Acting

Gene Gauntier

Born May 17, 1885 · Kansas City, Missouri, USA

Died December 18, 1966 · aged 81

Gene Gauntier, born Eugenia Gauntier Liggett, was an American screenwriter, director and actress who was one of the pioneers of the motion picture industry. A writer, director and actress in films from mid 1906 to 1920, she wrote screenplays for 31 films.

Known For

Betrayed by a Handprint

Betrayed by a Handprint · 1908

Betrayed by a Handprint

Mrs. Wharton, a dashing widow, gives a party at her beautiful villa in honor of the presentation to her of a handsome diamond necklace by her fiancé. During the evening bridge participated in by a number of the guests, among whom is Myrtle Vane. Miss Vane is playing in wretched luck, and is advised several times by Mrs. Wharton to desist, but she still plays on in the vain hopes of the tide of fortune turning, until at last, in the extreme of desperation, she stakes her all and loses. Shame and disgrace stare her in the face. What can she do to recoup her depleted fortune? As one of the guests there is Professor Francois Paracelsus, the eminent palmister, who of course, was called upon to read the palms of those present. Sheets of paper were prepared and each imprinted their hand on a sheet to be read by the erudite soothsayer at his leisure, and so were left on the drawing room table.

Evangeline

Evangeline · 1908

About an Acadian girl named Evangeline and her search for her lost love Gabriel, set during the time of the Expulsion of the Acadians, the forced removal by the British of the Acadian people from the present day Canadian Maritime provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island - parts of an area also known as Acadia.

Grandmother

Grandmother · 1910

A spoiled rich boy meets and falls in love with an older woman, a dancer who is more amused than flattered by his attentions, to the point of stealing his mother's jewels. The theft is investigated, and the boy's grandmother inquires to save him.

From the Manger to the Cross

From the Manger to the Cross · 1912

From the Manger to the Cross

The life of Jesus is played out in tableaux shot in the Holy Land.

The Lad from Old Ireland

The Lad from Old Ireland · 1910

The Lad from Old Ireland

MovieDramaRomance

A young man leaves Ireland for America, but doesn't forget home.

The Taming of the Shrew

The Taming of the Shrew · 1908

The Taming of the Shrew

MovieRomanceComedy

Based on Shakespeare's play. Petruchio courts the bad-tempered Katharina, and tries to change her aggressive behavior.

Far from Erin's Isle

Far from Erin's Isle · 1912

Far from Erin's Isle

Kathleen leaves behind her sweetheart in Ireland to emigrate to New York, finding a position in a sweet shop, until a strike forces her to seek employment in a department store, until poor health, diagnosed as homesickness forces her to return to Ireland and her sweetheart

Ben Hur

Ben Hur · 1907

MovieAdventureDrama

The first adaptation of Lew Wallace's novel, Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ.

Filmography

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Betrayed by a Handprint

Betrayed by a Handprint · 1908

Betrayed by a Handprint

Mrs. Wharton, a dashing widow, gives a party at her beautiful villa in honor of the presentation to her of a handsome diamond necklace by her fiancé. During the evening bridge participated in by a number of the guests, among whom is Myrtle Vane. Miss Vane is playing in wretched luck, and is advised several times by Mrs. Wharton to desist, but she still plays on in the vain hopes of the tide of fortune turning, until at last, in the extreme of desperation, she stakes her all and loses. Shame and disgrace stare her in the face. What can she do to recoup her depleted fortune? As one of the guests there is Professor Francois Paracelsus, the eminent palmister, who of course, was called upon to read the palms of those present. Sheets of paper were prepared and each imprinted their hand on a sheet to be read by the erudite soothsayer at his leisure, and so were left on the drawing room table.

Party Guest

Evangeline

Evangeline · 1908

About an Acadian girl named Evangeline and her search for her lost love Gabriel, set during the time of the Expulsion of the Acadians, the forced removal by the British of the Acadian people from the present day Canadian Maritime provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island - parts of an area also known as Acadia.

