Betty Francisco
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Betty Francisco (born Elizabeth Barton; September 26, 1900 – November 25, 1950) was an American silent-film actress, appearing primarily in supporting roles. Her sisters Evelyn and Margaret were also actresses.


Early years

Francisco was born in Little Rock, Arkansas. As a child, she acted in stock theater companies. When she was older, she became an artists' model.


Career

Francisco is credited in more than 50 films from 1920 to 1934, after which it appears she retired from motion picture acting. Her first film credit was in the 1920 film ''A Broadway Cowboy''. Selected as one of the
WAMPAS Baby Stars The WAMPAS Baby Stars was a promotional campaign sponsored by the United States Western Association of Motion Picture Advertisers, which honored 13 (15 in 1932) young actresses each year whom they believed to be on the threshold of movie stardom. ...
in 1923, she nevertheless continued to be cast in secondary roles and rarely played the lead. She was often cast as the "other woman", as in ''
Across the Continent ''Across the Continent'' is a lostProgressive ...
'' (1922), ''Fair Play'' (1925), and ''
The Spirit of Youth ''The Spirit of Youth'' is a 1929 American silent drama film directed by Walter Lang. A complete print of the film exists. Cast * Dorothy Sebastian as Betty Grant * Larry Kent as Jim Kenney * Betty Francisco as Claire Ewing * Maurice Murphy ...
'' (1929). Her work included a wide range of genres; in 1923, for example, she was cast in the costume drama ''
Ashes of Vengeance ''Ashes of Vengeance'' is a 1923 American drama film directed by Frank Lloyd and starring Norma Talmadge and Wallace Beery. Plot At the ball celebrating the wedding of Henry of Navarre on August 23, 1572, the evil Queen Mother Catherine de' Me ...
'', the contemporary melodrama ''
Flaming Youth Flaming Youth can refer to: * ''Flaming Youth'' (novel), a 1923 novel by Samuel Hopkins Adams * ''Flaming Youth'' (film), a 1923 film based on the novel starring Colleen Moore and Milton Sills * Flaming Youth (band), a 1960s British rock group * ...
'', and the western '' Double Dealing''. She is seen in the
Harry Langdon Harry Philmore Langdon (June 15, 1884 – December 22, 1944) was an American comedian who appeared in vaudeville, silent films (where he had his greatest fame), and talkies.Obituary ''Variety'', December 27, 1944, page 39. Life and career Bor ...
comedy ''
Long Pants ''Long Pants'' (also known as ''Johnny Newcomer'') is a 1927 American silent comedy film directed by Frank Capra and starring Harry Langdon. Additional cast members include Gladys Brockwell, Alan Roscoe, and Priscilla Bonner. Plot The sile ...
'' (1927). Her career continued into the sound era. She appears in some of the earliest movie musicals: ''
Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...
'' (1929), ''
Smiling Irish Eyes ''Smiling Irish Eyes'' (1929) is a Vitaphone American pre-Code musical film with Technicolor sequences. The film is now considered a lost film. However, the Vitaphone discs still exist. Plot Rory O'More leaves his sweetheart Kathleen O'Connor ba ...
'' (1929), and Cecil B. DeMille's ''
Madam Satan ''Madam Satan'' or ''Madame Satan'' is a 1930 American pre-Code musical comedy film in black and white with Multicolor sequences. It was produced and directed by Cecil B. DeMille and starred Kay Johnson, Reginald Denny, Lillian Roth, and Ro ...
'' (1930). Her last film was ''Romance in the Rain'' (1934).


Personal life

In 1930, Francisco married Fred Spradling, a stock broker. She died at her Corona ranch on November 25, 1950 at 50 years old and was interred at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park cemetery in
Glendale, California Glendale is a city in the San Fernando Valley and Verdugo Mountains regions of Los Angeles County, California, United States. At the 2020 U.S. Census the population was 196,543, up from 191,719 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth-larges ...
.


