Julia Swayne Gordon (born Sarah Victoria Smith; October 29, 1878 – May 28, 1933) was an American actress who appeared in at least 228 films between 1908 and 1933.

Early years

Gordon was born in

Columbus, Ohio Columbus () is the state capital and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio. With a 2020 census population of 905,748, it is the 14th-most populous city in the U.S., the second-most populous city in the Midwest, after Chicago, an ...

, to Louis and Anna Smith and was educated there. She went to Denver to study dramatics under Jessie Bonstelle.

Career

Gordon moved to New York and acted in stock theater, after which, she performed with Henrietta Crosman and James A. Herne. Gordon's work in film began in 1905 with the

Edison Company The Edison Manufacturing Company, originally registered as the United Edison Manufacturing Company and often known as simply the Edison Company, was organized by inventor and entrepreneur Thomas Edison and incorporated in New York City in May 188 ...

, and in 1908 she moved to

Vitagraph Studios Vitagraph Studios, also known as the Vitagraph Company of America, was a United States motion picture studio. It was founded by J. Stuart Blackton and Albert E. Smith in 1897 in Brooklyn, New York, as the American Vitagraph Company. By 1907, ...

. In 1911 she starred in Vitagraph's screen portrayal of the Lady Godiva legend. Perhaps her most memorable performance, however, is as

Richard Arlen Richard Arlen (born Sylvanus Richard Mattimore, September 1, 1899 – March 28, 1976) was an American actor of film and television. Biography Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, Arlen attended the University of Pennsylvania. He served in Canada as a ...

's mother in the

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll, one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, ...

silent film '' Wings'' (1927), which won the first

Academy Award The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...

for Best Picture. In a highly dramatic scene in that acclaimed production, Gordon bids farewell to Arlen as he departs for combat flight training in France, tearfully packing him off with his favorite childhood toy.

Personal life and death

Film actress Julia Swayne Gordon (SAYRE 2563)

Gordon was married to Hugh T. Swayne. Gordon continued to act until her death. On May 28, 1933, she died of cancer at her Hollywood home, aged 54. Her ashes are buried at Green Lawn Cemetery in Columbus, Ohio.

Partial filmography

* ''

A Midsummer Night's Dream ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' is a comedy written by William Shakespeare 1595 or 1596. The play is set in Athens, and consists of several subplots that revolve around the marriage of Theseus and Hippolyta. One subplot involves a conflict a ...

'' (1909)*short * ''

Twelfth Night ''Twelfth Night'', or ''What You Will'' is a romantic comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written around 1601–1602 as a Twelfth Night's entertainment for the close of the Christmas season. The play centres on the twins Vi ...

'' (1910*short * ''Uncle Tom's Cabin'' (1910)*short * ''

A Tale of Two Cities ''A Tale of Two Cities'' is a historical novel published in 1859 by Charles Dickens, set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. The novel tells the story of the French Doctor Manette, his 18-year-long imprisonment in ...

'' (1911)*short * ''

Lady Godiva Lady Godiva (; died between 1066 and 1086), in Old English , was a late Anglo-Saxon noblewoman who is relatively well documented as the wife of Leofric, Earl of Mercia, and a patron of various churches and monasteries. Today, she is mainly re ...

'' (1911)*short * '' Captain Jenks' Dilemma'' (1912)*short * ''Playmates'' (1912) * ''

Beau Brummel George Bryan "Beau" Brummell (7 June 1778 – 30 March 1840) was an important figure in Regency England and, for many years, the arbiter of men's fashion. At one time, he was a close friend of the Prince Regent, the future King George IV, but ...

'' (1913)*short * ''

Red and White Roses ''Red and White Roses'' is a 1913 silent short film directed by William Humphrey and Ralph Ince. It starred Humphrey, Julia Swayne Gordon and Leah Baird. It was produced by the Vitagraph Company of America and distributed by the General Film Compa ...

