Astra Film Corp was an American film production company that produced

silent film A silent film is a film without synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, w ...

Louis J. Gasnier Louis Joseph Gasnier (September 15, 1875 – February 15, 1963) was a French-American film director, producer, screenwriter and stage actor. A cinema pioneer, Gasnier shepherded the early career of comedian Max Linder, co-directed the enormously ...

was the company's president.

George B. Seitz George Brackett Seitz (January 3, 1888 – July 8, 1944) was an American playwright, screenwriter, film actor and director. He was known for his screenplays for action serials, such as '' The Perils of Pauline'' (1914) and ''The Exploits of ...

co-founded it. It was making films by 1916. It became Louis J. Gasnier Productions after Seitz left. The studio operated in

Jersey City, New Jersey Jersey City is the List of municipalities in New Jersey, second-most populous

before expanding to

Fort Lee, New Jersey Fort Lee is a Borough (New Jersey), borough at the eastern border of Bergen County, New Jersey, Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, situated along the Hudson River atop The Palisades (Hudson River), The Palisades. As of the 2020 Uni ...

. The Fort Lee studio site at 1 Congress Street was acquired from

Pathé Pathé SAS (; styled as PATHÉ!) is a French major film production and distribution company, owning a number of cinema chains through its subsidiary Pathé Cinémas and television networks across Europe. It is the name of a network of Fren ...

in 1916. The company distributed its films with Pathé. Rolin Studio in

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

also worked with Pathé. The company's '' Hands Up'' serial included a storyline featuring the

Inca The Inca Empire, officially known as the Realm of the Four Parts (, ), was the largest empire in pre-Columbian America. The administrative, political, and military center of the empire was in the city of Cusco. The History of the Incas, Inca ...

. The studio produced Pathé's photoplay films including ''

Stranded in Arcady ''Stranded in Arcady'' is a 1917 American silent adventure film directed by Frank Hall Crane and starring Irene Castle, Elliott Dexter and George Majeroni.Connelly p. 416 It is based on the novel '' Stranded in the Arcady'' by Francis Lynde. Ca ...

''. It was an adaptation of a story by

Francis Lynde Francis Lynde (November 12, 1856 – May 16, 1930) was an American writer. Three of his books were adapted to film.Irene Castle Vernon and Irene Castle were a husband-and-wife team of ballroom dancers and dance teachers who appeared on Broadway and in silent films in the early 20th century. They are credited with reviving the popularity of modern dancing. Castle was a s ...

. It was directed by

Frank Hall Crane Frank Hall Crane (January 1, 1873 – September 1, 1948) was an American stage and film actor and film director, director.The Fatal Ring ''The Fatal Ring'' is a 1917 American action film serial directed by George B. Seitz. Silentera.com reports that the UCLA Film and Television Archive may have a complete print. A deteriorating fragment roll containing a scene is discovered in F ...

'' and ''

The Seven Pearls ''The Seven Pearls'' is a 1917 American silent action film serial directed by Louis J. Gasnier and Donald MacKenzie. Fragments are held by the Library of Congress. Cast * Mollie King as Ilma Bay * Creighton Hale as Harry Drake * Léon Bary as P ...

'' serials.

Arthur Miller Arthur Asher Miller (October 17, 1915 – February 10, 2005) was an American playwright, essayist and screenwriter in the 20th-century American theater. Among his most popular plays are '' All My Sons'' (1947), '' Death of a Salesman'' (1 ...

worked for the company since at least 1916 working under director

George Fitzmaurice George Fitzmaurice (13 February 1885 – 13 June 1940) was a French-born film director and Film producer, producer. Career Fitzmaurice's career first started as a set designer on stage. Beginning in 1914, and continuing until his death in 1940 ...

and signing a contract with him personally.

Grace Darmond Grace Darmond (born Grace Marie Glionna; November 20, 1893 – October 8, 1963) was a Canadian-American actress. Early life Grace Marie Glionna was born in Toronto on November 20, 1893. Her parents were Vincent Baptiste "James" Glionna, an ...

left Selig to work for the company.

Filmography

*''

At Bay ''At Bay'' is a 1915 American silent drama film directed by George Fitzmaurice and starring Florence Reed. It is based on a 1913 Broadway play, ''At Bay'', by George Scarborough and produced by the Shuberts. On stage, Reed's starring part was ...

'' (1915) *''

Via Wireless ''Via Wireless'' is a 1915 American silent drama film directed by George Fitzmaurice and starring Bruce McRae, Gail Kane and Brandon Hurst. The film was based on a 1908 play of the same name by Paul Armstrong and Winchell Smith and was adapted ...