Partial filmography

* ''
A Broadway Cowboy ''A Broadway Cowboy'' is a 1920 American silent Western comedy film directed by Joseph Franz and starring William Desmond. It was distributed by Pathé Exchange. Plot As described in a film magazine Film periodicals combine discussion of i ...
'' (1920) * '' The Furnace'' (1920) * ''
Greater Than Love ''Greater Than Love'' is a 1921 American silent drama film directed by Fred Niblo. An incomplete print of the film exists in the Library of Congress.''Catalog of Holdings The American Film Institute Collection and The United Artists Collectio ...
'' (1921) * ''
Straight from Paris ''Straight from Paris'' is a 1921 American silent comedy film directed by Harry Garson and starring Clara Kimball Young, Bertram Grassby and Betty Francisco.Connelly p.46 Cast * Clara Kimball Young as Lucette Grenier * Bertram Grassby as Rober ...
'' (1921) * ''
A Guilty Conscience ''A Guilty Conscience'' is a 1921 American silent drama film directed by David Smith and starring Antonio Moreno, Betty Francisco and Harry von Meter.Munden p.318 Cast * Antonio Moreno as Gilbert Thurstan * Betty Francisco as Emily Thurstan * ...
'' (1921) * '' Midsummer Madness'' (1921) * ''
Across the Continent ''Across the Continent'' is a lostProgressive ...
'' (1922) * ''
Her Night of Nights ''Her Night of Nights'' is a 1922 American silent comedy film directed by Hobart Henley and written by Doris Schroeder. The film stars Marie Prevost, Edward Hearn, Hallam Cooley, Betty Francisco, Charles Arling, and Jane Starr. The film was rel ...
'' (1922) * '' Double Dealing'' (1923) * ''
Ashes of Vengeance ''Ashes of Vengeance'' is a 1923 American drama film directed by Frank Lloyd and starring Norma Talmadge and Wallace Beery. Plot At the ball celebrating the wedding of Henry of Navarre on August 23, 1572, the evil Queen Mother Catherine de' Me ...
'' (1923) * ''
The Old Fool ''The Old Fool'' is a 1923 American silent Western film directed by Edward D. Venturini and starring James O. Barrows, Lloyd Hughes and Jim Mason.Darby, William. ''Masters of Lens and Light: A Checklist of Major Cinematographers and Their Fe ...
'' (1923) * ''
Poor Men's Wives ''Poor Men's Wives'' is a 1923 American silent drama film directed by Louis J. Gasnier and starring Barbara La Marr, David Butler and Betty Francisco.Connelly p.216 The previous year Gasnier had directed a film called ''Rich Men's Wives''. Syn ...
'' (1923) * ''
Crinoline and Romance ''Crinoline and Romance'' is a 1923 American silent comedy film directed by Harry Beaumont and starring Viola Dana, Claude Gillingwater, and John Bowers. Plot As described in a film magazine, Colonel Charles E. Cavanaugh (Gillingwater) lives ...
'' (1923) * ''
Flaming Youth Flaming Youth can refer to: * ''Flaming Youth'' (novel), a 1923 novel by Samuel Hopkins Adams * ''Flaming Youth'' (film), a 1923 film based on the novel starring Colleen Moore and Milton Sills * Flaming Youth (band), a 1960s British rock group * ...
'' (1923) * ''
A Noise in Newboro ''A Noise in Newboro'' is a 1923 American silent comedy film directed by Harry Beaumont and starring Viola Dana, David Butler and Eva Novak.MacKinnon p.188 Cast * Viola Dana as Martha Mason * David Butler as Ben Colwell * Eva Novak as An ...
'' (1923) * ''
The Love Piker ''The Love Piker'' is a 1923 American silent romantic drama film directed by E. Mason Hopper and starring Anita Stewart, Robert Frazer and Betty Francisco.Connelly p.379 Synopsis A wealthy society woman falls in love with an engineer, but as th ...
'' (1923) * '' Maytime'' (1923) * ''
Gambling Wives ''Gambling Wives'' is a 1924 American silent melodrama film. Directed by Dell Henderson and produced by actor-producer Ben F. Wilson, it was released through Arrow Films. The film stars Marjorie Daw. Plot As described in a film magazine revi ...
'' (1924) * ''
The Wife of the Centaur ''The Wife of the Centaur'' is a 1924 American silent drama film directed by King Vidor, and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer shortly after it formed from a merger of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures, and Mayer Pictures in April 1924. Metr ...
'' (1924) * '' Big Timber'' (1924) * ''
East of Broadway ''East of Broadway'' is a 1924 American silent comedy film directed by William K. Howard and starring Owen Moore, Marguerite De La Motte, and Mary Carr Mary Carr (née Kenevan; March 14, 1874 – June 24, 1973), was an American film actre ...
'' (1924) * '' On Probation'' (1924) * ''
How to Educate a Wife ''How to Educate a Wife'' is a lost 1924 American comedy film directed by Monta Bell and written by Grant Carpenter and Douglas Z. Doty. The film stars Marie Prevost, Monte Blue, Claude Gillingwater, Vera Lewis, Betty Francisco and Creighton ...
