Astra Film Corp was an American film production company that produced

silent film A silent film is a film with no synchronized 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) or key lines of dialogue may, when ...

Louis J. Gasnier Louis Joseph Gasnier (September 15, 1875 – February 15, 1963) was a French-American film director, producer, screenwriter and stage actor. A cinema pioneer, Gasnier shepherded the early career of comedian Max Linder, co-directed the enormously ...

was the company's president.

George B. Seitz George Brackett Seitz (January 3, 1888 – July 8, 1944) was an American playwright, screenwriter, film actor and director. He was known for his screenplays for action serials, such as '' The Perils of Pauline'' (1914) and ''The Exploits o ...

co-founded it. It was making films by 1916. It became Louis J. Gasnier Productions after Seitz left. The studio operated in

Jersey City, New Jersey Jersey City is the second-most populous city in the U.S. state of New Jersey, after Newark.Fort Lee, New Jersey Fort Lee is a borough at the eastern border of Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, situated along the Hudson River atop the Palisades. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the borough's population was 40,191. As of the 2010 U.S. census, th ...

. The Fort Lee studio site at 1 Congress Street was acquired from

Pathé Pathé or Pathé Frères (, styled as PATHÉ!) is the name of various French people, French businesses that were founded and originally run by the Pathé Brothers of France starting in 1896. In the early 1900s, Pathé became the world's largest ...

in 1916. The company distributed its films with Pathé. Rolin Studio in

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

also worked with Pathé. The company's '' Hands Up'' serial included a storyline featuring the

Inca The Inca Empire (also known as the Incan Empire and the Inka Empire), called ''Tawantinsuyu'' by its subjects, (Quechua for the "Realm of the Four Parts", "four parts together" ) was the largest empire in pre-Columbian America. The admin ...

. The studio produced Pathé's photoplay films including ''

Stranded in Arcady ''Stranded in Arcady'' is a 1917 American silent adventure film directed by Frank Hall Crane and starring Irene Castle, Elliott Dexter and George Majeroni.Connelly p. 416 It is based on the novel '' Stranded in the Arcady'' by Francis Lynde. Ca ...

''. It was an adaptation of a story by

Francis Lynde Francis Lynde (November 12, 1856 – May 16, 1930) was an American writer. Three of his books were adapted to film.Irene Castle Vernon and Irene Castle were a husband-and-wife team of ballroom dancers and dance teachers who appeared on Broadway and in silent films in the early 20th century. They are credited with reviving the popularity of modern dancing. Castle was a st ...

. It was directed by

Frank Hall Crane Frank Hall Crane (January 1, 1873 – September 1, 1948) was an American stage and film actor and film director, director.The Fatal Ring ''The Fatal Ring'' is a 1917 American action film serial directed by George B. Seitz. Silentera.com reports that the UCLA Film and Television Archive The UCLA Film & Television Archive is a visual arts organization focused on the preservation ...

'' and ''

The Seven Pearls ''The Seven Pearls'' is a 1917 American silent action film, action film serial directed by Louis J. Gasnier and Donald MacKenzie. Fragments are held by the Library of Congress. Cast * Mollie King (actress), Mollie King as Ilma Bay * Creighton Ha ...

'' serials.

Arthur Miller Arthur Asher Miller (October 17, 1915 – February 10, 2005) was an American playwright, essayist and screenwriter in the 20th-century American theater. Among his most popular plays are '' All My Sons'' (1947), ''Death of a Salesman'' ( ...

worked for the company.

Grace Darmond Grace Darmond (born Grace Marie Glionna; November 20, 1893 – October 8, 1963) was a Canadian-American actress. Early life Grace Marie Glionna was born in Toronto on November 20, 1893. Her parents were Vincent Baptiste "James" Glionna, an I ...

left Selig to work for the company.

Filmography

*''

At Bay ''At Bay'' is a 1915 American silent drama film directed by George Fitzmaurice and starring Florence Reed. It is based on a 1913 Broadway play, ''At Bay'', by George Scarborough (writer), George Scarborough and produced by the Shuberts. On stage, ...

'' (1915) *''

Via Wireless ''Via Wireless'' is a 1915 American silent drama film directed by George Fitzmaurice and starring Bruce McRae, Gail Kane and Brandon Hurst.Motion Picture Guide Silent Film 1910-1936 p.428 Cast * Bruce McRae as Lt. Sommers * Gail Kane as Fran ...

'' (1915) *''

Pearl of the Army ''Pearl of the Army'' is a 1916 American silent film serial directed by Edward José. The Pathé-Astra Film Corp movie was made when many early film studio and film producers in America's first motion picture industry were based in New Jersey' ...

'' (1916), a serial *''

The Shielding Shadow ''The Shielding Shadow'' is a 1916 American action film serial directed by Louis J. Gasnier and Donald MacKenzie and starring Grace Darmond and Ralph Kellard. Plot The 15 chapter story involves the heroine being protected by a shadow with burni ...

'' (1916) *''

The Romantic Journey ''The Romantic Journey'' is a 1916 American silent drama film directed by George Fitzmaurice and starring William Courtenay, Macey Harlam and Alice Dovey.Parish & Pitts p.126 Cast * William Courtenay as Peter * Macey Harlam as Ratoor * Alice Do ...

