Florence La Badie

Acting

Florence La Badie

Born 1888-04-26 · New York City, New York, USA

Florence La Badie (April 27, 1888 – October 13, 1917) was an American actress in the early days of the silent film era. Though little known today, she was a major star between 1911 and 1917. Her career was at its height when she died at age 29 from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. In 1911, her career took a leap when she was hired by Edwin Thanhouser of the Thanhouser Film Corporation in New Rochelle, New York. With her sophistication and beauty, Florence La Badie soon became Thanhouser's most prominent actress, appearing in dozens of films over the next two years. Her most remembered films of that period were The Tempest (1911), Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1912), a film adaptation of the Robert Louis Stevenson story, and the first film of Shakespeare's Cymbeline (1914). Her most well-known work was in the 1914 - 1915 serial, The Million Dollar Mystery. Athletic and daring, in these films she performed all her own stunts. In 1915, she was featured in the magazine Reel Life, which described her as "the Beautiful and talented Florence La Badie, of the Thanhouser Studios, conceded one of the foremost of American screen players". Over a course of six years La Badie's career had taken her to top-billing as a film actress.

Acting credits

No artwork available
NR

A blind princess is informed that her sight can be restored by the first kiss of unselfish love she receives. She remains blind until a humble poet steals a kiss.

The Blind Princess and the Poet

1911

Undine poster
NR

In the days long ago when knights were brave and venturesome, enchanted forests grew and mythical creatures lived among us.

Undine

1912

No artwork available
8.0

Prospero, the rightful Duke of Milan, is a kindly man, but a student. His fondness for literature gives his enemies a chance to plot against him, and through the machinations of his own brother, Antonio, and the King of Naples, Prospero is dethroned and Antonio assumes his throne.

The Tempest

1911

No artwork available
NR

The Parson and his friend Pete, a worthless inebriate of the village, in a drunken sleep by the roadside. His cure has been tried often, but in vain. The Parson's friend suggests a novel scheme, that of taking him to his home, waking him there and make him believe he is in paradise; then feeding him wine until he is asleep again, placing him back in the same place in the road. The scheme worked to perfection and it looks as if the village saloon will get no more of Pete's money for drink.

Paradise Lost

1911

No artwork available
NR

The young son of a wealthy Mexican house returns home from school. He is the only son of a widowed mother, whose heart beats only for him. He becomes fascinated by a pretty but low barmaid, who really returns his love, he being the first person she has truly loved.

Her Sacrifice

1911

Tannhäuser poster
5.0

Dramatic three-reel film based on Wagner's opera of chivalry and spiritual struggle. Wandering minstrel Tannhauser wins the heart of Elizabeth, niece of the powerful Landgrave. Later, under the spell of Venus and her nymphs, Tannhauser passes into Venusberg, a netherworld of earthly pleasures. Returning to the Landgrave's court, he praises Venus in song and sparks the righteous anger of all present. His own prayers and those of Elizabeth free him from enchantment and he takes up the habit of a monk, devoting himself to God. He sets off to seek absolution in Rome while Elizabeth waits at court, ever weakening in his absence.

Tannhäuser

1913

No artwork available
NR

When Mary Murdock is forced by circumstances to choose between the street and theft, she is caught breaking into the home of Robert Howard and is sentenced to prison. Unable to find employment after serving her prison term, Mary seeks out Howard and finds him about to commit suicide, depressed over his wife's leaving him for another man. Mary saves his life and convinces him to champion the cause of prison reform, in which he proves so successful that he is appointed warden, placing him in conflict with the political boss.

Her Life and His

1917

Taming a Husband poster
NR

Neglected by a husband too engrossed by his activities and social obligations, a woman convinces a girlfriend to dress as a man and make love to her openly in the hope to arouse her spouse’s jealousy. Dressed as a male, her friend causes a commotion among the couple’s acquaintances. When the husband eventually catches the newcomer making overtures to his wife, he challenges his rival to a duel.

Taming a Husband

1910

Master Shakespeare, Strolling Player poster
10.0

Unable to agree on the man responsible for the plays commonly attributed to William Shakespeare, Miss Gray, who favors Francis Bacon, and Lieutenant Stanton, who accepts Shakespeare as the author, break off their engagement. Stanton then arranges to be transferred to the Mexican border, and while fighting there is badly wounded. When she hears the news about Stanton's condition, Miss Gray faints, and then dreams that she has been transported to Elizabethan times. Then, after Bacon falls in love with her, she discovers his obsessive jealousy of Shakespeare, and learns that he has bribed a courtier to accuse him of stealing Bacon's plays. As a result, when Miss Gray wakes up, she realizes that she has championed the wrong poet, and so she immediately is reconciled with Stanton, who soon recovers from his wound.

Master Shakespeare, Strolling Player

1916

No artwork available
NR

Marta asks her husband Jose to buy her a new dress she saw at the market. On his way home, he goes with a friend to a saloon and drunkenly gives the dress to a barmaid. At home Jose tells his wife he lost the dress. She retraces his steps and finds the barmaid modeling her new dress. Faced with the truth, she goes mad.

