Julia Swayne Gordon (born Sarah Victoria Smith; October 29, 1878 – May 28, 1933) was an American actress who appeared in at least 228 films between 1908 and 1933.

Early years

Gordon was born in

Columbus, Ohio Columbus () is the state capital and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio. With a 2020 census population of 905,748, it is the 14th-most populous city in the U.S., the second-most populous city in the Midwest, after Chicago, and t ...

, to Louis and Anna Smith and was educated there. She went to Denver to study dramatics under

Jessie Bonstelle Jessie Bonstelle (born Laura Justine Bonesteel; November 18, 1871 – October 14, 1932) was an American theater director, actress, and drama company manager. Encouraged by her mother, she sang and performed in the theater from a young age; she w ...

Career

Gordon moved to New York and acted in stock theater, after which, she performed with

Henrietta Crosman Henrietta Foster Crosman (September 2, 1861 – October 31, 1944) was an American stage and film actress. Early years Crosman was born in Wheeling, Virginia, to George Crosman Jr. a Civil War Major, and Mary B. Wick, a niece of composer Step ...

and

James A. Herne James A. Herne (born James Ahearn; February 1, 1839 – June 2, 1901) was an American playwright and actor. He is considered by some critics to be the "American Ibsen", and his controversial play ''Margaret Fleming'' is often credited with havin ...

. Gordon's work in film began in 1905 with the

Edison Company The Edison Manufacturing Company, originally registered as the United Edison Manufacturing Company and often known as simply the Edison Company, was organized by inventor and entrepreneur Thomas Edison and incorporated in New York City in May 188 ...

, and in 1908 she moved to

Vitagraph Studios Vitagraph Studios, also known as the Vitagraph Company of America, was a United States motion picture studio. It was founded by J. Stuart Blackton and Albert E. Smith in 1897 in Brooklyn, New York, as the American Vitagraph Company. By 1907, ...

. In 1911 she starred in Vitagraph's screen portrayal of the Lady Godiva legend. Perhaps her most memorable performance, however, is as

Richard Arlen Richard Arlen (born Sylvanus Richard Mattimore, September 1, 1899 – March 28, 1976) was an American actor of film and television. Biography Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, Arlen attended the University of Pennsylvania. He served in Canada as a ...

's mother in the

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

silent film ''

Wings A wing is a type of fin that produces lift while moving through air or some other fluid. Accordingly, wings have streamlined cross-sections that are subject to aerodynamic forces and act as airfoils. A wing's aerodynamic efficiency is expresse ...

'' (1927), which won the first

Academy Award The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...

for

Best Picture This is a list of categories of awards commonly awarded through organizations that bestow film awards, including those presented by various film, festivals, and people's awards. Best Actor/Best Actress *See Best Actor#Film awards, Best Actress#F ...

. In a highly dramatic scene in that acclaimed production, Gordon bids farewell to Arlen as he departs for combat flight training in France, tearfully packing him off with his favorite childhood toy.

Personal life and death

Film actress Julia Swayne Gordon (SAYRE 2563)

Gordon was married to Hugh T. Swayne. Gordon continued to act until her death. On May 28, 1933, she died of cancer at her Hollywood home, aged 54. Her ashes are buried at Green Lawn Cemetery in Columbus, Ohio.

Partial filmography

* ''

A Midsummer Night's Dream ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' is a comedy written by William Shakespeare 1595 or 1596. The play is set in Athens, and consists of several subplots that revolve around the marriage of Theseus and Hippolyta. One subplot involves a conflict amon ...

'' (1909)*short * ''

Twelfth Night ''Twelfth Night'', or ''What You Will'' is a romantic comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written around 1601–1602 as a Twelfth Night's entertainment for the close of the Christmas season. The play centres on the twins Vio ...

'' (1910*short * ''Uncle Tom's Cabin'' (1910)*short * ''

A Tale of Two Cities ''A Tale of Two Cities'' is a historical novel published in 1859 by Charles Dickens, set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. The novel tells the story of the French Doctor Manette, his 18-year-long imprisonment in the ...

'' (1911)*short * ''

Lady Godiva Lady Godiva (; died between 1066 and 1086), in Old English , was a late Anglo-Saxon noblewoman who is relatively well documented as the wife of Leofric, Earl of Mercia, and a patron of various churches and monasteries. Today, she is mainly reme ...

'' (1911)*short * ''

Captain Jenks' Dilemma ''Captain Jenks' Dilemma'' is a 1912 silent comedy short film produced by the Vitagraph Company of America and distributed through the General Film Company. It starred John Bunny and Julia Swayne Gordon. Also in the cast were Dolores Costello, Dolo ...

'' (1912)*short * ''Playmates'' (1912) * '' Beau Brummel'' (1913)*short * '' Red and White Roses'' (1913)*short * ''

The Lion's Bride ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the ...

