Under Southern Skies (1915)
Drama | 20 September 1915
Cast:
Mary Fuller, Charles Ogle, Clara Byers [ More ]Director:
Lucius HendersonWriter:
William Addison LathropProduction Company:
Universal Film Mfg. Co.The 13 Jun 1914 Motography announced the recent acquisition of motion picture rights by Popular Plays and Players for the 1901 play, Under Southern Skies by Lottie Blair Lathrop, also known as Lottie Blair Parker. Principal photography was to take place at Lubin Mfg. Co. studios in Philadelphia, PA. According to the 5 Jun 1914 Var, Lathrop’s husband, Harry Joel Parker, planned to assist in “staging” the picture. The 26 Jun 1914 issue identified the producers as Pierrot Film Co.
Several months later, the 28 Nov 1914 Var reported that Harry Joel Parker had cancelled the deal and was currently negotiating with another company. Nearly six months passed before the 15 May 1915 Motion Picture News announced that the play had been acquired by Universal Film Mfg. Co. Production was underway as of Jun 1915, indicated by the 2 Jul 1915 Var, which stated that the cast and crew were expected to return within the next several days from a location shoot in the southern U.S. Various sources have identified Savannah, GA, as the filming location. The conclusion of principal photography was reported in the 23 Jul 1915 Var.
Under Southern Skies opened on 20 Sep 1915. A positive review in the 28 Aug 1915 Motion Picture News described the sets and costumes as authentic to the 1860s South, and commended cast members Mary Fuller, Paul Panzer, and Milton Sills on their performances. It also made mention of actor Charles Ogle’s ill-fitting wig. A news item in the 9 Oct 1915 ...
The 13 Jun 1914 Motography announced the recent acquisition of motion picture rights by Popular Plays and Players for the 1901 play, Under Southern Skies by Lottie Blair Lathrop, also known as Lottie Blair Parker. Principal photography was to take place at Lubin Mfg. Co. studios in Philadelphia, PA. According to the 5 Jun 1914 Var, Lathrop’s husband, Harry Joel Parker, planned to assist in “staging” the picture. The 26 Jun 1914 issue identified the producers as Pierrot Film Co.
Several months later, the 28 Nov 1914 Var reported that Harry Joel Parker had cancelled the deal and was currently negotiating with another company. Nearly six months passed before the 15 May 1915 Motion Picture News announced that the play had been acquired by Universal Film Mfg. Co. Production was underway as of Jun 1915, indicated by the 2 Jul 1915 Var, which stated that the cast and crew were expected to return within the next several days from a location shoot in the southern U.S. Various sources have identified Savannah, GA, as the filming location. The conclusion of principal photography was reported in the 23 Jul 1915 Var.
Under Southern Skies opened on 20 Sep 1915. A positive review in the 28 Aug 1915 Motion Picture News described the sets and costumes as authentic to the 1860s South, and commended cast members Mary Fuller, Paul Panzer, and Milton Sills on their performances. It also made mention of actor Charles Ogle’s ill-fitting wig. A news item in the 9 Oct 1915 Moving Picture World noted that the film was in high demand from regional distributor Consolidated Film & Supply Co. of New Orleans, LA.
The 23 Oct 1915 Moving Picture World reported that the Paramount Theatre in Newark, NJ, held a “Mary Fuller Day” the previous Monday. In addition to screening her latest picture, Fuller made a personal appearance and gave “handsome souvenirs” to her fans.
A short documentary, also titled Under Southern Skies, was released on 5 Apr 1914 by the Educational Film Exchange.
Lelia Crofton, a Louisiana belle of the 1860's, intends to marry Burleigh Mavor. By chance, she witnesses one of her father's black stablemen making love to a neighbor's maid, whom she had assumed was white. The incident shocks Lelia and leaves a great impression upon her. When Lelia rejects suitor Steve Daubeney, he threatens to expose a damaging secret about her mother, whom abandoned her years earlier. Remembering the incident with the neighbor's maid, Lelia worries that her mother might be of African descent. Steve learns of her fears and leads her to believe that they are well-founded. To keep Steve from revealing her supposed secret, Lelia agrees to marry him. However, Mrs. Crofton interrupts the wedding to beg her daughter's forgiveness, and the marriage is halted after Steve’s deception has been revealed. Major Crofton swears revenge on Steve, but the young man has already disappeared from the plantation. At the start of the Civil War, Steve becomes a Confederate private while Burleigh is a commissioned officer. Steve captures Burleigh with the intent of tarring and feathering him, but Lelia is informed of the misdeed and rescues her fiancé. Later, as Burleigh and Lelia are about to exchange wedding vows, Steve attempts to kill his rival but is shot as a deserter before he can pull the trigger. After the war, Major and Mrs. Crofton are reunited, as are Lelia and Burleigh, who have just returned from their belated ...
Lelia Crofton, a Louisiana belle of the 1860's, intends to marry Burleigh Mavor. By chance, she witnesses one of her father's black stablemen making love to a neighbor's maid, whom she had assumed was white. The incident shocks Lelia and leaves a great impression upon her. When Lelia rejects suitor Steve Daubeney, he threatens to expose a damaging secret about her mother, whom abandoned her years earlier. Remembering the incident with the neighbor's maid, Lelia worries that her mother might be of African descent. Steve learns of her fears and leads her to believe that they are well-founded. To keep Steve from revealing her supposed secret, Lelia agrees to marry him. However, Mrs. Crofton interrupts the wedding to beg her daughter's forgiveness, and the marriage is halted after Steve’s deception has been revealed. Major Crofton swears revenge on Steve, but the young man has already disappeared from the plantation. At the start of the Civil War, Steve becomes a Confederate private while Burleigh is a commissioned officer. Steve captures Burleigh with the intent of tarring and feathering him, but Lelia is informed of the misdeed and rescues her fiancé. Later, as Burleigh and Lelia are about to exchange wedding vows, Steve attempts to kill his rival but is shot as a deserter before he can pull the trigger. After the war, Major and Mrs. Crofton are reunited, as are Lelia and Burleigh, who have just returned from their belated honeymoon.
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