'' (1913)*short * '' The Lion's Bride'' (1913)*short * ''

The Battle Cry of Peace ''The Battle Cry of Peace'' is a 1915 American silent War film directed by Wilfrid North and J. Stuart Blackton, one of the founders of Vitagraph Company of America who also wrote the scenario. The film is based on the book ''Defenseless Ameri ...

'' (1915) * '' My Lady's Slipper'' (1916) * '' The Suspect'' (1916) * '' The Enemy'' (1916) * '' Her Right to Live'' (1917) * '' Arsene Lupin'' (1917) * '' The Maelstrom'' (1917) *'' The Message of the Mouse'' (1917) * '' Love Watches'' (1918) * '' Over the Top'' (1918) * ''

Greater Than Fame ''Greater Than Fame'' is a 1920 American silent drama film produced and distributed by Selznick Pictures. It was directed by Alan Crosland and stars Elaine Hammerstein. It is not known whether the film currently survives. Plot As described in ...

'' (1920) * ''

Lifting Shadows Rich Wilson is a UK-based freelance rock music writer who has written for publications including '' Classic Rock Magazine'', ''Metal Hammer'', ''Record Collector'', ''Rock Hard'', the ''Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music'', and '' Prog magazine' ...

'' (1920) * ''

A Child for Sale ''A Child for Sale'' is a lost 1920 American silent drama film directed by Ivan Abramson, starring Gladys Leslie and Creighton Hale.(October 24, 1920)"A Child For Sale" to be the Attraction For the Entire Week Starting Tomorrow ''The Delmarvi ...

'' (1920) * '' For Love or Money'' (1920) * '' The Silver Lining'' (1921) * ''

The Passionate Pilgrim ''The Passionate Pilgrim'' (1599) is an anthology of 20 poems collected and published by William Jaggard that were attributed to " W. Shakespeare" on the title page, only five of which are considered authentically Shakespearean. These are two ...

'' (1921) * ''

Behind Masks ''Behind Masks'' is a 1921 American silent drama film directed by Frank Reicher. It was written by Kathryn Stuart based upon the 1909 novel ''Jeanne of the Marshes'' by E. Phillips Oppenheim. The film stars Dorothy Dalton, Frederick Vogedin ...

'' (1921) * '' Burn 'Em Up Barnes'' (1921) * '' Why Girls Leave Home'' (1921) * ''

Handcuffs or Kisses ''Handcuffs or Kisses'' is a 1921 American silent drama film directed by George Archainbaud and starring Elaine Hammerstein, Julia Swayne Gordon, and Dorothy Chappell. It was future Hollywood star Ronald Colman's first film in America. Thi ...

'' (1921) * ''

How Women Love ''How Women Love'' is a 1922 American silent drama film directed by Kenneth S. Webb and starring Betty Blythe, Gladys Hulette and Julia Swayne Gordon.Munden p.367 A promising singer his signed up by a backer for the new opera he is producing, b ...

'' (1922) * ''

When the Desert Calls ''When the Desert Calls'' is a 1922 American silent drama film directed by Ray C. Smallwood and starring Violet Heming, Robert Frazer and Huntley Gordon.Connelly p.432 Cast * Violet Heming as Louise Caldwell * Robert Frazer as Eldred Caldwell ...

'' (1922) * '' My Old Kentucky Home'' (1922) * '' Till We Meet Again'' (1922) * ''

What's Wrong With the Women? ''What's Wrong with the Women?'' is 1922 American silent Jazz Age drama film, directed by Roy William Neill, produced by Daniel Carson Goodman, and starring Wilton Lackaye, Barbara Castleton, and Constance Bennett. It is not known whether ...

'' (1922) * ''

Women Men Marry ''Women Men Marry'' is a 1922 silent film drama produced and directed by Edward Dillon. Cast * E. K. Lincoln – Dick Clark *Florence Dixon – Emerie Rogers *Charles Hammond – Montgomery Rogers *Hedda Hopper – Eleanor Carter *Cyril Chadwic ...

