Elsie Jane Wilson
Encyclopedia
Elsie Jane Wilson was a cinema
actress, director
and writer
.
Wilson was born in New Zealand
. A professional actress from the age of two, she followed her husband Rupert Julian
to United States
in 1913, where both found work as actors in Universal
silent movies. He turned to directing, with Wilson functioning as his co-director. Later, she appeared in Oliver Twist
(1916) and other Paramount
movies, then returned to Universal and started her directional career, mainly in light comedies.
According the reviews of the day Wilson was a modest filmmaker, being her talent best appreciated for eliciting good performances from otherwise indifferent talent. Nevertheless, few women directors sustained careers in the 1920s, and she directed ten movies between 1917 and 1919.
Elsie Jane Wilson died in Los Angeles, California
, at the age of 74.
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
actress, director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
and writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
.
Wilson was born in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. A professional actress from the age of two, she followed her husband Rupert Julian
Rupert Julian
Rupert Julian was the first New Zealand cinema actor, director, writer and producer.Born Thomas Percival Hayes in Whangaroa, New Zealand, Son of John Daly Hayes and Eliza Harriet Hayes...
to United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1913, where both found work as actors in Universal
Universal Studios
Universal Pictures , a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, is one of the six major movie studios....
silent movies. He turned to directing, with Wilson functioning as his co-director. Later, she appeared in Oliver Twist
Oliver Twist
Oliver Twist; or, The Parish Boy's Progress is the second novel by English author Charles Dickens, published by Richard Bentley in 1838. The story is about an orphan Oliver Twist, who endures a miserable existence in a workhouse and then is placed with an undertaker. He escapes and travels to...
(1916) and other Paramount
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
movies, then returned to Universal and started her directional career, mainly in light comedies.
According the reviews of the day Wilson was a modest filmmaker, being her talent best appreciated for eliciting good performances from otherwise indifferent talent. Nevertheless, few women directors sustained careers in the 1920s, and she directed ten movies between 1917 and 1919.
Elsie Jane Wilson died in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, at the age of 74.
Selected filmography
- The Mystery ShipThe Mystery ShipThe Mystery Ship is a 1917 adventure film serial directed by Harry Harvey and Henry MacRae. The film is considered to be lost.-Cast:* Ben F...
(19171917 in filmThe year 1917 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*Foundation of Universum Film AG , as a propaganda film company, in Berlin.*Technicolor System 1, a two-color process, is introduced...
) - Mountain JusticeMountain Justice (1915 film)Mountain Justice is a 1915 silent drama film directed by Joe De Grasse and featuring Lon Chaney, Sr. The film is now considered to be lost.-Cast:* Elsie Jane Wilson - Mary Kirke* Arthur Shirley - Angus McDonald* Lon Chaney, Sr. - Jeffrey Kirke...
(19151915 in filmThe year 1915 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* February 8 : D.W Griffith's The Birth of a Nation premieres at Clune's Auditorium Los Angeles and breaks box office and film length records, running at a total length of 3 hrs 10 minutes.* June 18 : The Motion Picture Directors...
) - Bound on the WheelBound on the WheelBound on the Wheel is a 1915 silent drama film directed by Joe De Grasse and featuring Lon Chaney, Sr. The film is now considered to be lost.-Cast:* Elsie Jane Wilson - Cora Gertz* Lon Chaney, Sr. - Tom Coulahan* Lydia Yeamans Titus - Mrs. Coulahan...
(1915)