Josephine Boneparte Crowell (January 11, 1859 – July 27, 1932) was a Canadian film actress of the

silent era 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, wh ...

. She appeared in more than 90 films between 1912 and 1929.

Biography

Crowell was born in Nova Scotia. Crowell debuted in the theater in 1879, and she appeared on Broadway as Mrs. Pitcher in ''Captain Mollhy'' (1902). She began her film acting career in the 1912 film ''The School Teacher and the Waif''. By 1919, she had appeared in 50 films, many of which were film shorts. Her notable film appearances during this period were in the early films of

D.W. Griffith David Wark Griffith (January 22, 1875 – July 23, 1948) was an American film director. Considered one of the most influential figures in the history of the motion picture, he pioneered many aspects of film editing and expanded the art of the na ...

, including her portrayals of Mrs. Cameron in the controversial 1915 historical drama ''

The Birth of a Nation ''The Birth of a Nation'', originally called ''The Clansman'', is a 1915 American silent epic drama film directed by D. W. Griffith and starring Lillian Gish. The screenplay is adapted from Thomas Dixon Jr.'s 1905 novel and play ''The Cla ...

'' and

Catherine de' Medici Catherine de' Medici ( it, Caterina de' Medici, ; french: Catherine de Médicis, ; 13 April 1519 – 5 January 1589) was an Florentine noblewoman born into the Medici family. She was Queen of France from 1547 to 1559 by marriage to King ...

in the 1916 historical epic ''

Intolerance Intolerance may refer to: * Hypersensitivity Hypersensitivity (also called hypersensitivity reaction or intolerance) refers to undesirable reactions produced by the normal immune system, including allergies and autoimmunity. They are usual ...

''. In 1920, she appeared with

Gladys Brockwell Gladys Brockwell (née Lindeman; September 26, 1894 – July 2, 1929) was an American actress whose career began during the silent film era. Early life and career Brockwell was born Gladys Lindeman in Brooklyn, New York, on September 26, 1894. ...

in ''Flames of the Flesh'', followed by another six film appearances that year. From 1921 until 1929, she had 34 more film appearances, including ''

Hot Water Water heating is a heat transfer process that uses an energy source to heat water above its initial temperature. Typical domestic uses of hot water include cooking, cleaning, bathing, and space heating. In industry, hot water and water heated t ...

'' in which she played

Harold Lloyd Harold Clayton Lloyd, Sr. (April 20, 1893 – March 8, 1971) was an American actor, comedian, and stunt performer who appeared in many silent comedy films.Obituary ''Variety'', March 10, 1971, page 55. One of the most influential film co ...

's mother-in-law and ''The Splendid Crime'' starring

Bebe Daniels Phyllis Virginia "Bebe" Daniels (January 14, 1901 – March 16, 1971) was an American actress, singer, dancer, writer, and producer. She began her career in Hollywood during the silent film era as a child actress, became a star in musicals such ...

in 1925. Her last role was in the 1929 film ''

Wrong Again ''Wrong Again'' is a 1929 American two-reel silent comedy film directed by Leo McCarey and starring Laurel and Hardy. It was filmed in October and November 1928, and released February 23, 1929, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Although a silent film, i ...

'', starring Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. With the coming of sound films, her career abruptly ended. She had married actor Emile La Croix earlier in her career, and was residing in Amityville, New York at the time of her death. Crowell also performed in vaudeville. Crowell died on July 27, 1932, at the Brunswick Home in Amityville, aged 73.

Partial filmography

* ''

The Mothering Heart ''The Mothering Heart'' is a 1913 American short drama film directed by D. W. Griffith. A print of the film survives in the film archive of the Museum of Modern Art. Plot The film opens by showing a young woman ( Lillian Gish) in a garden. S ...

'' (1913, Short) - Woman Collecting Ironing (uncredited) * '' Home, Sweet Home'' (1914) - Payne's Mother * ''

The Painted Lady ''The Painted Lady'' is a 1912 American short drama film directed by D. W. Griffith and starring Blanche Sweet. A print of the film survives. Plot The story as told by ''The Moving Picture News'' reads: Cast See also * Harry Carey film ...