'' (1924) * ''
Jimmie's Millions ''Jimmie's Millions'' is a 1925 American silent action film directed by James P. Hogan and starring Richard Talmadge, Betty Francisco, and Charles Clary Charles Clary (March 24, 1873 – March 24, 1931) was an American actor of the sile ...
'' (1925) * ''
Wasted Lives ''Wasted Lives'' is a 1925 American silent drama film directed by John Gorman and starring Elliott Dexter, Cullen Landis and Edith Roberts.Munden p.867 Cast * Elliott Dexter as Clayton Gray * Cullen Landis as John Grayson * Edith Roberts as M ...
'' (1925) * ''
Fair Play Fair play or Fairplay usually refers to sportsmanship. Fair play or Fairplay may also refer to: Media * ''Fair Play'' (1925 film), an American silent film * ''Fair Play'', a 1972 TV movie starring Paul Ford * ''Fair Play'' (2014 film), a Czech ...
'' (1925) * '' Private Affairs'' (1925) * ''
Seven Keys to Baldpate Seven Keys to Baldpate may refer to: * '' Seven Keys to Baldpate'', a novel by Earl Derr Biggers * ''Seven Keys to Baldpate'' (play), a 1913 play by George M. Cohan based on the novel * ''Seven Keys to Baldpate'' (1916 film), a 1916 Australian si ...
'' (1925) * ''
Irene Irene is a name derived from εἰρήνη (eirēnē), the Greek for "peace". Irene, and related names, may refer to: * Irene (given name) Places * Irene, Gauteng, South Africa * Irene, South Dakota, United States * Irene, Texas, United State ...
'' (1926) * ''
Don Juan's Three Nights ''Don Juan's Three Nights'' also known as ''Don Juan's 3 Nights'' is a 1926 American silent romantic drama film directed by John Francis Dillon and starring Lewis Stone, Shirley Mason, and Malcolm McGregor. It was produced by Henry Hobart and ...
'' (1926) * ''
The Phantom of the Forest ''The Phantom of the Forest'' is a 1926 American silent Western film, also classified as a Northern. It is directed by Henry McCarty and stars Thunder the Dog, Betty Francisco and Eddie Phillips. Produced by the independent Gotham Picture ...
'' (1926) * ''
The Gingham Girl ''The Gingham Girl'' is a 1927 American comedy film directed by David Kirkland and written by David Kirkland, Rex Taylor and Ewart Adamson. It is based on the 1922 play ''The Gingham Girl'' by Daniel Kusell. The film stars Lois Wilson, George ...
'' (1927) * ''
Long Pants ''Long Pants'' (also known as ''Johnny Newcomer'') is a 1927 American silent comedy film directed by Frank Capra and starring Harry Langdon. Additional cast members include Gladys Brockwell, Alan Roscoe, and Priscilla Bonner. Plot The sile ...
'' (1927) * ''
Too Many Crooks ''Too Many Crooks'' is a 1959 British comedy film directed by Mario Zampi. The plot concerns a bunch of inept crooks who kidnap the wife of a shady businessman, only for him to decide he doesn’t want her back. It stars George Cole, Sidney J ...
'' (1927) * '' The Gay Retreat'' (1927) *''
Queen of the Chorus ''Queen of the Chorus'' is a 1928 American silent drama film directed by Charles J. Hunt and starring Virginia Brown Faire, Rex Lease and Betty Francisco.Munden p.625 It was made by the independent producer Morris R. Schlank. Synopsis Broadway ...
'' (1928) * ''
The Spirit of Youth ''The Spirit of Youth'' is a 1929 American silent drama film directed by Walter Lang. A complete print of the film exists. Cast * Dorothy Sebastian as Betty Grant * Larry Kent as Jim Kenney * Betty Francisco as Claire Ewing * Maurice Murphy ...
'' (1929) * ''
Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...
'' (1929) * ''
Smiling Irish Eyes ''Smiling Irish Eyes'' (1929) is a Vitaphone American pre-Code musical film with Technicolor sequences. The film is now considered a lost film. However, the Vitaphone discs still exist. Plot Rory O'More leaves his sweetheart Kathleen O'Connor ba ...
'' (1929) * '' Street of Chance'' (1930) * ''
Madam Satan ''Madam Satan'' or ''Madame Satan'' is a 1930 American pre-Code musical comedy film in black and white with Multicolor sequences. It was produced and directed by Cecil B. DeMille and starred Kay Johnson, Reginald Denny, Lillian Roth, and Ro ...
'' (1930) * ''
The Widow from Chicago ''The Widow from Chicago'' is a 1930 American pre-Code crime drama film directed by Edward F. Cline and starring Alice White, Edward G. Robinson, Neil Hamilton, and Frank McHugh. It was released by First National Pictures, a subsidiary of War ...
'' (1930) * '' Charlie Chan Carries On'' (1931) * ''Romance in the Rain'' (1934)


References


External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Francisco, Betty 1900 births 1950 deaths Actresses from Little Rock, Arkansas American film actresses American silent film actresses 20th-century American actresses Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale) WAMPAS Baby Stars