''On Trial'' is a 1917 silent American

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-g ...

directed by James Young and starring Barbara Castleton. It was produced by Essanay Film Manufacturing Company and distributed through First National Exhibitors (later

First National Pictures First National Pictures was an American motion picture production and distribution company. It was founded in 1917 as First National Exhibitors' Circuit, Inc., an association of independent theatre owners in the United States, and became the count ...

) as its first feature film.

Cast

* Barbara Castleton as Mrs. Robert Strickland *

Sidney Ainsworth Sidney Ainsworth (born Charles Sydney Ainsworth, often credited as Sydney Ainsworth; December 21, 1872 – May 21, 1922), was a screen and stage actor who appeared in his first movie in 1909. He was born in Manchester, England and died in Madison, ...

as Robert Strickland *

Mary McAllister Mary McAllister, also known as Little Mary McAllister, (born Mary McAlister; May 27, 1908 – May 1, 1991) was an American silent film actress of Hollywood's early years, and a pioneer of child actors. Biography McAllister was born in Los An ...

as Doris Strickland * James Young as Gerald Trask *

Corene Uzzell Corene Uzzell (1889–1938) was an American film actress of the silent era. In 1905, Uzzell acted with the Murray and Mack company. Film studios for which she worked included Essanay, Famous Players, Mirror, and Pathe. Selected filmography * ...

as Mrs. Gerald Trask *Patrick Calhoun as Glover *

John Cossar John Hay Cossar (2 January 1858 – 28 April 1935) was an English actor of the silent era. He appeared in more than 140 films between 1914 and 1929. Biography Cossar was born in London, England. He was the fifth child of Walter Cossar and h ...

* Richard Foster Baker as The Judge *

Harry Dunkinson Harry Dunkinson (December 16, 1876 – March 14, 1936) was an American film and stage actor. He appeared in more than 140 films between 1912 and 1935. He was born in New York City and died in California. Dunkinson began acting on stage when ...

as Attorney for the Defense *

Marian Skinner Marian Skinner (January 8, 1880 – June 7, 1963), was an American film actress of the silent era. She appeared in more than 50 films between 1915 and 1924. She was born in New York, New York, and died in San Francisco, California. Sele ...

as Strickland Family Housekeeper *

Robert Bolder Robert Bolder (20 July 1859 – 10 December 1937) was an English film actor of the silent film, silent era. He appeared in more than 120 films between 1912 and 1936. He was born in London and died in Los Angeles, California. In the early par ...

as Mr. Burke *

Thomas Commerford Thomas Commerford (August 1, 1855 in New York City - February 17, 1920 in Chicago) was an American actor on stage and in silent films. He was also known as Tom I. Comberford and T. I. Comberford. Commerford debuted in the Old Drury Theater, th ...

as Hotel Owner *Frank Hamilton as Court Clerk *

Doris Kenyon Doris Margaret Kenyon (September 5, 1897 – September 1, 1979) was an American actress of motion pictures and television. Early life She grew up in Syracuse, New York, where her family had a home at 1805 Harrison Street. Her father, Dr. Ja ...

(uncredited)

Preservation status

A print of ''On Trial'' is preserved in the

George Eastman House Motion Picture Collection The George Eastman Museum Motion Picture Collection in Rochester, New York comprises about 28,000 titles, including features, shorts, documentaries, newsreels, and experimental moving images. The collection is renowned for its holdings of silent f ...

.The Library of Congress/FIAF American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: ''On Trial''
/ref>

References

External links

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Lantern slide
(State University of New York; SUNY) 1917 films American silent feature films American black-and-white films Films directed by James Young Essanay Studios films Silent American drama films 1917 drama films 1910s American films {{1910s-drama-film-stub