The New Dress

1911

The Two Paths poster
NR

Two sisters, Nellie and Florence, support themselves and their mother by sewing. A man accompanying a wealthy client tempts first Nellie and then Florence to leave with him. Nellie rejects him, but Florence goes to his decadent apartment and becomes his mistress. Nellie marries a diligent carpenter and raises a growing family. Eventually the Tempter tosses Florence out, and she dies alone and impoverished.

The Two Paths

1911

Little Brother poster
NR

They were the model engaged couple at the summer resort until, well, until they quarreled. They were members of a crabbing party, and May caught the biggest one that had ever been seen at Cape May, but Jack foozled with the landing net and fell overboard.

Little Brother

1913

No artwork available
NR

A convent-raised girl falls under her father's executor's dark influence after her uncle dies. As she turns to evil and threatens society with her wealth, a doctor helps restore her true nature.

Saint, Devil and Woman

1916

No artwork available
8.0

A man of dominating personality by exceptional ability arose from the humble position of foreman of a railroad section gang, to that of a millionaire, before whom most men bowed. He owed his early start in life to the kindly favor of a railway president, and when he became a master of millions he graciously consented to keep this official in his position. At a reception in the president's house the millionaire met the daughter of his host, and decided to marry her.

A Master of Millions

1911

No artwork available
NR

A tramp overhears a rancher's plans to go to town for the ranch's payroll. He tries to enlist another loafer (the Knight) to help with a robbery. Instead, the Knight helps thwart the robbery.

A Knight of the Road

1911

No artwork available
7.0

Dave is sweet on May and she likes him, so while he is sitting with her on the front steps, he all togged out in his glad clothes, his boy pals play a trick on him by sending him a note about a certain Clarice. Of course, Clarice is a myth, but may is too jealous to believe his denial, so sends poor Dave away. The boys, however, are sorry when they see their grief-stricken pal so down in the mouth, and hasten to right the wrong their joke had occasioned. Dave now realizes that the course of true love ne'er did run smooth.

Dave's Love Affair

1911

No artwork available
NR

When John Wilson comes home drunk, his marriage collapses, and he agrees to live separately from his wife in their apartment. His evenings now free, he takes up with a socialite, but uncomfortable with her social ambition, forgets to attend a dinner party she has thrown in his honor. To atone, he buys her an extravagant diamond pin, but before he can deliver it he sees an old suitor leaving his wife’s side of the apartment. Consumed first by jealousy, then remorse, he discovers he still loves the woman he married. A child next door finds the diamond pin while playing in the Wilson apartment and innocently takes it to Mrs. Wilson. Misreading the attached note, Mrs. Wilson assumes the pin is meant as a peace offering and takes her husband back.

The Diamond Star

1911

When a Count Counted poster
10.0

The pretty young stenographer in a New York lawyer's office had two weeks' vacation coining to her, and decided for once in her life she would cut a dash in society. She expended what for her was an enormous amount of money on clothes, and went to a fashionable seashore resort.

When a Count Counted

1912

No artwork available
NR

Before Tom departs for the city, he becomes engaged to Kate. She gives him half of her broken pendant cross, with the agreement that either can end the engagement by sending his or her half to the other. In a city boarding house, Tom is vamped by a flirtatious manicurist who learns of the agreement and sends Tom half a cross, pretending it is from Kate. Tom realizes he has been tricked and returns to the country and his fiancée.

The Broken Cross

1911

No artwork available
NR

Mary, an orphan, comes to live with her aunt. Being in rather poor health and what some might call homely, the poor girl despairs of ever receiving any attention either from her pretty cousins or their gentlemen friends. One of the cousins, however, who is an athletic girl, takes her in hand. The first dose of medicine is a bout at boxing, then a run along the country road, followed by a cold plunge. This is kept up daily for two months, at the end of which time no one would know Mary, such a transformation having taken place. The other girls are now in fearful dread of losing their sweethearts, as they seem too well pleased with the result.

How She Triumphed

1911

No artwork available
7.0

During the French and Indian War, Col. Munro’s daughters journeying to Fort William Henry are betrayed by guide Magua. Hawkeye and Mohicans rescue them, but Hurons capture Cora. Uncas dies saving her; Hawkeye avenges him, symbolizing the Mohicans’ demise.

The Last of the Mohicans

1911

No artwork available
NR

Jose becomes engaged to Pepita, but still has eyes for Mariana. He runs off with Mariana, but he is accidentally blinded, and she deserts him. Pepita discovers him wandering blindly, and forgives him.

The Spanish Gypsy

1911

No artwork available
1.5

An escaped convict takes refuge in the home of a police officer out on duty. He seizes the officer's daughter and pulls her into a window recess, with a pistol to her head. The officer returns and discovers the convict's hat. He suspect his wife is concealing an affair and she must avoid revealing the convict's presence for the sake of their daughter.

In the Window Recess

1909

No artwork available
8.0

A society girl, admired and courted by many men is still indifferent to one and all.

As It Was in the Beginning

1912