Tuesday, February 10, 2009

New BABE HARDY film discovery

Steve Massa has discovered another film to add to Babe Hardy's solo filmography:

FOOD FOR KINGS AND RILEY
Released August 11, 1915. Edison Company/General Film Company release. One reel. Copyrighted August 2, 1915 (LP5990) by Thomas A. Edison, Inc.
Produced by Thomas A. Edison. Directed by Will Louis.


with William Wadsworth (Riley), Mabel Dwight, Jean Dumar, Guido Colucci, Marie La Manna, Raymond McKee, O.N. Hardy.

The newly rich Riley wants corned beef and cabbage. His wife, with social aspirations, won't tolerate it. One day she tracks him to a poor neighborhood, and finds him heartily tucking away corned beef and cabbage cooked by a "widder woman." His wife also finds her daughter there, very much in love with the "widder woman's" son. So they all go home to Riley's for corned beef and cabbage. --Motion Picture News.

It appears that Babe plays a servant in this one, and that his buddy Raymond McKee must be the widder woman's son mentioned in the synopsis. The Braff Silent Short Film Working Papers doesn't mention the film at all. American Film-Index, 1908-1915 lists the film and cites Fred R. Ashfield as the film's author. Motography and Moving Image World also published a synopsis for the film.

Hope to dig up a review next time I am up in D.C.

Thanks for keeping an eye out Steve. The photo seals the deal, no doubt about Babe being in this one.