Van Dyke Brooke, ''né'' Stewart McKerrow (22 June 1859–17 September 1921) was an early American actor, screenwriter and

film director A film director controls a film's artistic and dramatic aspects and visualizes the screenplay (or script) while guiding the film crew and actors in the fulfilment of that vision. The director has a key role in choosing the cast members, p ...

, whose works include '' The Reprieve: An Episode in the Life of Abraham Lincoln'' (1908) and '' Lights of New York'' (1916). He worked as a stage actor for many years before going to work in the film industry in 1909. He became an actor, writer and director for

Vitagraph 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, ...

where he found fame and financial reward almost from the outset. He wrote and directed many of the screenplays for the films in which he acted. He worked for the studio until 1916 when he was laid off with other ageing actors. He continued to work as an actor until his death in 1921. He directed many films starring

Norma Talmadge Norma Marie Talmadge (May 2, 1894 – December 24, 1957) was an American actress and film producer of the silent film, silent era. A major box-office draw for more than a decade, her career reached a peak in the early 1920s, when she ranked among ...

Selected filmography

*'' We Must Do Our Best'' (1909) * ''

The Child Crusoes ''The Child Crusoes'' is a 1911 American silent black and white adventure film directed by Van Dyke Brooke, written by Marison Ziegfeld and starring Norma Talmadge, and Helene and Dolores Costello. Cast * Tefft Johnson as Captain Rhines * ...

'' (1911) * ''

Some Good in All ''Some Good in All'' or ''A Thief in the Night'' is a 1911 American drama silent black and white short film directed by Maurice Costello and Robert Gaillard and starring Dolores Costello. Cast * Maurice Costello as Bill - a Providential Thief * ...

'' (1911) as Ben Hartley *''

One Can't Always Tell ''One Can't Always Tell'' is a short American silent comedy film. Release ''One Can't Always Tell'' was released on May 31, 1913, in the United States, where it was presented as a split-reel with ''If Dreams Came True; or, Who'd Have Thunk It?'', ...

'' (1913) *''

The Doctor's Secret The Doctors Secret may refer to: * The Doctor's Secret (1909 film), ''The Doctor's Secret'' (1909 film), a French silent short film * The Doctor's Secret (1913 film), ''The Doctor's Secret'' (1913 film), an American silent short film * The Doctor's ...

'' (1913) *'' A Helpful Sisterhood'' (1914) *'' Lights of New York'' (1916) *''

An Amateur Orphan ''An Amateur Orphan'' is a 1917 American silent film starring Gladys Leslie. It was also the film debut for Chester Morris. Its survival status is currently unknown. The screenplay was written by Agnes Christine Johnston specifically for Leslie ...

'' (1917) (director) * ''

It Happened to Adele ''It Happened to Adele'' is a 1917 American silent drama film directed by Van Dyke Brooke and starring Gladys Leslie, Carey L. Hastings and Peggy Burke.Guide to the Silent Years of American Cinema p.55 Prints and/or fragments were found in the ...

'' (1917) *''

The Fortune Hunter ''The Fortune Hunter'' is a drama in three acts by W. S. Gilbert. The piece concerns an heiress who loses her fortune. Her shallow husband sues to annul the marriage, leaving her pregnant and taking up with a wealthy former lover. The piece wa ...

'' (1920) * ''

The Sea Rider ''The Sea Rider'' is a 1920 American silent drama film directed by Edwin L. Hollywood and starring Harry T. Morey, Webster Campbell, and Alice Calhoun.McCaffrey & Jacobs p. 55 Cast * Harry T. Morey as Stephen Hardy * Webster Campbell as Tom Har ...

'' (1920) *''

What Women Want ''What Women Want'' is a 2000 American romantic fantasy comedy film written by Josh Goldsmith, Cathy Yuspa, and Diane Drake, directed by Nancy Meyers, and starring Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt. The film earned mixed reviews from critics but wa ...

'' (1920) *''

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) *'' Straight Is the Way'' (1921) *''

A Midnight Bell ''A Midnight Bell'' is a 1921 American silent comedy film. The film was directed and produced by its star, Charles Ray. His brother, Albert, is thought to have co-directed some scenes. The film is believed to be lost.Soister, John T. ''American ...

'' (1921) * ''

The Son of Wallingford ''The Son of Wallingford'' is a 1921 American silent comedy drama film directed by George Randolph Chester and Lillian Josephine Chester and starring Wilfrid North, Tom Gallery and Antrim Short.Connelly p.413 It is based on George Chester's ...

'' (1921)

References

External links

* 1859 births 1921 deaths American film directors American male silent film actors Male actors from Detroit 20th-century American male actors {{US-film-director-1850s-stub