''Daybreak'' is a 1918 American silent

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...

directed by

Albert Capellani Albert Capellani (23 August 1874 – 26 September 1931) was a French film director and screenwriter of the silent film, silent era. He directed films between 1905 and 1922. One of his brothers was the actor-sculptor Paul Capellani, and anoth ...

. The film is considered to be lost.

Plot

As described in a

film magazine Film periodicals combine discussion of individual films, genres and directors with in-depth considerations of the medium and the conditions of its production and reception. Their articles contrast with film reviewing in newspapers and magazines whi ...

, Edith Frome (Stevens) finds it impossible to live with her husband Arthur (L'Estrange), who overindulges in liquor, and finally leaves him. After a separation of three years, she returns. Each evening she goes out and returns late, which arouses the suspicion of her husband. He has his secretary follow her and learns that she visits a child. Because of her friendliness with Dr. David Brett (Phillips), Arthur suspects the worst and institutes divorce proceedings. Edith tells him the truth concerning the child and Arthur, realizing his folly with his debauches, swears off liquor and they are reunited.

Cast

* Emily Stevens as Edith Frome *

Julian L'Estrange Julian L'Estrange (born Julian Boyle; 6 August 1880 – 22 October 1918) was an English-born stage actor who later made a handful of silent films for Paramount Pictures. He married fellow performer Constance Collier at All Saints Church in Londo ...

as Arthur Frome *

Herman Lieb Hermann Lieb (also known as Herman Lieb;Eicher p.348 May 23, 1826 – March 5, 1908) was a Swiss people, Swiss immigrant to the United States who served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He is best remembered as the commander of ...

as Herbert Rankin *

Augustus Phillips Augustus Phillips (August 1, 1874 – September 29, 1944) was an American actor. He appeared in 134 films between 1910 and 1921. After 11 years of performing in stock theater, vision problems led Phillips to begin acting in films for the E ...

as Dr. David Brett *

Francis Joyner Francis may refer to: People and characters *Pope Francis, head of the Catholic Church (2013–2025) *Francis (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters *Francis (surname) * Francis, a character played by YouTuber Boogie29 ...

as Carl Peterson (credited as Frank Joyner) *

Evelyn Brent Evelyn Brent (born Mary Elizabeth Riggs; October 20, 1895 – June 4, 1975) was an American film and stage actress. Early life Brent was born in Tampa, Florida and known as "Betty." When she was 10 years old, her mother Eleanor ( Warner) die ...

as Det. Alma Peterson *

Joseph Daly Joseph is a common male name, derived from the Hebrew (). "Joseph" is used, along with " Josef", mostly in English, French and partially German languages. This spelling is also found as a variant in the languages of the modern-day Nordic count ...

as Otway (credited as Joe Daly) * Evelyn Axzell as Meta Thompson (credited as Mrs. Evelyn Axzell)

Reception

Like many American films of the time, ''Daybreak'' was subject to cuts by city and state film censorship boards. For example, the

Chicago Board of Censors The Chicago Board of Censors was a film censorship committee based in Chicago that was founded in 1907 as the Police Censor Board, and operated until 1984. It was the first film censorship board in the United States. The board had great influence o ...

cut two intertitles, "Now I know the truth — you have a child and Dr. Brett is the —" and "Yes and I know who's the father", and a shooting scene.

References

External links

* {{Albert Capellani 1918 films 1918 drama films 1918 lost films 1910s American films 1910s English-language films American black-and-white films American silent feature films English-language drama films Films based on works by Jane Cowl Films based on works by Jane Murfin Films directed by Albert Capellani Lost American drama films Lost silent American films Silent American drama films