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Description:
Born in 1895 in Chicago, Illinois, Blanche Sweet became a rival to Mary Pickford by 1910. She was known for her independent roles. Her first landmark film came in 1911 with the thriller “The Lonedale Operator,” directed by D.W. Griffith. In 1913, she starred in Griffiths first feature-length movie, “Judith Of Bethulia.” She was initially cast by Griffith in the part of Elsie Stoneman in “The Birth of a Nation” but the role was eventually given to rival Lillian Gish. That same year, Sweet parted ways with Griffith and joined Paramount for much higher pay.
Throughout the 1910s Blanche Sweet continued her career appearing in a number of highly prominent roles in films and remained a publicly popular leading lady. Sweet often starred in vehicles by famous directors Cecil B. DeMille and Marshall Neilan and she was recognized by leading film critics of the time to be one of the foremost actresses of the entire silent era, extending her starring career considerably through her versatility. It was during her time working with Neilan that the two began a publicized affair, which brought on his divorce from former actress Gertrude Bambrick. Sweet and Neilan married in 1922. The union ended in 1933 with Sweet charging that Neilan was a persistent adulterer.
During the early 1920s Sweet's career continued to prosper and she starred in the first film version of “Anna Christie” in 1923. The film is also notable as being the first Eugene O’Neill play to be made into a motion picture. Sweet’s career faltered with the advent of talkies as the Roaring Twenties wound down. She found herself in a similar position of many of her contemporaries. Sweet made just three talking movies, including her critically acclaimed 1930 “Show Girl in Hollywood” before retiring and marrying stage actor Raymond Hackett in 1936.
Sweet spent the remainder of her performing career in radio and in secondary Broadway stage roles. Eventually, when her career in both of these fields petered out she began working in a Los Angeles department store. Her acting legacy was resurrected in the 1960s when film scholars invited her to Europe to receive long overdue recognition as a pioneering film actress of American cinema. She died in New York City of a stroke, aged 90.
Vintage matte-finish 8 x 10 photo, signed in fountain pen “Sincerely Blanche Sweet.” In fine condition, with slight creasing to top left corner, a chip to the bottom left corner, and a bit of mild silvering and soiling. A fine piece of Hollywood Americana.
| Status: For Sale |
Reference#: 00292 |
| Condition:
good |
Year:
c. 1915
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| Title:
Autograph Photograph of Silent Screen Star Blanche Sweet |
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