'' (1915) *''

Pearl of the Army ''Pearl of the Army'' is a 1916 American silent film serial directed by Edward José. The Pathé-Astra Film Corp movie was made when many early film studio and film producers in America's first motion picture industry were based in New Jerse ...

'' (1916), a serial *''

The Shielding Shadow ''The Shielding Shadow'' is a 1916 American action film serial directed by Louis J. Gasnier and Donald MacKenzie and starring Grace Darmond and Ralph Kellard. Plot The 15 chapter story involves the heroine being protected by a shadow with burn ...

'' (1916), *''

The Romantic Journey ''The Romantic Journey'' is a 1916 American silent drama film directed by George Fitzmaurice and starring William Courtenay, Macey Harlam and Alice Dovey.Parish & Pitts p.126 Plot Cast * William Courtenay as Peter * Macey Harlam as Ratoor ...

'' (1916) *''The Black Orchid'' (1916), starring

*''

Arms and the Woman Arms or ARMS may refer to: * Arm or arms, the upper limbs of the body Arm, Arms, or ARMS may also refer to: People * Ida A. T. Arms (1856–1931), American missionary-educator, temperance leader Coat of arms or weapons *Armaments or weapons ** ...

'' (1916) *''May Blossom'' (1917) *''

'' (1917), a serial *''

The Fatal Ring ''The Fatal Ring'' is a 1917 American action film serial directed by George B. Seitz. Silentera.com reports that the UCLA Film and Television Archive may have a complete print. A deteriorating fragment roll containing a scene is discovered in F ...

'' (1917), a 19-chapter serial *'' The Hidden Hand'' (1917), a serial *'' Kick In'' (1917) *'' The Cigarette Girl'' (1917) *''

The Mystery of the Double Cross ''Mystery of the Double Cross'' (officially without definite article) is a 1917 film and one of the few American silent action film serials to survive in complete form. It was directed by Louis J. Gasnier and William Parke, from a story writte ...

'' (1917) *''Caleb Piper's Girl'' (1917), starring

Helene Chadwick Helene Chadwick (November 25, 1897 – September 4, 1940) was an American actress in silent and in early sound films. Early life and career Chadwick was born in the small town of Chadwicks, New York, which was named for her great-grandfather ...

*'' The Hunting of the Hawk'' (1917) *'' Vengeance Is Mine'' (1917) *''

'' (1917) *'' Hands Up'' (1918), a serial *'' The Yellow Ticket'' (1918) *'' The House of Hate'' (1918) *''The Honest Thief'' (1918) *''The Mystery of the Doublecross'' (1918) *'' The Naulahka'' (1918) *'' The Hillcrest Mystery'' (1918) *'' The House of Hate'' (1918), a serial *''

A Japanese Nightingale ''A Japanese Nightingale'' is a 1918 American silent drama film directed by George Fitzmaurice and starring Fannie Ward, W.E. Lawrence and Yukio Aoyama.Motion Picture Guide Silent Film 1910-1936 p.368 It was adapted from a 1903 play of the same ...

'' (1918) *''

The Adventures of Ruth ''The Adventures of Ruth'' is a 1919 American film serial directed by George Marshall (director), George Marshall. It is now considered to be a lost film. The serial was advertised as written, produced and directed by Ruth Roland. Roland was th ...

'' (1919) *'' The Cry of the Weak'' (1919) *'' Out Better Selves'' (1919) *'' The Tiger's Trail'' (1919), a serial *''

The Lightning Raider ''The Lightning Raider'' is a 1919 American action film, action film serial directed by George B. Seitz. It was the on-screen debut of Boris Karloff, albeit as an extra. The film serial survives in an incomplete state with some reels preserved a ...

'' (1919) *'' The Pleasant Devil'' (1919) *''

Daredevil Jack ''Daredevil Jack'' is a 1920 American silent 15-chapter action film serial directed by W. S. Van Dyke and starring heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey and featuring Lon Chaney as a villain. The chapters were shown weekly between February and ...

'' (1920) *'' The Phantom Foe'' (1920) *'' Pirate Gold'' (1920), a serial *'' The Third Eye'' (1920), a serial *''

Trailed by Three ''Trailed by Three'' is a 1920 American silent Western film serial directed by Perry N. Vekroff. This is now considered to be a lost film. Cast * Stuart Holmes as Michael Casserly * Frankie Mann as Jane Creighton * Wilfred Lytell as Tom Care ...

'' (1920)

References

{{Reflist Film studios and soundstages in New Jersey Silent film studios Companies based in Jersey City, New Jersey Fort Lee, New Jersey