'' (1914, Short) - The Mother * ''

The Tear That Burned ''The Tear That Burned'' is a 1914 American short drama film directed by Jack O'Brien. Cast * Josephine Crowell * John T. Dillon (as John Dillon) * Mae Gaston * Lillian Gish * William Lowery (as William C. Lowery) * Blanche Sweet See also * ...

'' (1914) * '' The Sisters'' (1914) * ''

'' (1915) - Mrs. Cameron * ''

The Penitentes ''The Penitentes'' is a lost 1915 silent film drama directed by Jack Conway and starring Orrin Johnson and Seena Owen. It was produced by D. W. Griffith's Fine Arts Film Company and distributed through Triangle Film Corporation. Cast * Orrin ...

'' (1915) * ''

The Wharf Rat ''The Wharf Rat'' is a 1916 American silent comedy drama film directed by Chester Withey and starring Mae Marsh, Robert Harron, and Spottiswoode Aitken Frank Spottiswoode Aitken (16 April 1868 – 26 February 1933) was a Scottish-American ac ...

'' (1916) * ''

'' (1916) - Catherine de Médici * ''

The House Built Upon Sand ''The House Built Upon Sand'' is a 1916 American drama film directed by Edward Morrissey and starring Lillian Gish. This is a lost film. Cast * Lillian Gish as Evelyn Dare * Roy Stewart as David Westebrooke * William H. Brown as Samuel Stevens ...

'' (1916) * ''

The Little School Ma'am ''The Little School Ma'am'' is a 1916 American drama silent black and white film directed by C.M. Franklin and S.A. Franklin, and written by Bernard McConville and Frank E. Woods. It stars Dorothy Gish. Cast * Dorothy Gish as Nan * Elmer Clif ...

'' (1916) - Widow Larkin * '' The Old Folks at Home'' (1916) * '' The Bad Boy'' (1917) * ''

Cheerful Givers ''Cheerful Givers'' is a 1917 American silent comedy-drama film produced by the Fine Arts Film Company and distributed by Triangle Film Corporation. The film stars Bessie Love and Kenneth Harlan. The film is presumed lost Lost may refer to g ...

'' (1917) * ''

Betsy's Burglar ''Betsy's Burglar'' is a 1917 American silent comedy film directed by Paul Powell and starring Constance Talmadge, Kenneth Harlan and Monte Blue.Langman p.388 Cast * Constance Talmadge as Betsy Harlow * Kenneth Harlan as Harry Brent * Monte ...

'' (1917) * ''

Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm ''Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm'' is a classic American 1903 children's novel by Kate Douglas Wiggin that tells the story of Rebecca Rowena Randall and her aunts, one stern and one kind, in the fictional village of Riverboro, Maine. Rebecca's joy ...

'' (1917) * ''

Hearts of the World ''Hearts of the World'' (also known as ''Love's Struggle'') is a 1918 American silent film, silent World War I propaganda film written, produced and directed by D. W. Griffith. In an effort to change the American public's neutral stance regardin ...

'' (1918) * '' Stella Maris'' (1918) * ''

Women's Weapons ''Women's Weapons'' is a lost 1918 American silent comedy-drama film directed by Robert G. Vignola and starring Ethel Clayton. Cast *Ethel Clayton as Anne Elliot *Elliott Dexter as Nicholas Elliot *Vera Doria as Esmee Hale * James Neill as Peter G ...

'' (1918) * ''

Diane of the Green Van ''Diane of the Green Van'' is a lost 1919 silent film directed by Wallace Worsley and starring Alma Rubens. Cast *Alma Rubens as Diane Westfall *Nigel Barrie as Philip Poynter *Lamar Johnstone as Carl Granberry *Josephine Crowell as Aunt Agatha * ...

