Frank Powell
Acting
Biography
Frank Powell was a Canadian-born stage and silent film actor, director, producer, and screenwriter who worked predominantly in the United States. After getting his start acting in D.W. Griffith films, he cast Theda Bara in her breakout role in the 1915 release A Fool There Was. Powell would continue to direct Bara at Fox while she became an international star as the film industry's most popular vamp.
Born: May 8, 1887
Place of Birth: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Known For
The Country Doctor
While caring for his sick daughter, a doctor is called away to the sickbed of a neighbor. He finds the neighbor gravely ill, and ignores his wife's pleas to come home and care for his own daughter, who has taken a turn for the worse.
A Corner in Wheat
On a whim, a greedy tycoon decides to corner the world market in wheat. This doubles the price of bread, forcing grain producers into charity lines and others further into poverty. The film contrasts the differences between the lives of those who work to grow the wheat and the life of the man who dabbles in its sale for profit.
The Son's Return
A son leaves to seek his fortune in the city. Many years later he returns and checks into his parents' inn. They don't recognize him, but noticing his fat wallet, plan to rob him.
A Fool There Was
John Schuyler, a happily married lawyer, is appointed diplomat and sent to England. Due to an unfortunate accident, his wife and child can not come along with him. On the ship to England, Schuyler meets the notorious Vampire - a relentless gold digger who causes the moral degradation of those she seduces, first fascinating and then draining the very life from her victims.
The Newlyweds
A young man and a young woman, each unlucky in love, determine never to marry. But Cupid (and two separate bands of misinformed revelers) has other ideas.
Over Silent Paths
In the heart of the American west, a miner toils day after day at his rocker box while his young daughter keeps his camp. His daughter persuades him to return to civilization, where they may enjoy the fruits of their labor. Both are happy in the anticipation of what seems a bright future. While she's away, a desert wanderer appears at the camp, and at the sight of the old man weighing his gold is seized with cupidity. He himself had toiled long in the wilds, but with no success, so he demands that the old man divide his gains with him. This, of course, the miner decries, and the wanderer uses force to obtain the old man's gold. The wanderer collapses in the desert, only to be rescued by a certain young woman: the miner's daughter.
The Voice of the Violin
A music teacher is in love with Helen, one of his students, but she rejects him. In his hurt he joins an anarchist group who plan to blow up a rich capitalist's house. When he realizes it's Helen's house, he tries to stop the plan.
The Mended Lute
In an Indian tribe, a girl escapes from her father and suitor to be with the man she loves.
Faithful
Adonese is returning home from seeing the woman he is courting, and he is driving around a corner when his car accidentally brushes against the tramp 'Faithful' and knocks him over. Feeling sorry for him, Adonese helps him up and buys him a new suit of clothes. The naively innocent Faithful reads too much into this gesture, and he begins to follow his benefactor everywhere, expecting to receive future gifts.
The Oath and the Man
A rich nobleman steals a perfume merchant's wife just prior to the French Revolution, in which the perfumer is a leader of the peasants. His priest made him swear an oath to leave vengeance to God, however.
Filmography
as The Doctor
as The Butler
as Governor Manuella
as A Friend / At Station Reception
as At Card Game
as Ben
as The Wheat King
as At the Ball
as The Viper
as The Doctor
as Ed Hilton
as George Peabody
as The Judge
as The Old Prospector
as At Club
as Chief Great Elk Horn
as A Thief
as A Handsome Chap
as A Visiting Nobleman
as Doctor Harcourt
as Employer / Party Guest
as Wedding Guest
as At Party
as In Bank
as Jack Allen
as Mr. Walker