When it comes to movies, mention of “Friday the 13th” immediately brings to mind Jason Voorhees, the serial killer of the famous film franchise. For contemporary film historians, this specific movie title would also be found among the filmographies of British actress Jessie Matthews from 1933, in addition to being a subtitle for a little-known horror film released in 1979: “Friday the 13th: The Orphan”. Going back further in Hollywood history, one might be surprised to discover that the ominous sounding title would be used more than a few times, specifically in comedies – silent film comedies, no less, usually in the film short format, or what is known as a 35mm, 2-reel film. Of the five silent films below, only one is a feature-length drama. Sadly, the survival rate of these “Friday the 13th” silent films are very low, and consumer availability is mentioned in only two entries.
Friday, the 13th (1908)
A silent comedy film short produced by Selig Polyscope, not much information exists on “Friday the 13th” released in March 1908. Some Hollywood trade publications give a synopsis of the 670 foot long film, but as sometimes is in the case of silent film shorts, no mention is made of who appeared in it. It is also unknown if this silent film short survived or is considered lost. In The Billboard March 21, 1908, “Friday the 13th” is advertised as being “A gloom-dispelling innovation of extreme disasters” in a one-page ad for Selig Films. Views and Films Index dated March 21, 1908 gives a somewhat complete synopsis which can only be described as “If something bad can happen on Friday the 13th, it will happen.” Taking place in a well-to-do home in the opening scene where a maid is preparing breakfast, numerous incidents happen to her. When the woman of the house enters the dining room, ready to eat the morning meal, the food is not yet ready. Soon her husband enters, ready to start the day, hungry, and demands the maid bring in breakfast. A mishap causes the tablecloth to pull off all the dishes, landing on the floor with a tremendous clatter. Giving up on trying to eat food that is not even thoroughly cooked, he leaves for work, only to encounter more mishaps, including being beaten up by two men who he supposedly attempted to pry apart, occupied in a fistfight with each other before he came along.
No doubt “Friday the 13th” from 1908 sounds entertaining, hopefully more information such as the director and the actors who appeared in it will one way be made known.
Friday the Thirteenth (1916)
For those who enjoy a drama dealing with the world of finance plus a political slant, “Friday the Thirteenth” from 1916 will attract interest. Directed by Émile Chautard, “Friday the Thirteenth” was produced by World Film Corporation and starred Robert Warwick. Based on the novel of the same name, published in 1907 and written by Thomas W. Lawson, this silent film also had the following actors appear in it: Clarence Harvey, Charles Brandt, Gerda Holmes, Montagu Love, and Leonore Harris. While “Friday the Thirteenth” is a lost film, it is feature length, meaning it ran 50 minutes long, or five 35mm reels in length. The story is based on Wall Street and the stock exchange, with Warwick in the title role of Robert Brownley, a highly successful stockbroker whose family ends up destroyed by the stock market – and seeks justice in return.
According to a review of this silent film in The Moving Picture World dated June 17, 1916, Warwick and Chautard traveled to Boston to meet with the author to discuss filming details to make it as authentically close to the novel as possible. While stills from “Friday the Thirteenth” 1916 have survived, hopefully this silent film itself will be rediscovered one day.
Friday the 13th (1922)
Another silent comedy short, “Friday the 13th” from 1922 stars Paul Parrott as Superstitious Sammy, a character who is reticent on getting married to Jobyna Ralston on the date of Friday the thirteenth. Actors Eddie Baker, Wallace Howe, Mark Jones, and George Rowe join in on the laughter in this film short Produced by Hal Roach and directed by James D. Davis for Pathé Comedy. According to a review of this silent comedy in Motion Picture News, July 22, 1922, Parrott habitually engages in superstitious behaviors: he avoids walking under ladders, salt spilling, but has trouble when it comes to black cats, who for some reason have a way of outsmarting him. Even a dummy black cat containing a stick of dynamite and carried into the church does not deter the wedding ceremony from taking place.
James Parrott, better known as Paul Parrott, was a comic discovery by producer Hal Roach in the early 1920’s. As a piece of silent film fun trivia, Parrott was the younger brother of Charley Chase, one of Hollywood’s silent film comedians. Luckily, “Friday the 13th” from 1922 survived and is available on a hard-to-find DVD titled “Roach Volume 1: The Brothers Parrott” on the label Looser than Loose released in 2007.
Friday, the Thirteenth (1922)
Can you imagine having all of your bad luck taking place on the day before Friday the Thirteenth? That is what happens to Eddie Boland in a silent film comedy short of the same name. On Thursday, which happens to be the twelfth of the month, Boland manages to set down his umbrella, which is then picked up by another lady near the city park, thinking that it is hers. Of course, Boland tries to get it back, explaining to the lady’s husband that it is really his umbrella and not hers. Returning home dejected and without his umbrella, Boland tells his wife, played by Gertrude Olmstead, that he is in no mood to deal with anything happening to him the next day, and decides to sleep Friday the thirteenth away until Saturday morning.
Directed by Craig Hutchinson, “Friday, the Thirteenth” was produced by Star Comedies and distributed by Universal Pictures. It is unknown if this silent film comedy survived or not.
Friday the Thirteenth (1923)
A two-minute fragment of “Friday the Thirteenth” 1923 has survived from this silent film short and can be viewed on the DVD “The Marcel Perez Collection” vol. 2 from Undercrank Productions. Directed by and starring Marcel Perez, the fragment depicts him having to contend with a toothache which he is unable to resolve. While the name may seem to be unknown among some fans of silent film comedy shorts, Marcel Fernández Peréz was an international star since the early 1910’s when he started his career in Italy. Born in Madrid, Spain in 1885, Perez relocated to the United Stated during the later 1910’s and filmed comedy shorts for small production companies like Schiller Productions and Jester Comedy Company. Often using the character name of Tweedledum, Twede-Dan or just plain Tweedy, Perez often delivered a top-notch performance that resulted in peals of laughter from the audience. Perez also directed other silent film stars like Pete Morrison, Alyce Ardell and William F. Moran.
Image Credit: The Moving Picture World, June 17, 1916. Lantern Media History.
