Kathlyn Williams

Kathlyn Williams was born Kathleen Mabel Williams on May 31, 1879 in Butte, Montana, and the only child born to Joseph Edwin "Frank" Williams, a boarding house proprietor, and Mary C. Boe (1846–1908) of Welsh and Norwegian descent. Many biographies state her birth year as 1888; however, she is listed on the 1880 United States Census as being a year old. Williams displayed an early interest in becoming an actress in her youth which lead her to become a member of a community thespian group. She also joined the Woman's Relief Corps that allowed her to showcase her vocal prowess at local recitals. Williams began her career with Selig Polyscope Company in Chicago, Illinois and made her first film in 1908 under the direction of Francis Boggs. By 1910, she was transferred to the company's Los Angeles film studio. Williams played "Cherry Malotte" in the first movie based upon Rex Beach's 1906 novel The Spoilers in 1914, a role portrayed in subsequent versions by Betty Compson (1930), Marlene Dietrich (1942), and Anne Baxter (1955). In 1916, she starred in the thirteen episode adventure film serial, The Adventures of Kathlyn. She was busy throughout the silent film era but age and the advent of talkies saw her make only five sound films, the last in 1935. Kathlyn evolved from a comedian and serial player in silents to portraying character roles in the early 1930s. Williams was married three times. Although many biographies erroneously cite her first husband as being Victor ...

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Souls for Sale (1923)

A young woman hits Hollywood, determined to become a star.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rupert Hughes
CAST:  Eleanor Boardman  •  Frank Mayo  •  Richard Dix  •  Mae Busch

A young woman hits Hollywood, determined to become a star.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rupert Hughes
CAST:  Eleanor Boardman  •  Frank Mayo  •  Richard Dix  •  Mae Busch

Wanderer of the Wasteland (1924)

Wanderer of the Wasteland is a 1924 American color silent Western film directed by Irvin Willat and starring Jack Holt, Noah Beery, and Billie Dove.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Irvin Willat
CAST:  Jack Holt  •  Noah Beery  •  George Irving  •  Kathlyn Williams

Wanderer of the Wasteland is a 1924 American color silent Western film directed by Irvin Willat and starring Jack Holt, Noah Beery, and Billie Dove.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Irvin Willat
CAST:  Jack Holt  •  Noah Beery  •  George Irving  •  Kathlyn Williams

Our Dancing Daughters (1928)

A flapper sets her hat for a man with a hard-drinking wife.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Harry Beaumont
CAST:  Joan Crawford  •  Johnny Mack Brown  •  Nils Asther  •  Dorothy Sebastian

A flapper sets her hat for a man with a hard-drinking wife.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Harry Beaumont
CAST:  Joan Crawford  •  Johnny Mack Brown  •  Nils Asther  •  Dorothy Sebastian

The Adventures of Kathlyn (1913)

The serial detailed the experiences of Kathlyn Hare, the pretty daughter of an explorer. Kathlyn resided in a mythical India, fighting off unwanted advances from a handsome native, Umballah, when not battling an endless array of ferocious jungle fauna.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Francis J. Grandon
CAST:  Kathlyn Williams  •  Charles Clary  •  Horace B. Carpenter  •  Lafe McKee

The serial detailed the experiences of Kathlyn Hare, the pretty daughter of an explorer. Kathlyn resided in a mythical India, fighting off unwanted advances from a handsome native, Umballah, when not battling an endless array of ferocious jungle fauna.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Francis J. Grandon
CAST:  Kathlyn Williams  •  Charles Clary  •  Horace B. Carpenter  •  Lafe McKee

Unholy Love (1932)

An adaptation of Madame Bovary transported to Rye, New York in the 1930's. All characters have been renamed.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Albert Ray
CAST:  H.B. Warner  •  Lila Lee  •  Beryl Mercer  •  Joyce Compton

An adaptation of Madame Bovary transported to Rye, New York in the 1930's. All characters have been renamed.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Albert Ray
CAST:  H.B. Warner  •  Lila Lee  •  Beryl Mercer  •  Joyce Compton

The Wanderer (1925)

Jether, a shepherd, is lured from his home by Tisha, priestess of the goddess Ishtar. He journeys to the city of Babylon, where he lavishes Tisha with gifts and spends his share of his father's wealth on riotous living.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Raoul Walsh
CAST:  Greta Nissen  •  William Collier Jr.  •  Ernest Torrence  •  Wallace Beery

Jether, a shepherd, is lured from his home by Tisha, priestess of the goddess Ishtar. He journeys to the city of Babylon, where he lavishes Tisha with gifts and spends his share of his father's wealth on riotous living.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Raoul Walsh
CAST:  Greta Nissen  •  William Collier Jr.  •  Ernest Torrence  •  Wallace Beery

Big Timber (1917)

