Silas Marner (1916 film)

{{Infobox film

| name = Silas Marner

| image = Silas Marner 1916.jpg

| caption = Film still

| director = Ernest C. Warde

| producer = Edwin Thanhouser

| writer = Philip Lonergan

| based_on = {{basedon|Silas Marner|George Eliot}}

| starring = Frederick Warde
Valda Valkyrien
Morgan Jones

| music =

| editing =

| cinematography = William Zollinger

| studio = Thanhouser Film Corporation

| distributor = Mutual Film

| released = {{Film date|1916|02|19}}

| runtime = 7 reels

| country = United States

| language = Silent (English intertitles)

| budget =

| gross =

}}

Silas Marner is a 1916 American silent drama film directed by Ernest C. Warde and starring Frederick Warde, Valda Valkyrien, and Morgan Jones. It is an adaptation of the 1861 novel of the same name by George Eliot.Goble p. 145

Cast

Frederick Warde as Silas Marner
Louise Bates as His sweetheart
Morgan Jones as His supposed friend
Thomas A. Curran as Godfrey
Valda Valkyrien as Molly
Ethel Jewett as Nancy
Frank McNish as The Squire Cass
Hector Dion as Dunstan
Arthur Rankin as Lammeter

Production

The role of Marner was played by Frederick Warde, who was the father of director Ernest C. Warde. The film was originally planned that the film have a length of 5 reels, but, after filming was complete, it was found to require 7 reels for the story. Studio head Edwin Thanhouser justified this extension to Mutual Film president John R. Freuler under his "natural length theory," saying, "Only a naturally acted play will stand the test and justify the natural length principle. I am satisfied to let this production stand as my ideal illustration of the theory."{{cite journal |title=Why Silas Marner Runs to 7 Reels for Mutual |journal=Motion Picture News |volume=13 |issue=9 |pages=1280 |publisher=Exhibitor's Times, Inc. |location=New York City |date=4 March 1916 |url=https://archive.org/details/motionpicturenew132unse/page/1280/mode/1up?q=sulu |access-date=3 September 2024}}