The Greatest Piece of Democratic Propaganda:
      Famous Players - Lasky Production (1918)    

    America was fighting the Great War (as World War I was originally called) in August, 1918, when Famous Players - Lasky (Paramount) released this adaptation. That context undoubtedly explains the studio's decision to promote its version of Stowe's novel as "propaganda" for one of the country's most cherished principles. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this production, however, is the fact that actress Marguerite Clark, a silent film star who was 35 years old at the time, plays both Eva and Topsy -- though since the film is lost we can only imagine how this gimmick (a kind of complement to the theatrical schtick of "Double Topsys") was worked.


Credits (from the Internet Movie Database):
Distributor: Paramount; Director: J. Searle Dawley; Writer: J. Searle Dawley; Presented by: Adolph Zukor.

Cast: Marguerite Clark (Litte Eva St. Clair/Topsy), Sam Hardy (Simon Legree), Jack W. Johnston (Haley), Florence Carpenter (Eliza Harris), Frank Losee (Uncle Tom), Phil Ryley (Marks), Harry Lee (Jeff), Augusta Anderson (Mrs. St. Clair), Ruby Hoffman (Cassy), Susanne Willis (Aunt Chloe), Mrs. Priestley Morrison (Ophelia), Thomas Carnahan, Jr. (George Shelby, Jr. ), Jere Austin (George Harris), Henry Stanford (Mr. St. Clair); with Chester Conklin.

Crew: H. Lyman Broening (Cinematography); Chester A. Lyons (second camera operator).

PUBLICITY PHOTOS FROM THE FILM:
CLICK ON ANY IMAGE TO ENLARGE

    The promotional page below appeared in Photoplay Magazine, August 1918. You can enlarge any section of the page by clicking on it.




OTHER ARTICLES & REVIEWS

  • Marguerite Clark in Dual Roles (25 May 1918)
  • Filming in Historic New Orleans (1 June 1918)
  • Marguerite Clark's Popularity (8 June 1918)
  • Marguerite Clark in the Mississippi (6 July 1918)
  • Chicago Tribune Review (15 July 1918)
  • Movie's First Run Report by Wire (20 July 1918)
  • Cordelia Howard to Attend Premiere (20 July 1918)
  • Washington Post Notice (21 July 1918)
  • Washington Post Review (22 July 1918)
  • Reports to Date By Wire (27 July 1918)
  • Los Angeles Times Review (30 July 1918)
  • Versatile Marguerite Clark (August 1918)
  • Reports to Date By Wire (3 August 1918)
  • Variety Review (9 August 1918)
  • Miss Clark Cincinnati's Favorite (10 August 1918)
  • Washington Post Notice (18 August 1918)
  • Los Angeles Times Notice (27 August 1918)
  • Music Suggested for UTC (31 August 1918)
  • With the Newest UTC Company (September 1918)

    •     The patriotic note was also sounded when the film played at the TD Theatre in Berkeley, California, at the end of August, 1918, as you can see from this folded four-page program. You can enlarge any of these pages by clicking on it.
    Courtesy John Sullivan