Frederick A. Thomson (1869–1925), sometimes spelled Thompson, was a director of silent films in the United States. He began his directing career in theater. Thomson was credited by

Helen Hayes Helen Hayes MacArthur ( Brown; October 10, 1900 – March 17, 1993) was an American actress whose career spanned 80 years. She eventually received the nickname "First Lady of American Theatre" and was the second person and first woman to have w ...

for enabling her debut in ''

Jean and the Calico Doll ''Jean and the Calico Doll'' is a 1910 short film directed by Laurence Trimble for Vitagraph Studios. It is the first film starring his own dog Jean, a female tri-color collie soon to be famous as the Vitagraph Dog. The drama marks the film debut o ...

''. She wrote in her 1968 memoir ''On Reflection'' that Thompson persuaded her mother to let her perform in the film for Vitagraph Studios, where he had begun working. The Brooklyn-based troupe traveled by ferry to Fort Lee, New Jersey, to film ''Jean and the Calico Doll'' with

Maurice Costello Maurice George Costello (February 22, 1877 – October 29, 1950) was a prominent American vaudeville actor of the late 1890s and early 1900s who later played a principal role in early American films as leading man, supporting player, and director ...

and

Florence Turner Florence Turner (January 6, 1885 – August 28, 1946) was an American actress who became known as the "Vitagraph Girl" in early silent films. Biography Born in New York City, Turner was pushed into appearing on the stage at age three by he ...

Selected filmography

*'' Freckles'' (1912) *''Doctor Bridget'' (1912) *''

The Cross-Roads ''The Cross-Roads'' is a 1912 silent short film drama directed by Frederick A. Thomson and produced by the Vitagraph Company of America. It starred George Cooper and Zena Keefe. It is preserved in the Library of Congress collection.''Catalog ...

'' (1912) *'' All for a Girl'' (1912) *'' The Lion's Bride'' (1913) *'' The Sign of the Cross'' (1914) *'' The Christian'' (1914) *'' The Redemption of David Corson'' (1914) *'' The Spitfire'', co-directed with Edwin S. Porter (1914) *'' The Goose Girl'' (1915) *'' The Country Boy'' (1915) *'' The Wonderful Adventure'' (1915) *''

Nearly a King ''Nearly a King'' is a 1916 silent film romantic comedy directed by Frederick A. Thomson, produced by Famous Players Film Company and distributed by Paramount Pictures. John Barrymore stars in a story written for the screen. Barrymore's first wife ...

'' (1916) *'' An Enemy to the King'' (1916) *'' The Feud Girl'' (1916) *''

A Parisian Romance ''A Parisian Romance'' (french: Un Roman Parisien) is a play written in French by Octave Feuillet and adapted in English by Augustus R. Cazauran. Producer A. M. Palmer staged it at the Union Square Theatre on Broadway, where it debuted on Januar ...

'' (1916) *''

The Chattel ''The Chattel'' is a lost 1916 silent film drama directed by Frederick A. Thomson and starring stage actor E. H. Sothern. It was produced and distributed by the Vitagraph Company of America.''Pictorial History of the Silent Screen'', p.114 c.1953 ...

'' (1916) *''

The Saleslady ''The Saleslady'' is a 1916 American Drama film, drama silent film directed by Frederick A. Thomson and written by Willard Mack. The film stars Hazel Dawn, Irving Cummings, Dorothy Rogers, Clarence Handyside and Arthur Morrison. The film was rele ...

'' (1916) * '' The Danger Trail'' (1917) * ''

The Man of Mystery ''The Man of Mystery'' is a 1917 American drama film directed by Frederick A. Thomson and starring E.H. Sothern, Charlotte Ives and Gilda Varesi Archibald.American Silent Horror, Science Fiction and Fantasy Feature Films, 1913-1929 p.373 Cast * ...

'' (1917) *'' How Could You, Caroline?'' (1918) *''

Wild Primrose ''Wild Primrose'' is a 1918 American silent drama film directed by Frederick A. Thomson and starring Gladys Leslie, Richard Barthelmess, Eulalie Jensen, Charles Kent, and Claude Gillingwater. The film was released by V-L-S-E, Incorporated on Augus ...

'' (1918) * ''

A Nymph of the Foothills ''A Nymph of the Foothills'' is a 1918 American silent drama film directed by Frederick A. Thomson and starring Gladys Leslie, Alfred Kappeler and Walter Hiers.Darby p.108 Cast * Gladys Leslie as Emmy Chaney * Alfred Kappeler as Ben Kirkland * ...

'' (1918) *''

The Mating ''The Mating'' is a 1918 American silent comedy-drama film directed by Frederick A. Thomson and starring Gladys Leslie, Herbert Rawlinson, Forrest Robinson, John Thomson, and Aida Horton. The film was released by Vitagraph Company of America on Oc ...

'' (1918) * '' The Marriage Pit'' (1920) *''

The Heart Line ''The Heart Line'' is a 1921 American silent drama film directed by Frederick A. Thomson and starring Leah Baird, Jerome Patrick and Frederick Vroom.Goble p.792 Cast * Leah Baird as Fancy Gray * Jerome Patrick as Francis Granthope * Frederick V ...

'' (1921)

Actor

*'' A Tailor-Made Man'' (1922), as Mr. Stanlaw

Screenwriter

*'' The Power of the Press'' (1928)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Thomson, Frederick A. 1869 births 1925 deaths American film directors Silent film directors