'' (1919) * ''

Peppy Polly ''Peppy Polly'' is a lost 1919 American silent drama film directed by Elmer Clifton and starring Dorothy Gish. D. W. Griffith produced, as he did for several of Gish's films. Plot As described in a film magazine, Polly Shannon (Gish) impresses J ...

'' (1919) * '' Josselyn's Wife'' (1919) * ''

The Greatest Question ''The Greatest Question'' is a 1919 American drama film directed by D. W. Griffith. Based upon a novel by William Hale, the film has a plot involving spiritualism. Plot As described in a film magazine, Nellie Jarvis (Gish), daughter of a wande ...

'' (1919) * ''

The Six Best Cellars ''The Six Best Cellars'' is a lost 1920 American silent comedy film directed by Donald Crisp and starring Bryant Washburn and Wanda Hawley. It was produced by Famous Players–Lasky and distributed by Paramount Pictures. It was based on the 1 ...

'' (1920) * ''

Crooked Streets ''Crooked Streets'' is a 1920 American silent drama spy film directed by Paul Powell and produced by Famous Players–Lasky and distributed by Paramount Pictures. It is one of star Ethel Clayton's rare surviving silent films with a copy at the L ...

'' (1920) * ''

Dangerous to Men ''Dangerous to Men'' is a lost 1920 American silent comedy film directed by William C. Dowland and starring Viola Dana. It was distributed through Metro Pictures.Held by the Enemy'' (1920) * ''

Bunty Pulls the Strings ''Bunty Pulls the Strings'' is a lost film, lost 1921 American silent comedy film directed by Reginald Barker and starring Leatrice Joy. It is based on a Broadway play by Graham Moffat. On stage the part of Bunty was played and made famous by Mol ...

'' (1921) * ''

Don't Neglect Your Wife ''Don't Neglect Your Wife'' is a 1921 American silent drama film directed by Wallace Worsley and starring Mabel Julienne Scott, Lewis Stone and Charles Clary.Connelly p.341 Cast * Mabel Julienne Scott as Madeline * Lewis Stone as Langdon Mas ...

'' (1921) * '' Live and Let Live'' (1921) * ''

Home Stuff ''Home Stuff'' is a 1921 American silent comedy film directed by Albert H. Kelley and starring Viola Dana, Tom Gallery and Josephine Crowell.Munden p.360 Cast * Viola Dana as Madge Joy * Tom Gallery as Robert Deep * Josephine Crowell as 'Ma' Dee ...

'' (1921) * ''

Shattered Idols ''Shattered Idols'' is a 1922 American drama film directed by Edward Sloman and written by William V. Mong. It is based on the 1912 novel ''The Daughter of Brahma'' by I. A. R. Wylie. The film stars Marguerite De La Motte, William V. Mong, ...

'' (1922) * ''

Seeing's Believing ''Seeing's Believing'' is a 1922 American silent comedy film directed by Harry Beaumont and starring Viola Dana, Allan Forrest, and Gertrude Astor.Parish & Pitts p. 22. Plot As described in a film magazine, Diana Webster (Dana), a willful youn ...

'' (1922) * ''

Lights of the Desert ''Lights of the Desert'' is a 1922 American silent Western film directed by Harry Beaumont and starring Shirley Mason, Allan Forrest and Edmund Burns.Parish & Pitts, p. 22. When her theatrical troupe is stranded in Nevada, a young woman rema ...

'' (1922) * '' Minnie'' (1922) * '' Main Street'' (1923) * ''

Ashes of Vengeance ''Ashes of Vengeance'' is a 1923 American drama film directed by Frank Lloyd and starring Norma Talmadge and Wallace Beery. Plot At the ball celebrating the wedding of Henry of Navarre on August 23, 1572, the evil Queen Mother Catherine de' Med ...

'' (1923) * ''

Yesterday's Wife ''Yesterday's Wife'' is a lost 1923 American silent comedy-drama film directed by Edward LeSaint and starring Irene Rich, Eileen Percy, and Lottie Williams. The film was released by the CBC Film Sales Corporation, which would later become Columb ...