'' (1916) *''The Black Orchid'' (1916), starring

*''

Arms and the Woman ''Arms and the Woman'' is a 1916 American silent drama film directed by George Fitzmaurice and starring Mary Nash, Lumsden Hare and H. Cooper Cliffe. It has been described as Edward G. Robinson's film debut, but the AFI Catalog of Feature Film ...

'' (1916) *''May Blossom'' (1917) *''

'' (1917), a serial *''

The Fatal Ring ''The Fatal Ring'' is a 1917 American action film serial directed by George B. Seitz. Silentera.com reports that the UCLA Film and Television Archive The UCLA Film & Television Archive is a visual arts organization focused on the preservation ...

'' (1917), a 19-chapter serial *'' The Hidden Hand'' (1917), a serial *'' Kick In'' (1917) *''

The Cigarette Girl ''The Cigarette Girl'' is a 1917 American silent drama film directed by William Parke and starring Gladys Hulette, Warner Oland and William Parke Jr.Lehu p.131 Cast * Gladys Hulette as The cigarette girl * Warner Oland Warner Oland (born ...

'' (1917) *''

The Mystery of the Double Cross ''The Mystery of the Double Cross'' is a 1917 film and one of the few American silent action film serials to survive in complete form. It was directed by Louis J. Gasnier and William Parke, from a story written by Gilson Willets, produced by t ...

'' (1917) *''Caleb Piper's Girl'' (1917), starring

Helene Chadwick Helene Chadwick (November 25, 1897 – September 4, 1940) was an American actress in silent and in early sound films. Early life and career Chadwick was born in the small town of Chadwicks, New York, which was named for her great-grandfathe ...

*''

The Hunting of the Hawk ''The Hunting of the Hawk'' is a 1917 American silent mystery film directed by George Fitzmaurice and starring William Courtenay. It was distributed by Pathé Exchange. It is an incomplete surviving film with reels in the Library of Congress and N ...

'' (1917) *'' Vengeance Is Mine'' (1917) *''

'' (1917) *'' Hands Up'' (1918), a serial *''

The Yellow Ticket ''The Yellow Ticket'' is a 1931 pre-Code American drama film based on the 1914 play of the same name by Michael Morton, produced by the Fox Film Corporation, directed by Raoul Walsh, and starring Elissa Landi, Lionel Barrymore and Laurence Oli ...

'' (1918) *''

The House of Hate ''The House of Hate'' is a 1918 American film serial directed by George B. Seitz, produced when many early film studios in America's first motion picture industry were based in Fort Lee, New Jersey. The serial was originally announced at fiftee ...

'' (1918) *''The Honest Thief'' (1918) *''The Mystery of the Doublecross'' (1918) *'' The Naulahka'' (1918) *''

The Hillcrest Mystery ''The Hillcrest Mystery'' is a 1918 silent film directed by George Fitzmaurice and starring Irene Castle. It was distributed by Pathé Exchange in March 1918. Cast *Irene Castle - Marion Sterling * J. H. Gilmour - Thomas Sterling * Ralph Kellard - ...

'' (1918) *''

'' (1918), a serial *''

A Japanese Nightingale ''A Japanese Nightingale'' is a 1918 American silent drama film adapted from the Onoto Watanna novel, directed by George Fitzmaurice and starring Fannie Ward, W.E. Lawrence and Yukio Aoyama.Motion Picture Guide Silent Film 1910-1936 p.368 Cast ...

'' (1918) *''

The Adventures of Ruth ''The Adventures of Ruth'' is a 1919 American film serial directed by George Marshall. It is now considered to be a lost film. The serial was advertised as written, produced and directed by Ruth Roland. Roland was the producer, but it was writte ...

'' (1919) *''

The Tiger's Trail ''The Tiger's Trail'' is a 1919 American adventure film serial starring Ruth Roland, directed by Robert Ellis, Louis J. Gasnier and Paul Hurst. A "fragmentary print" from the serial survives. Plot As described in a film magazine, Grim Gordon ...

'' (1919), a serial *''

The Lightning Raider ''The Lightning Raider'' is a 1919 American action film serial directed by George B. Seitz. It was the on-screen debut of Boris Karloff, albeit as an extra. The film serial survives in an incomplete state with some reels preserved at the Library ...

'' (1919) *'' The Pleasant Devil'' (1919) *''

Daredevil Jack ''Daredevil Jack'' is a 1920 American silent 15-chapter action film serial directed by W. S. Van Dyke and starring heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey and featuring Lon Chaney as a villain. The chapters were shown weekly between February and May 1 ...

'' (1920) *''

The Phantom Foe ''The Phantom Foe'' is a 1920 American fifteen-chapter adventure film serial directed by Bertram Millhauser and starring Warner Oland. A partial print of 14 episodes is in the George Eastman House Motion Picture Collection while the 15th episode ...

'' (1920) *'' Pirate Gold'' (1920), a serial *'' The Third Eye'' (1920), a serial *''

Trailed by Three ''Trailed by Three'' is a 1920 American silent Western film serial directed by Perry N. Vekroff. This is now considered to be a lost film. Cast * Stuart Holmes as Michael Casserly * Frankie Mann as Jane Creighton * Wilfred Lytell as Tom Care ...

'' (1920)

References

{{Reflist American film studios Silent film studios Companies based in Jersey City, New Jersey Fort Lee, New Jersey