'' (1922) * ''

The Darling of the Rich ''The Darling of the Rich'' is a 1922 American silent drama film directed by John G. Adolfi and starring Betty Blythe, Gladys Leslie, and Montagu Love.Munden p. 172 Cast * Betty Blythe as Charmion Winship * Gladys Leslie as Lizzie Callahan ...

'' (1922) * '' The Tie That Binds'' (1923) * ''

Scaramouche Scaramouche () or Scaramouch (; from Italian Scaramuccia , literally "little skirmisher") is a stock clown character of the 16th-century commedia dell'arte (comic theatrical arts of Italian literature). The role combined characteristics of the ...

'' (1923) * '' Dark Secrets'' (1923) * '' The Wheel'' (1925) * ''

Lights of Old Broadway ''Lights of Old Broadway'' is a 1925 American silent drama film directed by Monta Bell, produced by William Randolph Hearst's Cosmopolitan Productions, and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The film stars Marion Davies in a dual role and Conrad ...

'' (1925) * ''

The Far Cry ''The Far Cry'' (Portuguese title: ''Um Divorcio Feliz'') is a 1926 American silent epic drama film produced and distributed by the First National Pictures. The film was directed by Silvano Balboni, the husband of writer June Mathis, and sta ...

'' (1926) * '' Early to Wed'' (1926) * '' Bride of the Storm'' (1926) * ''

Diplomacy Diplomacy comprises spoken or written communication by representatives of states (such as leaders and diplomats) intended to influence events in the international system.Ronald Peter Barston, ''Modern diplomacy'', Pearson Education, 2006, p. ...

'' (1926) * '' Wings'' (1927) * '' Children of Divorce'' (1927) * ''

The Smart Set ''The Smart Set'' was an American literary magazine, founded by Colonel William d'Alton Mann and published from March 1900 to June 1930. Its headquarters was in New York City. During its Jazz Age heyday under the editorship of H. L. Mencken and ...

'' (1928) * ''

Three Weekends ''Three Week-Ends'' is a 1928 American comedy drama film directed by Clarence G. Badger and starring Clara Bow and Neil Hamilton. It is believed lost. "Three Week-Ends" is the title given in the AFI Catalog of Feature Films, with alternate titl ...

'' (1928) * '' Hearts of Men'' (1928) * '' Road House'' (1928) * ''

The Younger Generation ''The Younger Generation'' is a 1929 American part-talkie drama film directed by Frank Capra and starring Ricardo Cortez. It was produced by Jack Cohn for Columbia Pictures. It was Capra's first sound film. While mostly silent, the film has ...

'' (1929) * '' The Eternal Woman'' (1929) * ''

Gold Diggers of Broadway ''Gold Diggers of Broadway'' is a 1929 American pre-Code musical comedy film directed by Roy Del Ruth and starring Winnie Lightner and Nick Lucas. Distributed by Warner Bros., the film is the second all-talking, all-Technicolor feature-lengt ...

'' (1929) * '' Is Everybody Happy?'' (1929) * ''

Today Today (archaically to-day) may refer to: * Day of the present, the time that is perceived directly, often called ''now'' * Current era, present * The current calendar date Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Today'' (1930 film), a 1930 ...

'' (1930) * '' Primrose Path'' (1931) * '' The Common Law'' (1931) * '' The Drums of Jeopardy'' (1931) * ''

Misbehaving Ladies ''Misbehaving Ladies'' is a 1931 American Pre-Code comedy film directed by William Beaudine and starring Lila Lee, Ben Lyon and Louise Fazenda. It is also known as ''The Queen of Main Street''. Cast * Lila Lee as Princess Ellen * Ben Lyon a ...

'' (1931) * ''

Secrets of the French Police ''Secrets of the French Police'' is a 1932 American Pre-Code crime film directed by A. Edward Sutherland and starring Gwili Andre, Gregory Ratoff, and Frank Morgan. The film was made as a B film by RKO Radio Pictures, using some of the sets f ...

'' (1932)

References

External links

* 1878 births 1933 deaths American stage actresses American film actresses American silent film actresses Actresses from Columbus, Ohio 20th-century American actresses {{US-film-actor-1870s-stub