Bessie Eyton
Acting
Biography
Bessie starred in at least 200 melodrama, action westerns and crime films. In the 1910 she was visiting the Selig Film studios with a party of friends, when a director saw and liked her red hair because he said it would photograph a beautiful black, so he offered her a minor role, she had no formal training on stage, as did many early film actors, she was talented and soon rose to be one of Selig's most popular stars.
Born: July 5, 1890
Place of Birth: Santa Barbara, California, USA
Known For
The Spoilers
The Spoilers is a 1914 film directed by Colin Campbell. It is set in Nome, Alaska during the 1898 Gold Rush, with William Farnum as Roy Glennister, Kathlyn Williams as Cherry Malotte, and Tom Santschi as Alex McNamara. The film culminates in a spectacular saloon fistfight between Glennister and McNamara. It was adapted to screen by Lanier Bartlett from the Rex Beach novel of the same name.
Alone in the Jungle
The Brown family, which consists of Hon. John Brown, his wife, two sons, Harold and Billy, and a young sister named Helen, has settled on an isolated plantation in the Jungles. Jack Arden, son of another English planter, who comes over frequently to hunt with the boys has fallen in love with Helen. But Papa Brown discourages the lovers, saying that Helen is too young to be married. Jack agrees to wait. Some time afterward the Browns receive a letter from Jack stating that he is coming for another week-end of shooting- with the Brown boys. On his way to the Brown's home, Jack knocks down Concho, an overseer, for being cruel to one of the slaves. His action is approved of by the Browns. In honor of Jack the family starts on a lion hunt, and, after a long trip, they return by the river route. They espy a lioness drinking at the river's edge. She is killed by Jack and taken aboard. That night Jack again asks Mr. Brown for Helen's hand and is again told to wait.
The Crisis
Stephen Brice, a young lawyer in Civil War-era St. Louis, falls in love with Virginia Carvel, the daughter of his benefactor. But she is loyal to the South and Brice is committed to Lincoln's cause. In the course of the war, their convictions separate them, and Virginia becomes engaged to her cousin Clarence Colfax, a Confederate officer. Brice becomes an officer under General Sherman, and eventually finds himself faced with the captured Colfax, facing execution for spying. Brice must decide whether or not to intercede in his rival's behalf.
Twisted Trails
Ranch foreman Tom Snow is being hounded by sheriff Luke Fisher and his deputy, Brad Foster. The pair are really cattle rustlers, and they're trying to pin the blame on Snow. Snow escapes from them and leads them on a death-defying escape over a chasm.
The Mate of the Alden Bessie
The captain of the "Alden Bessie" was a drunken tyrant who manhandled his men upon the slightest provocation, despite the pleadings of his daughter and the first mate who loved her in his rough way, but for whom she could feel only friendship. One night the crew killed him, and marooned the mate and the captain's daughter by sending them adrift in a small boat. Days passed upon the vast expanse of ocean, and their food was all gone and death near, when land was sighted and their boat was cast up on a coral reef, and they with difficulty made the shore. Fear of death was soon supplanted in the heart of the captain's daughter by fear of a man loving her all too well. The mate, seeing this and realizing the strength of his passion, decided to live on the side of the island, but as the months passed away his loneliness overcame him and he made his way to where she sat reading. He looked over her shoulder, and saw that she read the marriage service.
The Heart of Texas Ryan
To get in the good graces of his rancher boss’s daughter, cowboy Single Shot captures a cattle raider but then gets kidnapped by his gang of thieves.
Who Shall Take My Life?
A man is found guilty of murdering a woman by way of circumstantial evidence, and is executed. Afterwards, it is discovered that his supposed victim is not dead at all, but working as a prostitute in a Western city. Scenario was written for the screen by Maibelle Heikes Justice, who was an outspoken opponent of capital punishment.
Kit Carson's Wooing
Kit Carson, scout, hunter, trapper and soldier-of-fortune, has won the enmity of Azakah, the cruel chief of a prowling band of renegade Indians.
Chip of the Flying U
When he's fired from his bank job aimless Claude Bennett decides to head West. Once he gets a job as a cowboy on the Flying "U" ranch he restyles himself as Chip and discovers who he really is through a series of adventures.
Etienne of the Glad Heart
Etienne Cloquet, a young woodsman, is in love with Marie, the pretty daughter of Paul Le Groux, a salmon fisher. Etienne has such a sunny disposition that he has become generally known as "Etienne of the Glad Heart."
Filmography
as Ada Tremaine
as Maybelle Wescott
as Margaret Quentin
as Christabel Beaumont
as Mrs. Eloise Mackenzie
as Gladys
as Eleanor Fordham
as Kathlyn Otis
as Mary Moran
as Texas Ryan
as Madeleine, Mentor's Daughter
as Virginia Carvel
as Sunshine West
as Sally Madison
as Dr. Cecil Grantham
as Marie Le Groux
as Sally Lattier - the Daughter
as Helen Chester
as Bessie
as Helen Brown
as Starlight
as The Captain's Daughter
as Conchita
as Lat-to-nick