Carlyle Blackwell

A compilation of thirteen rare silent films digitized by the Library of Congress, selected for the 2022 Domitor conference theme “Copy/Rights and Early Cinema.” Drawn from nitrate and safety film, the program spans comedies, trick films, and dramas exploring censorship, invention, adaptation, and social rights. Titles include: Pruning the Movies (Nestor, 1914); Imperial Japanese Dance (Edison, 1894); Early Edison Camera Tests (Edison, c.1890s); Censorship and its Absurdities (Edison, 1915); In Wrong (Crystal, 1914, dir. Phillips Smalley); Tillie’s Tomato Surprise (Lubin, 1915, dir. Howell Hansell); Indian Land Grab (Champion, 1910); The Stolen Play (Falcon Features, 1917, dir. Harry Harvey); And the Villain Still Pursued Her (Vitagraph, 1906, dir. J. Stuart Blackton); The Doll’s Revenge (Hepworth, 1907, dir. Lewin Fitzhamon); The Disintegrated Convict (Vitagraph, 1907); The Mexican Joan of Arc (Kalem, 1911, dir. Kenean Buel); and Fads and Fashions of 1900 (U.S., 1940s).

'International spy seeks documents hidden in old inn.' (British Film Catalogue)

A Canadian returns to find his fiancée is married and schemes revenge.

"A wealthy young man, through losing the bulk of his fortune, goes to Canada, where he encounters and loves the daughter of the scoundrel lawyer who has robbed him." (Synopsis from The Bioscope, November 1930.)

A criminal organizes train crashes to discredit the railway in favor of a rival bus company. The stunts in this film were groundbreaking for 1920s British cinema. A scene which has been described as "the most spectacular rail crash in cinema history" was recorded by 22 cameras.

One of the last of the silent Sherlock films.

'1820. Officer frames colleague when gambler forces him to steal secrets.' (British Film Catalogue)

A marooned sailor and his stowaway sister-in-law are rescued by her husband.

Mr. Blackwell discovers a relic that informs him about Blythe (as Ayesha, or "She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed"), who loved his father and others in the ancestral line. Blackwell accompanies pal Heinrich George and handyman Tom Reynolds to Arabia.

A European adventurer tries to steal from an ancient Egyptian tomb, only to become afflicted by a mysterious curse...