglas Fairbanks Seena Owen |
| Cinematography | William E. Fildew |
| Distributed by | Triangle Distributing |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 56 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Languages | Silent English intertitles |
A copy ofThe Lambis preserved at theGeorge Eastman House.[1]
Cast
edit- Douglas Fairbanks– Gerald
- Seena Owen– Mary
- William E. Lowery– Yaqui Indian Chief
- Lillian Langdon– Mary's Mother
- Monroe Salisbury– Mary's Cousin
- Kate Toncray– Gerald's Mother
- Alfred Paget– Bill Cactus
- Eagle Eye – Yaqui Indian Chief
- Tom Kennedy– White Hopeless (uncredited)
- Julia Faye– Woman (uncredited)
- Charles Stevens– Lieutenant (uncredited)
- Mary Thurman– extra role (uncredited)
Production
editD. W. Griffith,writing under the pseudonym Granville Barker, along with director Christy Cabanne, essentially expanded the play beyond the plushnouveau richeapartment setting of the play, and provided a western element to the story.[3]This would give Fairbanks a chance to show his physical prowess cinematically and loosen the play from what would be stage bound constraints.[4]Griffith also altered characters; Fairbanks' character's name is changed to Gerald, with his parent being his mother (Kate Toncray), whereas in the play his character was named Nick with his parent being his father played by Crane.
Reception
editDistributed byTriangle Film Corporation,the film premiered at the Knickerbocker Theater inNew York Cityon September 23, 1915 along with the KeystoneThe ValetandThe Iron Strain.The Lamboutperformed the other two features and was a hit with audiences and critics who praised Fairbanks' performance.[3]
References
edit- ^abThe Lambat silentera
- ^Carson, Lionel (1915).The Stage Year Book.Stage Offices. p. 28.
- ^abLombardi, Frederic (2013).Allan Dwan and the Rise and Decline of the Hollywood Studios.McFarland. pp. 53–54.ISBN978-0-786-43485-5.
- ^Basinger, Jeanine (2000).Silent Stars.Wesleyan University Press. p.104.ISBN0-819-56451-6.
External links
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