Expert: DM - 11/18/2009

Question
I have an aunt who was in the silent movies in the 1900's to 1940's her name was Frances Barnham. I was wondering if you had any information on her and what movies she did. Thanks for your time Jim

Answer
Dear Jim,
Your questions pleases me to answer as best I can. Frances Burnham (note the spelling difference in the last name) was an actress said to have been born in 1898. She was in motion pictures for a while during the 1910s and 1920s. The following are the films in which she is credited with having played a role:

Who's Your Servant? (1920)(as Dorothy Taylor)
The Price Woman Pays (1919)(as Violet)
As the Sun Went Down (1919)(as Mabel Morton)
On the Jump (1918) (as Margaret Desmond)
Lorelei of the Sea (1917)aka A Modern Lorelei (as Lorelei)
The Love Thief (1916)aka The She Tiger (as Clare Nelson)
Put Me Off at Wayville (1915) (as Babe Green, a Newlywed)

Her known list of accredited titles is short. Whether any of these films survive is a big question. More research by you may determine if any of the films have survived or if they are available for viewing. I would suggest that you contact some of the following sources for information about that:

MOVIES UNLIMITED
http://www.moviesunlimited.com

NOSTALGIA FAMILY VIDEO
http://www.hollywoodsattic.com/

GRAPEVINE VIDEO
http://www.grapevinevideo.com/

LIFE'S A MOVIE
http://www.lifeisamovie.com/

FLICKER ALLEY
http://www.flickeralley.com/

ROBERTS HARD TO FIND MOVIES
http://www.robertsvideos.com/index.php3

ASHFAULTS CLASSIC MOVIES
www.ashfaultsclassicmovies.com
E-mail: ashfault@earthlink.net

You might also explore this web site and look for any old magazine articles or interviews:
OLD MAGAZINES.COM SITE
http://www.oldmagazinearticles.com

I would also suggest that you post a question for information, photographs, or other memorabilia on these web sites and see what other silent film fans around the world might happen to own:

SILENT GOOGLE GROUP SITE
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.movies.silent/topics?hl=en

NITRATEVILLE.COM SITE
http://www.nitrateville.com/index.php

Another great source for researchers is to subscribe for 30 days to newspaperarchive.com and type in the actress' name in the search field as a keyword and see what newspaper articles may come up:

NEWSPAPERARCHIVE
http://www.newspaperarchive.com

You might also research:
The Margaret Herrick Library at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
333. S. La Cienega Blvd.
Beverly Hills, Ca. 90210
Telephone: 310.657.3020

American Film Institute
Telephone: 213.856.7660

Best of luck to you with your continued research.

Sincerely,
David W. Menefee

David W. Menefee is the author of:


Sarah Bernhardt in the Theater of Films and Sound Recordings (Foreword by Kevin Brownlow)
www.mcfarlandpub.com Telephone (336) 246-4460


The First Female Stars: Women of the Silent Era
www.greenwood.com
US telephone 1-800-225-5800
Order by e-mail: orders@greenwood.com

The First Male Stars: Men of the Silent Era
www.bearmanormedia.bizland.com
Bear Manor Media
PO BOX 71426
Albany, GA 31708
Telephone: (229) 436-4265      

Richard Barthelmess: A Life in Pictures
www.bearmanormedia.com
Bear Manor Media
PO BOX 71426
Albany, GA 31708
Telephone: (229) 436-4265     


Please visit my web site:
www.thegreatstars.com

for many other exciting films and recordings of great stars in great plays that I have located around the world. You're certain to find several you will want for your own library, or to give as a gift, including:

Mothers of France starring Sarah Bernhardt.
Restored film with orchestra score on new DVD

Camille starring Sarah Bernhardt.
Restored film with orchestra score on new DVD.

Queen Elizabeth starring Sarah Bernhardt
Restored film with orchestra score on new DVD.

Sarah Bernhardt in Performance
18 restored recordings on one CD,
plus the Sarah Bernhardt 101 Photo CD Album

Cenere, the only motion picture ever made
starring theater legend Eleonora Duse.
Restored film with orchestra score on new DVD.

Madame X with Broadway legend Jane Cowl
Restored radio dramatization on new CD.
Full cast, music, and sound effects.

Pygmalion with Broadway legends Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne.
Restored radio dramatization on new CD.
Full cast, music, and sound effects.

Peg O' My Heart with Broadway legend Laurette Taylor.
Restored radio dramatization on new CD.
Full cast, music, and sound effects.

John Barrymore performing excerpts from Hamlet and Twelfth Night.
Restored audio recordings of America's greatest actor on new CD.
Full cast, music, and sound effects.