Francelia Billington
Encyclopedia
Francelia Billington was an early American silent-screen actress, and an accomplished camera operator.
, the daughter of James Billington and his wife, musician Adelaide Bueter. She was born and raised on a ranch, allowing her to become an expert at horsemanship, which later served her in a movie career that was to consist of a number of Westerns. She attended school at a convent where, at a very early age, she began playing parts in plays. When she was 10 years old, she moved to New Orleans and continued her interest in outdoor activities, becoming quite accomplished at swimming, diving and rowing.
in 1912, then she moved to Reliance-Majestic Studios
the following year, and continued starring in films under its banner when D. W. Griffith
became the studio's director-general. Billington made The Half Breed with Jack Pickford
in 1913. The production was filmed at the
old Majestic Studio on Boyle Heights.
Billington left Majestic in 1915, and following her association with the Palo Alto Film Corporation, where she worked with Nell Shipman
, one of the most remarkable figures in film history, on the uncompleted film Wanda of the Red Street, she joined Universal
. There she played leads for such directors as Rupert Julian
and Rex Ingram
. In 1917, she went over to The American Film Company in Santa Barbara
to star in features directed by Edward Sloman
. Her return to Universal in 1918 brought her a co-starring role in one of the silent film's true cinematic milestones, Erich von Stroheim
's directorial debut, Blind Husbands
. Billington played the wife and Sam De Grasse
the husband. Although her performance brought praise from the critics, the Fates had no great roles waiting for Billington, and she continued in a mix of undistinguished melodramas, Westerns and action films.
production slowed down with only five total films in 1918 and 1919. One of her 1920s features was a Western genre film with Tom Mix
, entitled Desert Love. Later that year, she returned once again to Rex Ingram's directorship with Hearts are Trumps. Billington acted the role of Sybil Sayre in the first film made for the Ray Rockett Film Corporation, in 1920. She was cast with Betty Blythe
in The Truant Husband (1921). The screenplay was based on a story penned by Albert Payson Terhune
which had recently appeared in Cosmopolitan Magazine. Billington supported Madge Bellamy
in The White Sin (1924).
at the Riverside Inn in Riverside, California
. They resided at Cuneo's home in Beverly Hills, California
.
The couple appeared in fourteen films together, with their last two features in 1925, but apparently the marriage was on the rocks well before that. Despondent over the breakdown of the marriage and the downhill slide of his film career, Cuneo committed suicide by shooting himself on November 2, 1925, supposedly two days after his divorce from Billington became final.
, there were no obituaries in the trade papers, and her death went unnoticed by the film industry and the public.
Early life
Billington was in born in Dallas, TexasDallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
, the daughter of James Billington and his wife, musician Adelaide Bueter. She was born and raised on a ranch, allowing her to become an expert at horsemanship, which later served her in a movie career that was to consist of a number of Westerns. She attended school at a convent where, at a very early age, she began playing parts in plays. When she was 10 years old, she moved to New Orleans and continued her interest in outdoor activities, becoming quite accomplished at swimming, diving and rowing.
Career
She began working in films for the Kalem Company's West Coast studioKalem Company
The Kalem Company was an American film studio founded in New York City in 1907 by George Kleine, Samuel Long , and Frank J. Marion.The company immediately joined other studios in the Motion Picture Patents Company that held a monopoly on production and distribution...
in 1912, then she moved to Reliance-Majestic Studios
Reliance-Majestic Studios
Reliance-Majestic Studios was an early American movie studio in Hollywood, California, originally built around 1914 at 4516 Sunset Boulevard.Within a few years, it became the home of D. W. Griffith and Mutual Film Corporation. Later the studio's name was changed to Fine Arts Studios, and was...
the following year, and continued starring in films under its banner when D. W. Griffith
D. W. Griffith
David Llewelyn Wark Griffith was a premier pioneering American film director. He is best known as the director of the controversial and groundbreaking 1915 film The Birth of a Nation and the subsequent film Intolerance .Griffith's film The Birth of a Nation made pioneering use of advanced camera...
became the studio's director-general. Billington made The Half Breed with Jack Pickford
Jack Pickford
Jack Pickford was a Canadian-born American actor. He was best known for his tabloid lifestyle, marriage to the top starlets of his day, and being of the famous Pickford acting family.-Early life:...
in 1913. The production was filmed at the
old Majestic Studio on Boyle Heights.
Billington left Majestic in 1915, and following her association with the Palo Alto Film Corporation, where she worked with Nell Shipman
Nell Shipman
Nell Shipman was a Canadian actress, author and screenwriter, producer, director, and animal trainer. She was a Canadian pioneer in early Hollywood. She is best known for her work in James Oliver Curwood stories and for portraying strong, adventurous women...
, one of the most remarkable figures in film history, on the uncompleted film Wanda of the Red Street, she joined Universal
Universal Studios
Universal Pictures , a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, is one of the six major movie studios....
. There she played leads for such directors as 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...
and Rex Ingram
Rex Ingram (director)
Rex Ingram was an Irish film director, producer, writer and actor. Legendary director Erich von Stroheim once called him "the world's greatest director."-Early life:...
