''A Weaver of Dreams'' is a

lost Lost may refer to getting lost, or to: Geography *Lost, Aberdeenshire, a hamlet in Scotland * Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail, or LOST, a hiking and cycling trail in Florida, US History *Abbreviation of lost work, any work which is known to have bee ...

silent film A silent film is a film with no synchronized Sound recording and reproduction, recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) ...

directed by Edison's John H. Collins and released under Metro Films February 18, 1918, at the height of Mr. Collins' career. It was the 36th of 41 films credited to his direction. The young director succumbed to

Spanish Influenza The 1918–1920 influenza pandemic, commonly known by the misnomer Spanish flu or as the Great Influenza epidemic, was an exceptionally deadly global influenza pandemic caused by the H1N1 influenza A virus. The earliest documented case was ...

and died later that year; October 23, 1918, at the age of 28. The film stars his actress wife Virginia Flugrath, who is best known by her screen name

Viola Dana Viola Dana (born Virginia Flugrath; June 26, 1897 – July 3, 1987) was an American film actress who was successful during the era of silent films. She appeared in over 100 films, but was unable to make the transition to sound films. Early lif ...

. The screenplay, written by John H. Collins and William Parker, is an adaptation of

Myrtle Reed Myrtle Reed (September 27, 1874 – August 17, 1911) was an American author, poet, journalist, and philanthropist. She wrote a number of bestsellers and even published a series of cookbooks under the pseudonym Olive Green. Biography She was ...

's (1874-1911) posthumously published novel ''A Weaver of Dreams'' (1911); the author took her own life earlier that year on August 17, 1911.

Plot

The plot concerns Viola Dana's character; Judith Sylvester, who is niece to a wealthy invalid. Confident in her relationship, Judith introduces her beau to the niece of another invalid. Over time he transfers his affection to the other girl; possibly with ulterior motives. Judith does little to intervene, saying, "What is not mine, I do not want." She locks herself away in her house and dreams of a "perfect" lover. Perfection to her is the gentleman who once courted her dying aunt, to which his love letters bear testament. As Judith wallows in unrequited love, she discovers that the writer of her aunt's love letters is the uncle of her romantic rival, Margery Gordon, played by actress

Mildred Davis Mildred Hillary Davis (February 22, 1901The reference book ''Celebrities in Los Angeles Cemeteries: A Directory'' gives Davis's birth date as January 1, 1900.August 18, 1969) was an American actress who appeared in fifteen of Harold Lloyd's cla ...

. As the film continues, her aunt is reunited with her long lost love and poor Judith is left alone with nothing but dreams of perfection, but she remains hopeful.

Cast

- Judith Sylvester *

Clifford Bruce Clifford Bruce (1885–1919) was a Canadian film actor of the silent era.Solomon p. 229 Selected filmography * ''When Rome Ruled'' (1914) * '' A Fool There Was'' (1915) * ''Lady Audley's Secret'' (1915) * '' A Woman's Past'' (1915) * ''The Weakne ...

- Carter Keith *

- Margery Gordon * Russell Simpson - Martin Chandler *

Clarissa Selwynne Clarissa Selwynne (26 February 1886 – 13 June 1948) was a British stage and film actress.Kear & King p. 143 She settled in the United States, working in Hollywood where she appeared in around 100 films. Partial filmography * '' Hearts in Exi ...

- Cynthia Bancroft *

Vera Lewis Vera Lewis (June 10, 1873 – February 8, 1956) was an American film and stage actress, beginning in the silent film era. She appeared in more than 180 films between 1915 and 1947. She was married to actor Ralph Lewis. Biography She was b ...

- Aunt Hattie Taylor

References

External links

* 1918 films 1918 drama films 1910s English-language films American black-and-white films American silent feature films Lost American films Silent American drama films Films directed by John H. Collins 1918 lost films Lost drama films 1910s American films {{1910s-drama-film-stub