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5.4 / 10(18 votes)IMDb191217mUnited States of America

The Old Actor

Synopsis

An elderly actor who lives with his wife and daughter is dismissed from his acting job because he is considered too old. On his way home from the theatre he panics at the thought of telling his family the bad news and decides to disguise himself as a beggar. His daughter's beau accidentally gives him a five dollar gold piece, thinking that it was a smaller coin. A chase ensues with a policeman, the daughter, and her beau in hot pursuit. When caught he is recognized by his shocked daughter, but is quickly forgiven by all. Meanwhile the actor hired to replace him has already been fired and a messenger is dispatched to rehire the Old Actor to the delight of his wife, daughter, and fellow actors.

Release History & Theatrical Window

Theatrical Premiere

May 6, 1912

Wide Cinema Exhibition

Key Information & Fast Facts

Director
D.W. Griffith
Screenplay & Story
George Hennessy
Original Title
The Old Actor
Country of Origin
United States of America
Spoken Languages
English
Runtime
17m
Production Studios
American Mutoscope & Biograph

Creative Leadership & Key Crew

Director

D.W. Griffith

Screenplay & Story

George Hennessy

Department Leadership Roster

D.W. Griffith

D.W. Griffith

Director

George Hennessy

Writer

Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Old Actor.

Featured In Curated Collections

Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Old Actor.

Public Domain

Movies in the public domain in the United States. References: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_in_the_public_domain_in_the_United_States archive.org

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openvista

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D. W. Griffith

David Wark Griffith (January 22, 1875 – July 23, 1948)[1] was an American director, writer, and producer who pioneered modern filmmaking techniques.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Old Actor

Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.

What is The Old Actor about?

An elderly actor who lives with his wife and daughter is dismissed from his acting job because he is considered too old. On his way home from the theatre he panics at the thought of telling his family the bad news and decides to disguise himself as a beggar. His daughter's beau accidentally gives him a five dollar gold piece, thinking that it was a smaller coin. A chase ensues with a policeman, the daughter, and her beau in hot pursuit. When caught he is recognized by his shocked daughter, but is quickly forgiven by all. Meanwhile the actor hired to replace him has already been fired and a messenger is dispatched to rehire the Old Actor to the delight of his wife, daughter, and fellow actors.

Who directed The Old Actor?

The Old Actor was directed by D.W. Griffith.

Who stars in The Old Actor?

The principal cast of The Old Actor includes W. Chrystie Miller, Kate Bruce, Mary Pickford, Edwin August, Charles Hill Mailes.

When was The Old Actor released and how long is it?

The Old Actor was released in 1912 with a total runtime of 17m.