Stella Benton, a young society girl who has lost her beautiful voice through the death of her father, goes to live with her brother Charles, in the lumber camp. Charles Benton is having a struggle to make both ends meet, and when his cook quits, he makes his sister ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  William Desmond Taylor
CAST:  Kathlyn Williams  •  Wallace Reid  •  Joe King  •  Alfred Paget

Stella Benton, a young society girl who has lost her beautiful voice through the death of her father, goes to live with her brother Charles, in the lumber camp. Charles Benton is having a struggle to make both ends meet, and when his cook quits, he makes his sister ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  William Desmond Taylor
CAST:  Kathlyn Williams  •  Wallace Reid  •  Joe King  •  Alfred Paget

Morals (1921)

Reared in a Turkish harem and threatened with marriage to a man she does not love, Carlotta escapes to London with an English adventurer. When he is killed, she is left destitute and attaches herself to Sir Marcus Ordeyne and begs his protection. He takes her home ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  William Desmond Taylor
CAST:  May McAvoy  •  William P. Carleton  •  Marion Skinner  •  Nick De Ruiz

Reared in a Turkish harem and threatened with marriage to a man she does not love, Carlotta escapes to London with an English adventurer. When he is killed, she is left destitute and attaches herself to Sir Marcus Ordeyne and begs his protection. He takes her home ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  William Desmond Taylor
CAST:  May McAvoy  •  William P. Carleton  •  Marion Skinner  •  Nick De Ruiz

Road to Paradise (1930)

Loretta Young plays dual roles in this 1930 crime drama about a young thief planning to steal jewels from a wealthy socialite.  (more)

DIRECTION:  William Beaudine
CAST:  Loretta Young  •  Jack Mulhall  •  Raymond Hatton  •  Purnell Pratt

Loretta Young plays dual roles in this 1930 crime drama about a young thief planning to steal jewels from a wealthy socialite.  (more)

DIRECTION:  William Beaudine
CAST:  Loretta Young  •  Jack Mulhall  •  Raymond Hatton  •  Purnell Pratt

The World's Applause (1923)

Corinne d'Alys (Daniels) achieves sudden success on the stage and among her many admirers is noted artist Robert Townsend (Menjou). Robert is married to Elsa (Williams), the sister of John Elliott (Stone), the producer responsible for Corinne's rise to fame. The ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  William C. de Mille
CAST:  Bebe Daniels  •  Lewis Stone  •  Kathlyn Williams  •  Adolphe Menjou

Corinne d'Alys (Daniels) achieves sudden success on the stage and among her many admirers is noted artist Robert Townsend (Menjou). Robert is married to Elsa (Williams), the sister of John Elliott (Stone), the producer responsible for Corinne's rise to fame. The ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  William C. de Mille
CAST:  Bebe Daniels  •  Lewis Stone  •  Kathlyn Williams  •  Adolphe Menjou

Conrad in Quest of His Youth (1920)

Conrad Warrener, a man of near middle-age, reflects nostalgically on the happy times of his youth and decides to recapture them. However, what he learns about the "second time around" is neither what he expected nor what he hoped for.  (more)

DIRECTION:  William C. de Mille
CAST:  Thomas Meighan  •  Mabel Van Buren  •  Mayme Kelso  •  Bertram Johns

Conrad Warrener, a man of near middle-age, reflects nostalgically on the happy times of his youth and decides to recapture them. However, what he learns about the "second time around" is neither what he expected nor what he hoped for.  (more)

DIRECTION:  William C. de Mille
CAST:  Thomas Meighan  •  Mabel Van Buren  •  Mayme Kelso  •  Bertram Johns

The Single Standard (1929)

A bored socialite finds fleeting romance with an artist.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John S. Robertson
CAST:  Greta Garbo  •  Nils Asther  •  Johnny Mack Brown  •  Dorothy Sebastian

A bored socialite finds fleeting romance with an artist.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John S. Robertson
CAST:  Greta Garbo  •  Nils Asther  •  Johnny Mack Brown  •  Dorothy Sebastian

Daddy Long Legs (1931)

Wealthy Jervis Pendleton acts as benefactor for orphan Judy Abbott, anonymously sponsoring her in her boarding school. But as she grows up, he finds himself falling in love with her, and she with him, though she does not know that the man she has fallen for is her ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Alfred Santell
CAST:  Janet Gaynor  •  Warner Baxter  •  Una Merkel  •  John Arledge

Wealthy Jervis Pendleton acts as benefactor for orphan Judy Abbott, anonymously sponsoring her in her boarding school. But as she grows up, he finds himself falling in love with her, and she with him, though she does not know that the man she has fallen for is her ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Alfred Santell
CAST:  Janet Gaynor  •  Warner Baxter  •  Una Merkel  •  John Arledge

Blood Money (1933)

