''The Golden Claw'' is a 1915 American dramatic film produced by

Thomas H. Ince Thomas Harper Ince (November 16, 1880 – November 19, 1924) was an American silent film - era filmmaker and media proprietor. Ince was known as the "Father of the Western" and was responsible for making over 800 films. He revolutionized the mot ...

, written by C. Gardner Sullivan, and directed by

Reginald Barker Reginald C. Barker (April 2, 1886 – February 23, 1945) was a pioneer film director. Biography Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, Barker's family moved to Scotland when he was an infant and then to the United States. Living in California, ...

. It is a five-

reel A reel is an object around which a length of another material (usually long and flexible) is wound for storage (usually hose are wound around a reel). Generally a reel has a cylindrical core (known as a '' spool'') with flanges around the en ...

drama released by

Kay-Bee Pictures Kay-Bee Pictures was a film company. Its executives included Thomas Ince. The company's mottos included "Every picture a headliner" and "Kay-Bee stands for Kessel and Baumann and Kessel and Baumann stands for quality", referring to Adam Kessel a ...

and starred

Bessie Barriscale Bessie Barriscale (born Elizabeth Barry Scale, June 9, 1884June 30, 1965) was an American actress who gained fame on the stage and in silent films. Early life Barriscale was born Elizabeth Barry Scale in Hoboken, New Jersey, to Irish immig ...

Plot

Bessie Barriscale played the role of Lillian Henry, “a beautiful young girl who enjoys all the tinsel and glitter of society life and is willing to marry simply for money and all the luxuries and pleasures that its possession will bring.” One reviewer described Barriscale’s character as a “young girl” who “decides that she will practically sell herself to a youth of wealth.” Frank Mills plays Bert Werden, “the young unspoiled man, who was determined to give his wife her fill of his continual search for the golden fleece.” Following their marriage, Bert Werden loses his fortune, and his wife goads him to restore her to wealth and luxury again. He works day and night and bets on the stock market. His health is almost wrecked and he becomes “money mad” and neglects his wife. Eventually, both characters learn that other things are more important than money. Barriscale’s character wins her husband back and gives him $50,000, a sum he had given her at the start of their marriage, to give him a new start.

Cast

..... Lillian Henry *

Frank R. Mills Frank R. Mills (January 24, 1868 – June 11, 1921) was an American stage and silent film actor. In the 1890s he acted in a number of plays as a young juvenile. He is frequently mistaken for other actors with the name ''Frank Mills''. He began i ...

..... Bert Werden *

Robert Dunbar Robert Dunbar (December 13, 1812 – September 18, 1890) was a mechanical engineer. He designed the first steam-powered grain elevator in the world and the majority of the first grain elevators in Buffalo, New York, Buffalo, New York City, and ...

..... Alec Werden *

Wedgwood Nowell Wedgwood Nowell (born Harry Wedgwood Nowell; January 24, 1878 – June 17, 1957) was an American stage and film actor, director, producer, and musician. He produced 144 plays during his stage career, which began around 1901. Later, while w ...

..... Graham Henderson *

Truly Shattuck Truly Shattuck (July 27, 1875 – December 6, 1954) was a soubrette star of vaudeville, music halls, and Broadway whose career began in tragedy and ended in relative obscurity. Early life Truly Shattuck was born at San Miguel, San Luis Obisp ...

..... Lucy Hillary

Critical reception

One reviewer said of the film: "A motion picture story of the highest class, of vital subject, original development and striking characterization, 'The Golden Claw' is one of those rare products calculated to interest many millions of intelligent people and bring into the fold those other millions of intelligent people who are repelled by poor examples of new art." The same reviewer praised the film’s direct approach in dealing with its subject matter:

"'The Golden Claw' attacks the problem of money madness with great simplicity and directness so far as the line of action is concerned, but the admirable solution is so subtle that only fine characterization and such powerful interpretation as that given by Bessie Barriscale and Frank Mills."

Another reviewer noted: "As a bitter satire on the futility of piling up money simply for the sake of possessing it, the film is declared to be exceptionally strong."

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Golden Claw 1915 films American black-and-white films American silent feature films Silent American drama films 1915 drama films Films directed by Reginald Barker 1910s American films