'' (1923) *''

Rupert of Hentzau ''Rupert of Hentzau'' is a sequel by Anthony Hope to ''The Prisoner of Zenda'', written in 1895 but not published in book form until 1898. The novel was serialized in ''The Pall Mall Magazine'' and ''McClure's Magazine'' from December 1897 thr ...

'' (1923) * ''

'' (1924) * '' Flowing Gold'' (1924) * ''

The Sporting Venus ''The Sporting Venus'' is a 1925 American silent romantic drama film directed by Marshall Neilan. The film was the second MGM release of Neilan, and starred his wife, actress Blanche Sweet, who allegedly sported the lowest waistline of 1925. Th ...

'' (1925) * ''

Zander the Great ''Zander the Great'' is a 1925 American silent comedy drama film directed by George W. Hill, in his first directing role for MGM. The film stars Marion Davies. The screenplay by Frances Marion is based upon the Edward Salisbury Field 1923 play ...

'' (1925) * '' Welcome Home'' (1925) * ''

The Merry Widow ''The Merry Widow'' (german: Die lustige Witwe, links=no ) is an operetta by the Austro-Hungarian composer Franz Lehár. The librettists, Viktor Léon and Leo Stein, based the story – concerning a rich widow, and her countrymen's attempt t ...

'' (1925) * ''

New Brooms ''New Brooms'' is a 1925 American silent romantic comedy film, directed by William C. deMille, and starring Bessie Love, Neil Hamilton, and Phyllis Haver. It was produced by Famous Players-Lasky and distributed by Paramount Pictures. It is bas ...

'' (1925) * ''

Bred in Old Kentucky ''Bred in Old Kentucky'' is a 1926 American silent sports film directed by Edward Dillon and starring Viola Dana, Jerry Miley and Jed Prouty.Munden p.84 Cast * Viola Dana as Katie O'Doone * Jerry Miley as Dennis Reilly * Jed Prouty as Jake Tr ...

'' (1926) * ''

For Wives Only ''For Wives Only'' is a 1926 American silent comedy film directed by Victor Heerman and starring Marie Prevost, Victor Varconi and Charles K. Gerrard.Munden p.265 Cast * Marie Prevost as Laura Rittenhaus * Victor Varconi as Dr. Rittenhaus * ...

'' (1926) * ''

Yellow Fingers ''Yellow Fingers'' is a 1926 American silent drama film directed by Emmett J. Flynn and written by Eve Unsell. The film stars Olive Borden, Ralph Ince, Claire Adams, Edward Peil, Sr., Otto Matieson, and Nigel De Brulier. The film was released ...

'' (1926) * ''

The Splendid Crime ''The Splendid Crime'' is a 1926 American crime drama film directed by William C. deMille and starring Bebe Daniels. Famous Players–Lasky produced and Paramount Pictures distributed. Plot As described in a film magazine review, Jenny, a young ...

'' (1926) * '' Mantrap'' (1926) * ''

Fighting Love ''Fighting Love'' is a 1927 American silent drama film directed by Nils Olaf Chrisander and starring Jetta Goudal, Victor Varconi and Henry B. Walthall. The film survives complete. It is based on the 1925 novel ''If the Gods Laugh'' by the Briti ...

'' (1927) * ''

The Man Who Laughs ''The Man Who Laughs'' (also published under the title ''By Order of the King'' from its subtitle in French) is a novel by Victor Hugo, originally published in April 1869 under the French title ''L'Homme qui rit''. It takes place in England beg ...

'' (1928) * ''

Speedy Speedy refers to something or someone moving at high speed. Speedy may refer to: Ships * HMS ''Speedy'', nine ships of the Royal Navy * ''Speedy''-class brig, a class of naval ship * ''Speedy'' (1779), a whaler and convict ship despatched i ...

'' (1928) * ''

'' (1929)

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Crowell, Josephine 1859 births 1932 deaths Canadian film actresses Canadian silent film actresses 20th-century Canadian actresses Actresses from Nova Scotia People from Amityville, New York Canadian emigrants to the United States