. In 1917, she went over to The American Film Company in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
to star in features directed by Edward Sloman
Edward Sloman
Edward Sloman was an English silent film director, actor, screenwriter and radio broadcaster. He directed over 100 films and starred in over 30 films as an actor between 1913 and 1938....
. Her return to Universal in 1918 brought her a co-starring role in one of the silent film's true cinematic milestones, Erich von Stroheim
Erich von Stroheim
Erich von Stroheim was an Austrian-born film star of the silent era, subsequently noted as an auteur for his directorial work.-Background:...
's directorial debut, Blind Husbands
Blind Husbands
Blind Husbands is a 1919 drama film directed by Erich von Stroheim. The film is an adaptation of the story The Pinnacle by Stroheim.-Cast:* Sam De Grasse as Doctor Robert Armstrong, the husband* Francelia Billington as Margaret Armstrong, the wife...
. Billington played the wife and Sam De Grasse
Sam De Grasse
Samuel Alfred De Grasse was a Canadian actor. Born in Bathurst, New Brunswick, he trained to be a dentist....
the husband. Although her performance brought praise from the critics, the Fates had no great roles waiting for Billington, and she continued in a mix of undistinguished melodramas, Westerns and action films.
Later years
Billington's level of filmFilm
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...
production slowed down with only five total films in 1918 and 1919. One of her 1920s features was a Western genre film with Tom Mix
Tom Mix
Thomas Edwin "Tom" Mix was an American film actor and the star of many early Western movies. He made a reported 336 films between 1910 and 1935, all but nine of which were silent features...
, entitled Desert Love. Later that year, she returned once again to Rex Ingram's directorship with Hearts are Trumps. Billington acted the role of Sybil Sayre in the first film made for the Ray Rockett Film Corporation, in 1920. She was cast with Betty Blythe
Betty Blythe
Betty Blythe was an American actress best known for her dramatic roles in exotic silent films such as The Queen of Sheba .-Career:...
in The Truant Husband (1921). The screenplay was based on a story penned by Albert Payson Terhune
Albert Payson Terhune
Albert Payson Terhune was an American author, dog breeder, and journalist. The public knows him best for his novels relating the adventures of his beloved collies and as a breeder of collies at his Sunnybank Kennels, the lines of which still exist in today's Rough Collies.-Biography:Albert Payson...
which had recently appeared in Cosmopolitan Magazine. Billington supported Madge Bellamy
Madge Bellamy
Madge Bellamy was an American film actress who was a popular leading lady in the 1920s and early 1930s. Her career declined in the sound era, and ended following a romantic scandal in the 1940s.-Early life:...
in The White Sin (1924).
Marriage
In October 1920 Billington married Lester CuneoLester Cuneo
Lester H. Cuneo was an American stage and silent film actor. Born in Chicago, Illinois, he began acting in live theatre while still in his teens.-Career:...
at the Riverside Inn in Riverside, California
Riverside, California
Riverside is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, and the county seat of the eponymous county. Named for its location beside the Santa Ana River, it is the largest city in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area of Southern California, 4th largest inland California...
. They resided at Cuneo's home in Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills is an affluent city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. With a population of 34,109 at the 2010 census, up from 33,784 as of the 2000 census, it is home to numerous Hollywood celebrities. Beverly Hills and the neighboring city of West Hollywood are together...
.
The couple appeared in fourteen films together, with their last two features in 1925, but apparently the marriage was on the rocks well before that. Despondent over the breakdown of the marriage and the downhill slide of his film career, Cuneo committed suicide by shooting himself on November 2, 1925, supposedly two days after his divorce from Billington became final.
Death
Billington's health was visibly declining at the beginning of 1934. She died from tuberculosisTuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
, there were no obituaries in the trade papers, and her death went unnoticed by the film industry and the public.
Selected filmography
- A Mix-Up in PedigreesA Mix-Up in PedigreesA Mix-Up in Pedigrees is a 1913 American silent short comedy film starring William Garwood and Francelia Billington....
(1913) - The Lover's GiftThe Lover's GiftThe Lover's Gift is a 1914 American silent short film. The film starred Earle Foxe, Mary Alden, Francelia Billington and George Siegmann....
(1914) - My Fighting GentlemanMy Fighting GentlemanMy Fighting Gentleman is a 1917 American silent historical drama film directed by Edward Sloman with the storyline by Doris Schroeder and Nell Shipman. Starring William Russell and Francelia Billington.-Cast:...
(1917) - The Wrong ManThe Wrong Man (1917 film)The Wrong Man is a 1917 Western film featuring Harry Carey.-Cast:* Harry Carey* Francelia Billington* Vester Pegg* William Steele - * Hoot Gibson* Helen Gibson* George Berrell...
(1917) - Blind HusbandsBlind HusbandsBlind Husbands is a 1919 drama film directed by Erich von Stroheim. The film is an adaptation of the story The Pinnacle by Stroheim.-Cast:* Sam De Grasse as Doctor Robert Armstrong, the husband* Francelia Billington as Margaret Armstrong, the wife...
(1919)
External links
- Francelia Billington photo at silentsaregolden
- Frencelia Billington article