There is hopefully going to be some exciting Ollie news soon. Sadly not a new biography, Mabel is claiming my time for the moment. I would love to though, not only does Olive Thomas need a ya know REAL biography but a picture book too! She was just too gorgeous. Surprisingly enough with a (subpar, overpriced, and useless) biography, a (wonderful) documentary, and a (not to well updated but still wonderful) site this is literally the first time all these bits of information have been put in one place. Some of that is due to new discoveries, but in most cases a lot of information and locating was missing even online.
Some of these films (especially a block of Triangle comedies) are said to exist but nothing further can be found about them. It is assumed they are in private collections. If you have any further information about those or other Ollie films please email me.
Surviving Films:
Beatrice Fairfax:
1916. Olive made her debut in episode 10 titled Play Ball! which still exists. Bits of it are used as an extra in the Everybody's Sweetheart DVD but it appears the entire episode has not been released on DVD (despite oddly the first 5 episodes being released). It is on youtube, who knows when they'll pull it but for now click here to watch.
An Even Break:
1917. According to the PSFL a partially decomposed print was found with 500 other films in Alaska. A mostly complete copy exists at the Library of Congress. Clips of the film were used in the Everybody's Sweetheart documentary
Broadway Arizona:
1917. Likely exists in the George Eastman house in a mostly complete state.
Madcape Madge:
1917. One of Olive's most popular films, would set her into baby vamp stardom (a precursor to the flapper). Surprisingly despite the usually phony review on IMDB (that man should be shot) this film DOES exist. A print is owned by the Eastman House.
Betty Takes a Hand:
1918. A nitrate print was held by the Getty archive until the documentary was made. At which time a group of film buffs seen to it the film would be preserved and after some donations and letter writing the film was preserved by the AFI and Library of Congress. Exists in mostly decent quality. The film has been shown at Cinecon but not released.
Love's Prisoner:
1919. One of Ollie's more grown up roles and one of her last films for Triangle. Grapevine Video released it on video but no longer has it or any Olive film listed on its site (combined with the outrage of not putting "Is Money Everything?" on DVD I am currently pouting at them). In hopes of currying a future release I wont include a link, but if you google creatively you can find the film online. Everything but the final reel exists. And even without that reel its a pretty cool movie...nice plot twist for 1919!
The Spite Bride:
1919. Second release for Selznick. Was found in France a few years ago.
The Glorious Lady:
1919. Was refound in 2006 by the Netherlands Film Institute. They said it wasn't in bad condition, and hoped to premiere it in 2009...which by the way we are still waiting for.
Out Yonder:
1919. Same deal as The Glorious Lady only it has already been restored.
The Flapper:
1920. The second to last Olive film, the only one on DVD, and possibly her most famous. Olive was the first flapper though many forget that. This film has been released on DVD along with the Everybody's Sweetheart documentary. Click here to purchase.
Everybody's Sweetheart:
1920. Ironic story: the publicity man who gave Mary Pickford the name "America's Sweetheart" heard an old couple discussing the little girl with the curls one day. The old man claimed she was his sweetheart, his wife said she was "Everybody's Sweetheart" and somehow said publicity man turned that into "America's Sweetheart". Just one of those odd things that ended up attached to Olive after her death (this film was released shortly after she died). Yes it exists, just recently being screened at Cinefest 2009 in New York. No DVD yet...which is very odd.
Surviving Fragments:
Indiscreet Corinne:
1917. Along with the handful of other unknown films this one likely does exist, but where or how much is unknown.
Lost Films:
A Girl Like That:
1917. Ollie's lone mysterious Famous Players film. I still think Mary was behind it...
Upstairs and Down:
1919. Olive's first film for Selznick. Was well promoted and the sheet music is still easy to find on Ebay to this day.
Other Films:
Olive Thomas: Everybody's Sweetheart
2005. A documentary with terrific views though I still have to see it. Has been released on DVD along with The Flapper. Click here to purchase.
Tom Sawyer:
1917. A Jack Pickford film. Olive makes a cameo in the church choir. Unknown Video has it on DVD (they do a great job!). Click here to purchase.
The Complete Filmography of Olive Thomas
Purple means fully exists
Blue means partially exists or a clip exists
Pink means lost
* means released on VHS or DVD
1916:
*Beatrice Fairfax: Episode 10
1917:
A Girl Like that
Madcap Madge
*Tom Sawyer
*An Even Break
Broadway Arizona
Indiscreet Corinne
1918:
Betty Takes a Hand
Limousine Life
Heiress for a Day
1919:
Toton
The Follies Girl
*Love's Prisoner
Prudence on Broadway
Upstairs and Down
The Spite Bride
The Glorious Lady
Out Yonder
1920:
Footlights and Shadows
Youthful Folly
*The Flapper
Darling Mine
Everybody's Sweetheart
Documentary:
*Olive Thomas: Everybody's Sweetheart (2005)
Why the Survival Rate?
In the great silent film survival race Ollie ranks surprisingly high. Since we originally posted this the total has actually gone WAY higher...its just shocking that in the 90s only one Olive film was thought to exist, and now she has such a high rate. Out of 23 films 16 of hers survive (and many of those are complete). That gives her a 61% survival rate, which is impressive for not only dying so young but so early in the silent era at that. In fact when it comes to film survival she with a fellow short lived God: Rudolph Valentino.
Frankly I bet more Olive films exist then we realize. Much like the case of Nita Naldi there has to be more Olive films, out hidden in foreign archives or private collections. None of the companies she was with had massive film lost incidents (unlike FOX) and she came and went during a time in silent film where they didn't quite know what to do with her...the war was over but the threat of talkies was not yet on the horizon. On the other hand through the 20s Olive is referred to like we will someday refer to Heath Ledger, a curious sad case in our past that we should respect, but we don't glorify ala Valentino or Marilyn Monroe...despite how infamously well Ollie flamed out.
Possibly the Pickford bit helped too though I'm sure Mary would not be pleased. The fact that at least 3 or 4 Olive films have resurfaced in the last 5 years hopefully proves my point. Personally what I find more tragic is that so few of these films have been released on DVD. I sincerely suggest writing Grapevine Video to release Love's Prisoner, and the Serial Squadron to release the rest of Beatrice Fairfax. I'd especially love to see the new found films released. A proper Olive biography and DVD box set are waaaay overdue. She entered film in 1916...we got a few years to the centennial.
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