Writer

Grandmother

Grandmother · 1910

A spoiled rich boy meets and falls in love with an older woman, a dancer who is more amused than flattered by his attentions, to the point of stealing his mother's jewels. The theft is investigated, and the boy's grandmother inquires to save him.

Writer

From the Manger to the Cross

From the Manger to the Cross · 1912

From the Manger to the Cross

The life of Jesus is played out in tableaux shot in the Holy Land.

Scenario Writer

The Lad from Old Ireland

The Lad from Old Ireland · 1910

The Lad from Old Ireland

MovieDramaRomance

A young man leaves Ireland for America, but doesn't forget home.

Writer

The Taming of the Shrew

The Taming of the Shrew · 1908

The Taming of the Shrew

MovieRomanceComedy

Based on Shakespeare's play. Petruchio courts the bad-tempered Katharina, and tries to change her aggressive behavior.

Wedding Party

Far from Erin's Isle

Far from Erin's Isle · 1912

Far from Erin's Isle

Kathleen leaves behind her sweetheart in Ireland to emigrate to New York, finding a position in a sweet shop, until a strike forces her to seek employment in a department store, until poor health, diagnosed as homesickness forces her to return to Ireland and her sweetheart

Writer

Ben Hur

Ben Hur · 1907

MovieAdventureDrama

The first adaptation of Lew Wallace's novel, Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ.

Writer

Dust of the Desert

Dust of the Desert · 1912

Dust of the Desert

Dust of the Desert is a 1912 short film

Writer

The Evil Artist or a Girl Wronged

The Evil Artist or a Girl Wronged · 1910

The Evil Artist or a Girl Wronged

Anastasia is being picked up by an artist who wants to paint her picture.The artist have other intentions as well. He tried to seduce Anastasia. When he is tired of her, Anastasia returns home to her mother.

Writer

The Little Spreewald Maiden

The Little Spreewald Maiden · 1910

The Little Spreewald Maiden

MovieDramaRomance

Two American ladies touring through Germany happen on this little Spreewald girl and offer her a job in America.

Assistant Director

The Girl and the Outlaw

The Girl and the Outlaw · 1908

The Girl and the Outlaw

MovieWesternAction

Ruthless bandit Bill Preston rules a terrorizing frontier gang. Frontier girl Nellie Carson loves him despite his cruelty, but he abandons her wounded after a dispute. When a kind mountain girl who offered Nellie aid is kidnapped by Bill, Nellie rescues her from his camp out of jealousy and pity. During their escape, a dropped gun alerts the gang. As they flee on one horse, Nellie shields the mountain girl and takes multiple bullets. A sympathetic bandit kills Bill, stopping the pursuit. Nellie tragically dies from her wounds just as they reach safety at the mountain cabin.

Nellie Carson (unconfirmed)

The Poacher's Pardon

The Poacher's Pardon · 1912

The Poacher's Pardon

A gamekeeper's daughter is shot while warning a poacher.

Writer

Tragedy of the Desert

Tragedy of the Desert · 1912

Tragedy of the Desert

An English doctor based in Egypt finds his wife in the arms of a local diplomat, and in a madness-induced frenzy departs for the desert. After being discovered by wandering Bedouins, Dr. Cochran embraces their practices and begins to fall in love with Zeinab, the daughter of a Sheik. Tragedy ensues when his forgotten wife visits the village and beckons him to take her back.

Miriam — the Doctor's Wife

When the Dead Return

When the Dead Return · 1911

When the Dead Return

acques and Antoine are both in love with the same girl, but Jacques proves the winner and marries Marcele. Three years after the wedding an accident deprives Jacques of his memory. Not knowing where or who he is, he wanders far from home and takes up a new life, all memory of the old having forsaken him. Years later, Marcele, convinced that Jacques is dead, marries Antoine. After ten years of happiness with Antoine, Marcele dies, leaving a little daughter. About this time, through an accident, Jacques' memory is restored and he arrives back at his old home just as his daughter is about to marry. Not realizing the lapse of years he attempts to stop the wedding, believing that his daughter is his wife Marcele. Explanations take place and Jacques is taken to the grave of his sweetheart and wife Marcele.