'' (1913)*short * ''

The Battle Cry of Peace ''The Battle Cry of Peace'' is a 1915 American silent War film directed by Wilfrid North and J. Stuart Blackton, one of the founders of Vitagraph Company of America who also wrote the scenario. The film is based on the book ''Defenseless Ameri ...

'' (1915) * ''

My Lady's Slipper ''My Lady's Slipper'' is a lost film, lost 1916 silent film romance-drama directed by Ralph Ince and starring Anita Stewart and Earle Williams. Cast *Anita Stewart - Countess de Villars *Earle Williams - Lt. Francis Burnham *Joseph Kilgour - King ...

'' (1916) * '' The Suspect'' (1916) * '' The Enemy'' (1916) * ''

Her Right to Live ''Her Right to Live'' is a 1917 dramatic silent film released by the Vitagraph Studios. This film is now lost. Plot Polly Biggs (Peggy Hyland) is the eldest of a family of orphaned children who are taken in by their uncle, Mayor Hoadley (John ...

'' (1917) * '' Arsene Lupin'' (1917) * ''

The Maelstrom ''The Maelstrom'' is a 1917 silent film drama directed by Paul Scardon. It stars Dorothy Kelly, Earle Williams and Julia Swayne Gordon. Thomas Ince produced along with the Vitagraph Company. Cast *Dorothy Kelly – Peggy Greye-Stratton *Earle Wi ...

'' (1917) *''

The Message of the Mouse ''The Message of the Mouse'' is a 1917 American silent drama film directed by J. Stuart Blackton, written by Edward J. Montagne, George Randolph Chester, and Lillian Chester. The film stars Anita Stewart, Julia Swayne Gordon, and Rudolph Came ...

'' (1917) * ''

Love Watches ''Love Watches'' is a lost 1918 American silent feature comedy-drama film directed by Henry Houry and starring Corinne Griffith. It was produced and distributed by the Vitagraph Company of America. A Broadway play produced by Charles Frohman starre ...

'' (1918) * ''

Over the Top Over the top may refer to: Music * "Over the Top", a 2017 song by Hey! Say! JUMP * ''Over the Top'' (Cozy Powell album), 1979 album by British drummer Cozy Powell * ''Over the Top'' (Infinite album), 2011 album by South Korean band Infinite * ...

'' (1918) * ''

Greater Than Fame ''Greater Than Fame'' is a 1920 American silent drama film produced and distributed by Selznick Pictures. It was directed by Alan Crosland and stars Elaine Hammerstein. It is not known whether the film currently survives. Plot As described in ...

'' (1920) * ''

Lifting Shadows Rich Wilson is a UK-based freelance rock music writer who has written for publications including '' Classic Rock Magazine'', ''Metal Hammer'', ''Record Collector'', ''Rock Hard'', the ''Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music'', and '' Prog magazine' ...

'' (1920) * '' A Child for Sale'' (1920) * '' For Love or Money'' (1920) * '' The Silver Lining'' (1921) * ''

The Passionate Pilgrim ''The Passionate Pilgrim'' (1599) is an anthology of 20 poems collected and published by William Jaggard that were attributed to " W. Shakespeare" on the title page, only five of which are considered authentically Shakespearean. These are two ...

'' (1921) * ''

Behind Masks ''Behind Masks'' is a 1921 American silent drama film directed by Frank Reicher. It was written by Kathryn Stuart based upon the 1909 novel ''Jeanne of the Marshes'' by E. Phillips Oppenheim. The film stars Dorothy Dalton, Frederick Vogeding, ...

'' (1921) * ''

Burn 'Em Up Barnes ''Burn 'Em Up Barnes'' is a 1934 American Pre-Code movie serial produced and distributed by Mascot Pictures, along with a feature version of the serial bearing the same title. It was a loose remake of the 1921 silent film of the same name. Cas ...

'' (1921) * '' Why Girls Leave Home'' (1921) * '' Handcuffs or Kisses'' (1921) * ''

How Women Love ''How Women Love'' is a 1922 American silent drama film directed by Kenneth S. Webb and starring Betty Blythe, Gladys Hulette and Julia Swayne Gordon.Munden p.367 A promising singer his signed up by a backer for the new opera he is producing, ...

'' (1922) * '' When the Desert Calls'' (1922) * ''

My Old Kentucky Home "My Old Kentucky Home, Good-Night!" is a sentimental ballad written by Stephen Foster, probably composed in 1852. It was published in January 1853 by Firth, Pond, & Co. of New York. Foster was likely inspired by Harriet Beecher Stowe's anti-sla ...

'' (1922) * '' Till We Meet Again'' (1922) * ''

What's Wrong With the Women? ''What's Wrong with the Women?'' is 1922 American silent Jazz Age drama film, directed by Roy William Neill, produced by Daniel Carson Goodman, and starring Wilton Lackaye, Barbara Castleton, and Constance Bennett. It is not known whether t ...