The title refers to the business of affable, ambitious bail bondsman (and politically-connected grifter) Bill Bailey, who, in the course of his work, crosses paths with every kind of offender there is, from first-time defendants to career criminals.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rowland Brown
CAST:  George Bancroft  •  Judith Anderson  •  Frances Dee  •  Chick Chandler

The title refers to the business of affable, ambitious bail bondsman (and politically-connected grifter) Bill Bailey, who, in the course of his work, crosses paths with every kind of offender there is, from first-time defendants to career criminals.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rowland Brown
CAST:  George Bancroft  •  Judith Anderson  •  Frances Dee  •  Chick Chandler

The Spanish Dancer (1923)

The Spanish Dancer is the story of Maritana, a gypsy girl who dances in courtyards and even tells people's fortunes. Despite her gypsy occupation, Maritana wishes to be a Countess. Her ambitions are realized when she meets the handsome Count Don Cesar de Bazán, if ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Herbert Brenon
CAST:  Pola Negri  •  Antonio Moreno  •  Wallace Beery  •  Adolphe Menjou

The Spanish Dancer is the story of Maritana, a gypsy girl who dances in courtyards and even tells people's fortunes. Despite her gypsy occupation, Maritana wishes to be a Countess. Her ambitions are realized when she meets the handsome Count Don Cesar de Bazán, if ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Herbert Brenon
CAST:  Pola Negri  •  Antonio Moreno  •  Wallace Beery  •  Adolphe Menjou

Forbidden Fruit (1921)

Mary Maddock works as a seamstress to bring home money while her husband Steve, unemployed, has no real prospects of earning money. Mary's employers, are trying to strike an oil related business deal with a rich man by the name of Nelson Rogers. The deal does not ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Cecil B. DeMille
CAST:  Agnes Ayres  •  Clarence Burton  •  Theodore Roberts  •  Kathlyn Williams

Mary Maddock works as a seamstress to bring home money while her husband Steve, unemployed, has no real prospects of earning money. Mary's employers, are trying to strike an oil related business deal with a rich man by the name of Nelson Rogers. The deal does not ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Cecil B. DeMille
CAST:  Agnes Ayres  •  Clarence Burton  •  Theodore Roberts  •  Kathlyn Williams

The Whispering Chorus (1918)

John Trimble has embezzled and obtains another identity by having a mutilated body buried in his place. He is later arrested for murdering himself. During the trial his mother, before dying from shock, asks him to keep his identity secret since his wife is now ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Cecil B. DeMille
CAST:  Raymond Hatton  •  Kathlyn Williams  •  Edythe Chapman  •  John Burton

John Trimble has embezzled and obtains another identity by having a mutilated body buried in his place. He is later arrested for murdering himself. During the trial his mother, before dying from shock, asks him to keep his identity secret since his wife is now ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Cecil B. DeMille
CAST:  Raymond Hatton  •  Kathlyn Williams  •  Edythe Chapman  •  John Burton

The Spoilers (1914)

The Spoilers is a 1914 film directed by Colin Campbell. It is set in Nome, Alaska during the 1898 Gold Rush, with William Farnum as Roy Glennister, Kathlyn Williams as Cherry Malotte, and Tom Santschi as Alex McNamara. The film culminates in a spectacular saloon ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Colin Campbell
CAST:  William Farnum  •  Kathlyn Williams  •  Bessie Eyton  •  Frank Clark

The Spoilers is a 1914 film directed by Colin Campbell. It is set in Nome, Alaska during the 1898 Gold Rush, with William Farnum as Roy Glennister, Kathlyn Williams as Cherry Malotte, and Tom Santschi as Alex McNamara. The film culminates in a spectacular saloon ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Colin Campbell
CAST:  William Farnum  •  Kathlyn Williams  •  Bessie Eyton  •  Frank Clark

The Enemy Sex (1924)

A well-known sextet has been invited to a society gathering, and when one of them turns up missing, their manager asks Dodo to fill in. At the party, she meets four new men. She's smart enough to steer clear of two of them -- corrupt society leader Albert Sasson ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  James Cruze
CAST:  Betty Compson  •  Percy Marmont  •  Sheldon Lewis  •  Huntley Gordon

A well-known sextet has been invited to a society gathering, and when one of them turns up missing, their manager asks Dodo to fill in. At the party, she meets four new men. She's smart enough to steer clear of two of them -- corrupt society leader Albert Sasson ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  James Cruze
CAST:  Betty Compson  •  Percy Marmont  •  Sheldon Lewis  •  Huntley Gordon

Wedding Rings (1929)

Two sisters battle for the love of a man.  (more)

DIRECTION:  William Beaudine
CAST:  H.B. Warner  •  Lois Wilson  •  Olive Borden  •  Hallam Cooley

Two sisters battle for the love of a man.  (more)

DIRECTION:  William Beaudine
CAST:  H.B. Warner  •  Lois Wilson  •  Olive Borden  •  Hallam Cooley
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