Ghosts | 1915 | Drama

Title: Ghosts | 1915 | Drama Director: George Nichols Studio: Majestic Motion Picture Company Starring: Henry B. Walthall, Mary Alden, Nigel de Brulier, Loretta Blake, Juanita Archer, Thomas Jefferson, Al W. Filson Based on: Ghosts by Henrik Ibsen Release Date: June 1915 Runtime: 58 Format: Silent, black-and-white, 35mm, 1.33:1, five reels Country: United States Language: Silent Genres: Drama --- Chapters: 00:00:00 Homecoming and Orphanage Plans 00:12:00 Pastor’s Counsel 00:25:00 Letters and Confessions 00:39:00 Orphanage Fire 00:50:00 Oswald’s Collapse --- Summary: Helen Alving prepares to dedicate an orphanage in memory of her late husband just as her son Oswald returns from Paris. The arrival of Pastor Manders and the presence of the maid Regina stir long-buried secrets about the family’s past. Through revelations of infidelity, inherited illness, and concealed parentage, the household confronts the social “ghosts” of reputation and hypocrisy. The orphanage’s destruction underscores the futility of attempts to erase the past, culminating in a stark confrontation between maternal devotion and moral dread. --- Background: Produced by D. W. Griffith for Majestic and released as a Mutual Masterpicture, the film adapts Henrik Ibsen’s controversial drama for American audiences. Directed by George Nichols and shot at the Majestic-Reliance studios on Sunset Boulevard, it survives as an example of early feature-length social drama. The picture was re-edited and reissued for state-rights distribution in 1919 under the title The Curse. --- Trivia: Erich von Stroheim worked behind the scenes as technical advisor and wardrobe assistant and is reported to appear briefly on screen. Character names are anglicized from the play , and the film adds a prominent family doctor character. A print is preserved at the Library of Congress, with additional holdings reported at the George Eastman Museum and UCLA Film & Television Archive. A staged opening tableau presents Henrik Ibsen himself, portrayed by Carl Formes. Trade reports in 1915 noted that Henry B. Walthall plays both the father and the adult son. The film circulated under alternate titles, including The Wreck as a working title and The Curse for the 1919 reissue. --- Public Domain / Rights: Original Release: June 1915 Original Studio / Distributor: Majestic Motion Picture Company / Mutual Film Corporation Copyright Status: Public Domain Renewal: No --- Hashtags: Ghosts 1915 SilentFilm PublicDomain HenrikIbsen DWGriffith HenryBWalthall MaryAlden MutualFilm MajesticMotionPicture Source page: https: //www.loc.gov/item/91789743/ Direct media URL: https: //tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/mbrs/ntscrm/00018697/00018697.mp4