Beatrice Fairfax

Beatrice Fairfax is an American silent film serial directed and produced by Leopold Wharton and Theodore Wharton. First released on August 7, 1916, the series consists of 15 weekly episodes and features the character of "Beatrice Fairfax" (Grace Darling). The character was inspired by the popular newspaper advice column Ask Beatrice Fairfax, which had been the world's first column of its kind when launched in 1898. The weekly film serial was a popular genre of the time, and the films' producers, the Wharton brothers, also made serials such as The Exploits of Elaine. However, Beatrice Fairfax is more accurately a series, since the episodes consist of self-contained stories rather than a linked serial narrative. Overview The two protagonists were played by Grace Darling and Harry Fox, the comedian and vaudeville dancer. In the films, the Beatrice character was portrayed as a resourceful agony aunt-cum-crimefighter, working with her reporter colleague Jimmy Barton to investigate and solve the problems sent in by her troubled readers. Cast Grace Darling: Beatrice Fairfax (All episodes) Harry Fox: Jimmy Barton (All episodes) Betty Howe: Dorothy McRay/Jean Moore/Margaret Payne/Jane Hamlin/Alice Masters Nigel Barrie: Donald Jordan/Bert Kerrigan/Jane Hamlin's Boyfriend/Hanson Bessie Wharton: Madame Laurette/Mrs. Raven/Mrs. Malone/Mrs. Ainsley/Old Woman (Episode 12) George Connor: George McCabe/San De Fargo (Episode 1)/John Miles/Crook in Derby (Episode 12)/Sam Allan Murnane: Waldo Conley/Robert Wells Wellington Playter: David/Clinton Harding Evelyn Farris: Gladys Hanson/Dorothy Dane F.W. Stewart: Pete Raven/James Wells Mae Hopkins: Martha Ainsley/Madeline Grey Elsie Baker: Marie Bocetti/Anna Cortes/Maid Maurice Bond: Arturo Bocetti/Burglar (Episode 11) Robin H. Townley: Baby-napper (Episode 7) Dick Bennard: "Mme. Galliard" Olive Thomas: Rita Malone (Episode 10) M.W. Rale: Shara Ali Yumiko Nagahara: Mimosa San Mary Cranston: Madge Minturn Leroy Baker: Brayton Warner Oland: Police Commissioner Frances White: Principal character (Episode 1) Elaine Hammerstein: Secretary (Episode 14) Wesley Ruggles Bruce McRae