''Erstwhile Susan'' is a 1919 American silent drama film directed by John S. Robertson, produced and distributed by Realart Pictures. It is based on a 1914 novel ''Barnabetta'' by Helen Reimensnyder Martin and later Broadway play ''Erstwhile Susan'' by Marian De Forest.

Minnie Maddern Fiske Minnie Maddern Fiske (born Marie Augusta Davey; December 19, 1865 – February 15, 1932), but often billed simply as Mrs. Fiske, was one of the leading American actresses of the late 19th and early 20th century. She also spearheaded the fig ...

starred in the Broadway play in 1916. This film version stars

Mary Alden Mary Maguire Alden (June 18, 1883 – July 2, 1946) was an American motion picture and stage actress. She was one of the first Broadway actresses to work in Cinema of the United States, Hollywood. Life Alden was born in New York City on June 1 ...

and Constance Binney, then an up-and-coming young actress. This film version, once thought to be lost, survives at the

Museum of Modern Art The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is an art museum located in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, on 53rd Street (Manhattan), 53rd Street between Fifth Avenue, Fifth and Sixth Avenues. MoMA's collection spans the late 19th century to the present, a ...

. ''Erstwhile Susan'' was the first film by Realart Films,

Adolph Zukor Adolph Zukor (; ; January 7, 1873 – June 10, 1976) was a Hungarian-American film producer best known as one of the three founders of Paramount Pictures.Obituary ''Variety Obituaries, Variety'' (June 16, 1976), p. 76. He produced one of Ameri ...

's offshoot affiliate of his Famous Players–Lasky enterprise.

Plot

As described in an adoption in the November 1919 issue of the film magazine ''Shadowland'', Barnabetta (Constance Binney) dreams of furthering her education, but her Mennonite father Jacob ( Bradley Barker) disapproves. Jacob later marries Erstwhile Susan (

), who has money and changes the family relationships, and sends Barnabetta to college. After graduation, she helps David Jordan (Jere Austin) run for the Senate, who then professes his love for her.

Cast

* Constance Binney as Barnabetta Dreary * Jere Austin as David Jordan * Alfred Hickman as Dr. Edgar Barrett *

as Erstwhile Susan * Anders Randolf as Barnaby Dreary * Georges Renavent as Emanuel Dreary * Bradley Barker as Jacob Dreary *Leslie Hunt as Albert Buchter *Clare Verdera (unidentified, uncredited role)

Preservation

A copy of the film survives at the Museum of Modern Art. ''Erstwhile Susan'' is the only Constance Binney film that survives in a complete form. All of her other work has been lost except for a single reel from '' First Love'' (1921).

References

External links

* * Martin, Helen Reimensnyder,
Barnabetta
', New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 1914 edition illustrated with scenes from the play ''Erstwhile Susan'' American silent feature films Silent American drama films 1919 films 1919 drama films Films based on American novels American films based on plays Paramount Pictures films Films directed by John S. Robertson American black-and-white films Films based on multiple works 1910s American films 1910s English-language films {{1910s-drama-film-stub