Marcele

The Wives of Jamestown

The Wives of Jamestown · 1913

The Wives of Jamestown

The romance between Bryan O'Sullivan and Lady Geraldine is broken when he unjusily suspects that she is unfaithful. He sails for America, and, becoming a colonist at Jamestown, Virginia, takes the name of John Pierce. Lady Geraldine's castle is besieged by Cromwellians, and, after suffering many vicissitudes, she is sent with others to be sold as wives to the Jamestown colonists. Pierce proves of timely assistance to Geraldine in her hour of trial and both forget the unhappy past when lo e claims its own.

Writer

A Slave to Drink

A Slave to Drink · 1909

A Slave to Drink

Illustrates a man's struggle to overcome an inherited love for drink. Although yet a young man, the enemy of his family had already sunk its claws firmly upon James Grant. A man of superior intelligence, his habits hold him down to the lot of a common laborer in a small saw mill on the St. Johns River. About two years before the opening of the picture he had met and fallen in love with Jenny, the daughter of a small farmer, living near the saw mill. Under the influence of her great love he has succeeded in throwing off the burden of his hereditary desires. For three months he has not touched a drop of liquor.

Writer

The Navajo's Bride

The Navajo's Bride · 1910

The Navajo's Bride

MovieComedyWestern

Ivi, the beautiful daughter of an Indian chief, has three suitors. A competition will decide who gets to marry her. The winner is not Panther, who was Ivy’s favourite. But after he manages to catch a horse thief, he does wind up marrying her after all.

The Girl Spy Before Vicksburg

The Girl Spy Before Vicksburg · 1910

The Girl Spy Before Vicksburg

The opening scene of our story shows a Union powder wagon making its way down the road convoyed by a company of mounted Union soldiers. The route of this wagon is reported to Confederate headquarters by one of its spies. Nan, a girl frequently employed by the department of the Confederate army, is called to headquarters and instructed to secure the destruction of the enemy's ammunition train just reported. Nan is fitted out with a Union uniform, mounted on a fast horse and sent on her journey, previously provided with a forged order supposedly signed by a Union general which authorizes her to pass through the lines.

Writer

Rory O'More

Rory O'More · 1911

Based on the story of the real-life 17th Century Irish rebel and the eighteen century ballad about him, this one-reeler is one of the Kalem pictures shot by Olcott and his company on their second trip to the Emerald Isle.

Writer

Winning a Widow

Winning a Widow · 1912

Winning a Widow

MovieDramaRomance

While crossing the Atlantic, Jim White, an American tourist, is attracted by a charming young widow. He succeeds in making the lady's acquaintance through her four-year-old son and thereafter he becomes a persistent suitor and shadow. It happens that Luxor, Egypt, is the destination of both parties and when they arrive at that point Jim determines to win the widow without further delay. She does not encourage his suit and he becomes desperate. Jim hits upon a subterfuge and engages an Egyptian to help him out. However, the best laid plans often miscarry, and when the widow learns of the plot she prepares one of her own. Jim meets with a decided surprise and the little son is the means of bringing about a mutual understanding.

Writer

For Ireland's Sake

For Ireland's Sake · 1914

For Ireland's Sake

MovieActionDrama

Set in the late 1790s, a depiction of Irish villagers rebelling against British occupation (Red Coats) over the right to bear arms.

Eileen Donaghue

Come Back to Erin

Come Back to Erin · 1914

Come Back to Erin

MovieDramaRomance

The story opens in an inland village in Ireland, where Jerry, the village blacksmith, toils, that he may wed Peggy O'Malley in a style befitting her beauty. Peggy's father, Michael, favors Jerry's suit, but Peggy has a mind of her own, and takes passage on a steamer bound for America.

Producer

An Arabian Tragedy

An Arabian Tragedy · 1912

An Arabian Tragedy

Ayub Kashif becomes embittered toward his wife, Fatima, because their union has been childless. He eventually determines to divorce Fatima and free her slave, whom he then will wed. Fatima, who still loves her husband, lives a life of sorrow, praying that her husband's love will return to her.

Scenario Writer