Silas Marner (1916 film)

Silas Marner is a 1916 American silent drama film directed by Ernest C. Warde and starring Frederick Warde, Valda Valkyrien, and Morgan Jones. It is an adaptation of the 1861 novel of the same name by George Eliot.^[1]

Silas Marner
Film still
Directed by	Ernest C. Warde
Written by	Philip Lonergan
Based on	Silas Marner by George Eliot
Produced by	Edwin Thanhouser
Starring	Frederick Warde Valda Valkyrien Morgan Jones
Cinematography	William Zollinger
Production company	Thanhouser Film Corporation
Distributed by	Mutual Film
Release date	February 19, 1916 (1916-02-19)
Running time	7 reels
Country	United States
Language	Silent (English intertitles)

Silas Marner (1916)

Cast

• Frederick Warde as Silas Marner
• Louise Bates as His sweetheart
• Morgan Jones as His supposed friend
• Thomas A. Curran as Godfrey
• Valda Valkyrien as Molly
• Ethel Jewett as Nancy
• Frank McNish as The Squire Cass
• Hector Dion as Dunstan
• Arthur Rankin as Lammeter

Production

The role of Marner was played by Frederick Warde, who was the father of director Ernest C. Warde. The film was originally planned that the film have a length of 5 reels, but, after filming was complete, it was found to require 7 reels for the story. Studio head Edwin Thanhouser justified this extension to Mutual Film president John R. Freuler under his "natural length theory," saying, "Only a naturally acted play will stand the test and justify the natural length principle. I am satisfied to let this production stand as my ideal illustration of the theory."^[2]