'' (1922) * '' Women Men Marry'' (1922) * '' The Darling of the Rich'' (1922) * '' The Tie That Binds'' (1923) * ''

Scaramouche Scaramouche () or Scaramouch (; from Italian Scaramuccia , literally "little skirmisher") is a stock clown character of the 16th-century commedia dell'arte (comic theatrical arts of Italian literature). The role combined characteristics of the ...

'' (1923) * ''

Dark Secrets ''Dark Secrets'' is a 1923 American silent feature drama film directed by Victor Fleming and starring Dorothy Dalton.

'' (1923) * '' The Wheel'' (1925) * ''

Lights of Old Broadway ''Lights of Old Broadway'' is a 1925 American silent drama film directed by Monta Bell, produced by William Randolph Hearst's Cosmopolitan Productions, and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The film stars Marion Davies in a dual role and Conrad ...

'' (1925) * ''

The Far Cry ''The Far Cry'' (Portuguese title: ''Um Divorcio Feliz'') is a 1926 American silent epic drama film produced and distributed by the First National Pictures. The film was directed by Silvano Balboni, the husband of writer June Mathis, and st ...

'' (1926) * ''

Early to Wed ''Early to Wed'' is a 1926 American silent comedy film directed by Frank Borzage and starring Matt Moore, Katherine Perry, and Albert Gran Albert Gran (August 4, 1862 – December 16, 1932) was a Norwegian-born American stage and film ...

'' (1926) * ''

Bride of the Storm ''Bride of the Storm'' is a 1926 American silent film, silent adventure film directed by J. Stuart Blackton at Warner Bros. and starring Tyrone Power, Sr. and Dolores Costello. Sheldon Lewis plays Tyrone Power's son in this picture even though, ...

'' (1926) * ''

Diplomacy Diplomacy comprises spoken or written communication by representatives of states (such as leaders and diplomats) intended to influence events in the international system.Ronald Peter Barston, ''Modern diplomacy'', Pearson Education, 2006, p. 1 ...

'' (1926) * ''

'' (1927) * '' Children of Divorce'' (1927) * ''

The Smart Set ''The Smart Set'' was an American literary magazine, founded by Colonel William d'Alton Mann and published from March 1900 to June 1930. Its headquarters was in New York City. During its Jazz Age heyday under the editorship of H. L. Mencken and G ...

'' (1928) * ''

Three Weekends ''Three Week-Ends'' is a 1928 American comedy drama film directed by Clarence G. Badger and starring Clara Bow and Neil Hamilton. It is believed lost. "Three Week-Ends" is the title given in the AFI Catalog of Feature Films, with alternate tit ...

'' (1928) * ''

Hearts of Men ''Hearts of Men'' is a 1928 American silent drama film directed by James P. Hogan and starring Mildred Harris, Thelma Hill and Warner Richmond.Munden p.335 Cast * Mildred Harris as Alice Weston * Thelma Hill as Doris Weston * Cornelius Keefe ...

'' (1928) * '' Road House'' (1928) * ''

The Younger Generation ''The Younger Generation'' is a 1929 American part-talkie drama film directed by Frank Capra and starring Ricardo Cortez. It was produced by Jack Cohn for Columbia Pictures. It was Capra's first sound film. While mostly silent, the film has t ...

'' (1929) * ''

The Eternal Woman ''The Eternal Woman'' is a 1929 American silent drama film directed by John P. McCarthy and starring Olive Borden, Ralph Graves and Ruth Clifford.Munden p.764 The film is set in Argentina. Cast * Olive Borden as Anita * Ralph Graves as Hartley ...

'' (1929) * ''

Gold Diggers of Broadway ''Gold Diggers of Broadway'' is a 1929 American pre-Code musical comedy film directed by Roy Del Ruth and starring Winnie Lightner and Nick Lucas. Distributed by Warner Bros., the film is the second all-talking, all-Technicolor feature-length fi ...

'' (1929) * '' Is Everybody Happy?'' (1929) * ''

Today Today (archaically to-day) may refer to: * Day of the present, the time that is perceived directly, often called ''now'' * Current era, present * The current calendar date Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Today'' (1930 film), a 1930 A ...

'' (1930) * '' Primrose Path'' (1931) * '' The Common Law'' (1931) * '' The Drums of Jeopardy'' (1931) * ''

Misbehaving Ladies ''Misbehaving Ladies'' is a 1931 American Pre-Code comedy film directed by William Beaudine and starring Lila Lee, Ben Lyon and Louise Fazenda. It is also known as ''The Queen of Main Street''. Cast * Lila Lee as Princess Ellen * Ben Lyon as ...

'' (1931) * ''

Secrets of the French Police ''Secrets of the French Police'' is a 1932 American Pre-Code crime film directed by A. Edward Sutherland and starring Gwili Andre, Gregory Ratoff, and Frank Morgan. The film was made as a B film by RKO Radio Pictures, using some of the sets fr ...

'' (1932)

References

External links

* 1878 births 1933 deaths American stage actresses American film actresses American silent film actresses Actresses from Columbus, Ohio 20th-century American actresses {{US-film-actor-1870s-stub