William E. Shay
Also Known As: W.E. Shay
Biography: Biography not available
Department: Acting
Place of Birth: New York City, New York, USA
Birthday: January 01, 1867
Adult: No
Gender: Male
Popularity:
Known For:
Shamus O'Brien
Overview: Based on JS Le Fanu's 1850 poem "Shamus O'Brien." Copies of this short film survive at the Library of Congress and British Film Institute.
Genres: Drama History
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1912-03-14
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The Telephone Girl
Overview: Telephone operator Kitty O'Brien can't help but get involved in the problems of her customers. Right now she is concerning herself with the well-being of Tom Blake, the honest son of crooked political boss Jim Blake.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1927-03-26
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The Clemenceau Case
Overview: This was Theda Bara's third starring film, and the first which she carried all on her own, with no other name actors in the cast. Based on the Alexander Dumas story, The Clemenceau Case involves Iza, a vampire-wife (Bara), whose wicked ways scandalize her husband, Pierre (William E. Shay).
Genres: Crime Drama Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1915-04-12
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The Two Orphans
Overview: This picture is based on the same story that became D.W. Griffith's Orphans of the Storm in 1921. This version, made by the Fox Studios, stars famous "vamp" actress Theda Bara in the role that Lillian Gish later made famous
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1915-09-05
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The Soul of Broadway
Overview: Grace Leonard, a typical woman of the New York stage, beautiful but old in sin, seduces William Craig, who becomes a thief in order to shower luxuries upon her. He is sentenced to prison and emerges five years later as a sad-faced, gray-haired man, entirely cured of his mad passion for La Valencia. But she sees him and her old passion is stirred, meaning nothing to her that since his release from prison, he has fallen in love and married a good woman who knows nothing of his past. When William is not swayed by her fascinations, Grace threatens to expose his past life. A lost film.
Genres: Crime Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1915-10-18
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Sweet Memories
Overview: An elderly woman looks back on the special times in her life, thinking especially about her now-departed husband and the things they did together. Though it is sad that these times are now gone, she is comforted by her memories and by the hope of sharing in the lives of her child and grandchildren.
Genres: Romance Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1911-03-27
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A Daughter of the Gods
Overview: A sultan agrees to help an evil witch destroy a mysterious beauty if the witch will bring his young son back to life. A lost film.
Genres: Fantasy Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1916-10-16
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The Boy, the Bust and the Bath
Overview: A young female boarding house tenant becomes an unwanted object of male attention.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1907-08-03
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His Hour of Triumph
Overview: Leonard Dare, a producer, finds himself without a player strong enough to enact the part of Philip Dawany, one of the important characters of the cast. His company is temporarily dismissed and he returns home. Derwent Hall calls for an interview with Dare. Hall's wife is sick: the doctor has instructed Hall to give her better food and medical attention. Hall, desperate, takes the opportunity of urging Dare to allow him to read his play. Spellbound, Dare listens to the most absurd line of talk he has ever heard, but is very much surprised by the magnificent acting of the author. Dare writes out a check for the play and while the hungry man looks on, calmly throws the manuscript on the fire. Dare says he will make him the greatest actor living. Hall is cast in the part of PhiIip Dawany. At first Hall is treated with distinct coldness by the audience, but at last cheer after cheer rolls out as the curtain falls. In this moment, his hour of triumph, a message reaches him from home.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1913-10-30
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A Cave Man Wooing
Overview: George, a somewhat "unathletic" young man, falls for Clarice, a healthy, athletically inclined young woman. Unfortunately for George, however, a strapping, musclebound stud is also after Clarice, and she seems to prefer him to George. After reading an article by a female writer saying that women prefer the "caveman" type of man, George decides that if that what it takes to get Clarice, then that is what he will be.
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1912-05-19
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Up Against It
Overview: Amos Bentley was up against it in more senses than one. Times were so hard with him that he had to part with the furniture of his little apartment in order to pay his debts. However, things were inclined to take a better turn for him. He was invited to be a guest of some friends of his. And between him and the daughter of the family some sort of heart interest was supposed to exist. Disinclined to accept the invitation at first, he yielded to the persuasions of his friend, the brother of the girl, and made his way to the host's house. Unfortunately his nether garment gave way in a somewhat conspicuous place and in his attempts to conceal the tear while the evening party was in progress, poor Amos suffered a great deal of torture. Finally, he was shown into the room of his probable fiancée. And while in the act of searching for a needle and thread, was discovered by her father, who had not yet made the acquaintance of Amos.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1912-05-31
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The Lighthouse Keeper
Overview: Tom Alkins, a sturdy fisherman, loves Polly Berry, the daughter of old Nat Berry, the keeper of the light. Bert Duncan also loves Polly and is insanely jealous of Tom. The course of true love runs smoothly for the happy couple with the exception of an attempt on the part of Duncan to force his unwelcome attentions on Polly. He is soundly thrashed by Tom and vows vengeance.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1911-05-18
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'Tween Two Loves
Overview: A story of an only daughter of a farmer; her mother is dead and she is her father's consolation. She grows up and falls in love with the young man in her father's employ, but when they tell the father of their love affair, he orders the lover off the place. He goes, but later returns and takes the girl with him, followed by a father's curse.
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1911-09-28
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A Timely Repentance
Overview: A lost film. John Crawford, an honest mechanic, and Wilbur Robinson, a young man of leisure, both love the same girl. She marries Crawford and they have a baby. Crawford is engaged in perfecting an invention and money is short leaving the wife dissatisfied. Robinson notes this fact and lures her away. She goes with him deserting the baby, leaving a note for her husband. While awaiting the train to leave the city they visit a picture house. The story thrown on the screen is identical to their own experience. Unable to witness the closing scenes and filled with remorse, Mrs. Crawford begs to leave and hurries home, hoping she may get there before her husband returns.
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1912-03-11
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Neptune's Daughter
Overview: The daughter of King Neptune takes on human form to avenge the death of her young sister, who was caught in a fishing net. However, she falls in love with the king, the man she holds responsible.
Genres: Fantasy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1914-04-25
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The Fall of the Romanoffs
Overview: The overthrow of Czar Nicholas II in Russia was such big news that the then-fledgling art of cinema couldn't help but jump on it immediately and create a couple of dramatizations.
Genres: Drama History
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1918-01-01
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Sin
Overview: Italian peasant girl deserts her fiancé for wealthy gangster and departs for America.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1915-10-03
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The Lone Wolf
Overview: Based on a character created by Louis Joseph Vance
Genres: Mystery
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1917-06-30
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Kreutzer Sonata
Overview: Based -- loosely -- on Leo Tolstoy, this film starred feted stage star Nance O'Neil but is rather better remembered as Theda Bara's follow-up to the sensational A Fool There Was (1914).
Genres: Drama Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1915-03-01
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The Eternal Sin
Overview: Gennaro, the son of Lucretia Borgia, lives unaware of the identity of his mother, who has married the Duke of Ferrara. After Lucretia's brother is killed by five conspirators, the fathers of Gennaro's dearest friends, Lucretia tortures the old men to death. Later, Gennaro and his companions journey to Lucretia's domain, and she sees her son for the first time. The Duke, who believes him to be her lover, poisons him, but Lucretia administers the antidote in time and saves his life. Then she schemes to poison her sons' five friends for their fathers' mistake.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1917-03-15
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