''The Silent Voice'' is a six-reel silent film melodrama produced in 1915 by Quality Pictures and distributed by

Metro Pictures Metro Pictures Corporation was a Film, motion picture production company founded in early 1915 in Jacksonville, Florida. It was a forerunner of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The company produced its films in New York, Los Angeles, and sometimes at leas ...

. The motion picture was directed by William J. Bowman and was adapted from the

Jules Eckert Goodman Jules Eckert Goodman (November 2, 1876 – July 10, 1962) was an American playwright and author. He was best known for his plays ''The Man Who Came Back'' (1916), ''The Silent Voice (play), The Silent Voice'' (1914), ''Chains'' (1923), and a se ...

play '' The Silent Voice'' by I. K. Freedman and

Eve Unsell Eve Unsell (December 6, 1879 – July 6, 1937) was an American screenwriter. She wrote for more than 90 films between 1914 and 1933.

. Goodman’s play, that originally starred Otis Skinner, was based on the

Gouverneur Morris Gouverneur Morris ( ; January 31, 1752 – November 6, 1816) was an American statesman, a Founding Father of the United States, and a signatory to the Articles of Confederation and the United States Constitution. He wrote the Preamble to the U ...

short story, ''The Man Who Played God'' which also served as the geneses for the 1932 film '' The Man Who Played God'' and the 1955

Liberace Władziu Valentino Liberace (May 16, 1919 – February 4, 1987) was an American pianist, singer, and actor. A child prodigy born in Wisconsin to parents of Italian and Polish origin, he enjoyed a career spanning four decades of concerts, recordi ...

vehicle, '' Sincerely Yours''. ''The Silent Voice'' was released on September 13, 1915 with Francis X. Bushman and Marguerite Snow in the principal roles.

Plot

The film tells the story of Franklyn Starr, a gifted musician who becomes embittered after he is stricken with a sudden onslaught of deafness and then suffers the loss of his beloved mother. He soon retreats to a remote cottage in the country with his loyal servant Spring to live out his life as a recluse. Hiking in the woods one day, Starr stumbles upon a group of workers about to set off explosives and, oblivious to their warning cries, is injured in the detonation. Marjorie Blair, a young woman out horseback riding, comes to his aid, an act that would lead to courtship and marriage. Starr is happy, for once again life is good; until his cousin Bobby flirts with Marjorie giving him the mistaken impression the two were having an affair. Starr’s despair is finally lifted after he decides to use his wealth to help others and is rewarded by the return of his hearing and reconciliation with Marjorie.

Cast

* Francis X. Bushman ... Franklyn Starr *

Marguerite Snow Marguerite Snow (September 9, 1889 – February 17, 1958) was an American silent film and stage actress. In her early films she was billed as Margaret Snow. Early life Snow was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. Her father, Billy Snow, was a comedia ...

... Marjorie Blair *

Helen Dunbar Helen Dunbar (born Katheryn Burke Lackey; October 10, 1863 – August 28, 1933) was an American theatrical performer and silent film actress. Career Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Dunbar first appeared with the Weber & Fields Stock Co ...

... Starr's Mother * Frank Bacon ... Spring - Starr's Servant * William Clifford ... Marjorie's Father *

Lester Cuneo Lester H. Cuneo (October 25, 1888 – November 1, 1925) was an American stage and silent film actor. He began acting in live theatre while still in his teens. Early years Born in Chicago, Illinois, Cuneo attended Culver Military Academy and wa ...

... Bobby Delorme *Miss C. Henry ... Heloise Delorme *Anne Drew ... Mildred Hallan

Preservation status

This film is now considered a

lost film A lost film is a feature or short film that no longer exists in any studio archive, private collection, public archive or the U.S. Library of Congress. Conditions During most of the 20th century, U.S. copyright law required at least one copy o ...

References

External links

*
''The Silent Voice'' at SilentEra
* 1915 films American silent feature films Silent American drama films 1915 drama films American black-and-white films Lost American films Metro Pictures films 1915 lost films Lost drama films Films directed by William Bowman 1910s American films {{1910s-drama-film-stub

Plot

Cast

Preservation status

See also

References

External links