The Spider and the Fly (1916)
Melodrama | 28 May 1916
According to an item in the 5 February 1916 Motion Picture News, exteriors for The Spider and the Fly were filmed in Kingston, Jamaica. The 26 February 1916 Motography noted that to film some scenes, director J. Gordon Edwards used his own invention, an "automatic camera," that required no cameraman.
Wid's commented that the "very melodramatic" story was "burdened with scores of very long and very emphatic melodramatic titles, which will register big with some audiences and seem funny to others. The frequent appearance of titles covering lapses of time, 'A week later,' 'A few weeks later,' and 'Six months later,' made necessary by the jumps of the story, interfered rather seriously with the offering because they finally became rather funny [to the audience]."
Variety listed Ethel Bruce in the role of Helen Lee, instead of Ethel Mantell. Mantell's name was also listed as Mandell during her short career.
The New York Clipper cited an 8 June 1916 release. A list in the 11 March 1916 Motography cited a 27 February 1916 release of The Spider and the Fly, but later issues updated the release date to 29 May 1916.
The National Film Preservation Board (NFPB) included this film on its list of Lost U.S. Silent Feature Films as of February 2021.
...
According to an item in the 5 February 1916 Motion Picture News, exteriors for The Spider and the Fly were filmed in Kingston, Jamaica. The 26 February 1916 Motography noted that to film some scenes, director J. Gordon Edwards used his own invention, an "automatic camera," that required no cameraman.
Wid's commented that the "very melodramatic" story was "burdened with scores of very long and very emphatic melodramatic titles, which will register big with some audiences and seem funny to others. The frequent appearance of titles covering lapses of time, 'A week later,' 'A few weeks later,' and 'Six months later,' made necessary by the jumps of the story, interfered rather seriously with the offering because they finally became rather funny [to the audience]."
Variety listed Ethel Bruce in the role of Helen Lee, instead of Ethel Mantell. Mantell's name was also listed as Mandell during her short career.
The New York Clipper cited an 8 June 1916 release. A list in the 11 March 1916 Motography cited a 27 February 1916 release of The Spider and the Fly, but later issues updated the release date to 29 May 1916.
The National Film Preservation Board (NFPB) included this film on its list of Lost U.S. Silent Feature Films as of February 2021.
In France, after killing his best friend in a drunken quarrel, Delano vows never to touch liquor again, but his resolve weakens when he falls in love with noted vamp Blanche Le Noir, and he soon becomes an alcoholic. Blanche herself prefers Lantier, whose daughter is saved from the vamp's influence by American Richard Lee, the young American she marries. Richard cannot save his own sister Helen from being seduced by Lantier, however, and so murders Lantier instead. Dying from too much alcohol and Blanche's neglect, Delano denounces the woman he loves. Afterward, Blanche finally sees the need to reform, finds religion, and goes into settlement ...
In France, after killing his best friend in a drunken quarrel, Delano vows never to touch liquor again, but his resolve weakens when he falls in love with noted vamp Blanche Le Noir, and he soon becomes an alcoholic. Blanche herself prefers Lantier, whose daughter is saved from the vamp's influence by American Richard Lee, the young American she marries. Richard cannot save his own sister Helen from being seduced by Lantier, however, and so murders Lantier instead. Dying from too much alcohol and Blanche's neglect, Delano denounces the woman he loves. Afterward, Blanche finally sees the need to reform, finds religion, and goes into settlement work.
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