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Bessie Love filmography

Filmography of American–British actress Bessie Love From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bessie Love (1898–1986) was an actress whose career began in silent films, and continued into sound films, radio, and television. She was also active in the theatre. Her early career was exclusively in American film; after she moved to England in 1935, she performed in productions made only in the U.K., and British productions made in Europe.[citation needed]

Film123
Television series39
Theatre36
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Bessie Love filmography
Portrait photograph of Bessie Love in 1919
Love in 1919
Film123
Television series39
Theatre36
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Film

Silent: 1916–1928

Triangle Fine Arts

Love began her career at Triangle Fine Arts, having been discovered by D. W. Griffith.

More information Release date, Title ...
Release date Title Role Director Studio(s) / Distributor(s) Preservation status Notes
February 6, 1916 Acquitted Helen Carter Paul Powell Fine Arts / Triangle Lost
March 12, 1916 The Flying Torpedo Hulda John B. O'Brien, Christy Cabanne Fine Arts / Triangle Lost
April 9, 1916 The Aryan Mary Jane Garth William S. Hart, Reginald Barker, Clifford Smith Triangle Incomplete
April 21, 1916 The Good Bad-Man Amy Allan Dwan Fine Arts / Triangle Survives
June 11, 1916 Reggie Mixes In Agnes Christy Cabanne Fine Arts / Triangle Survives
June 11, 1916 The Mystery of the Leaping Fish The Little Fish Blower John Emerson, Christy Cabanne Triangle Survives Short film
July 23, 1916 Stranded The Girl Lloyd Ingraham Fine Arts / Triangle Lost
August 20, 1916 Hell-to-Pay Austin Briar Rose "Nettles" Dawson Paul Powell Fine Arts / Triangle Lost
September 5, 1916 Intolerance The Bride D. W. Griffith Triangle Survives
October 29, 1916 A Sister of Six Prudence Chester M. Franklin, Sidney Franklin Fine Arts / Triangle Incomplete
December 1916[a] The Heiress at Coffee Dan's Waffles Edward Dillon Fine Arts / Triangle Lost
January 21, 1917 Nina, the Flower Girl Nina Lloyd Ingraham Fine Arts / Triangle Lost
March 18, 1917 A Daughter of the Poor Rose Eastman Edward Dillon Fine Arts / Triangle Incomplete
April 15, 1917 Cheerful Givers Judy Paul Powell Fine Arts / Triangle Lost
July 15, 1917 The Sawdust Ring Janet Magie Charles Miller, Paul Powell New York Motion Picture Corporation / Triangle Survives
August 19, 1917 Wee Lady Betty Wee Lady Betty Charles Miller, Frank Borzage (uncredited) Triangle Lost
September 9, 1917 Polly Ann Polly Ann Charles Miller Triangle Lost
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Pathé Exchange

In 1918, Pathé Exchange was looking for a new star, and convinced Love to leave Triangle Fine Arts for a salary of $2000/week[b][4] (equivalent to $43,000 in 2025). The contract empowered her to choose her own cameraman; she selected future Academy Award-winner Clyde De Vinna.[5]

Love made four films with Pathé. They received mixed-to-negative reviews, although Love's performances were consistently praised. Originally released in 1918 and 1919 as 5-reel films, three of the films were edited down to 3 reels, and re-released in 1922 as "Pathé Playlets".[6][7][8]

Carolyn of the Corners, Love's final film with Pathé, was released after the first films of her subsequent Vitagraph contract were released, as were the Pathé Playlets.

More information Release dates, Title ...
Release dates Title Role Director Studio(s) / Distributor(s) Preservation status Notes
Original Re-release
March 10, 1918 August 6, 1922 The Great Adventure Rags Alice Guy-Blaché Pathé Exchange Survives
May 5, 1918 Not re-released How Could You, Caroline? Caroline Rogers Frederick A. Thomson Pathé Exchange Lost
June 30, 1918 August 6, 1922 A Little Sister of Everybody Celeste Janvier Robert Thornby Anderson-Brunton / Pathé Exchange Lost
March 9, 1919 June 11, 1922 Carolyn of the Corners Carolyn May Cameron Robert Thornby Pathé Exchange Lost
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Vitagraph

In 1918, Love signed a nine-film contract with Vitagraph,[9] all of which were made, and all of which were directed by David Smith.

More information Release date, Title ...
Release date Title Role Director Studio(s) / Distributor(s) Preservation status Notes
December 2, 1918 The Dawn of Understanding Sue Prescott David Smith Vitagraph Lost
January 27, 1919 The Enchanted Barn Shirley Hollister David Smith Vitagraph Lost
March 10, 1919 The Wishing Ring Man Joy Havenith David Smith Vitagraph Lost
April 21, 1919 A Yankee Princess Patsy O'Reilly David Smith Vitagraph Lost Love also wrote the scenario
June 2, 1919 The Little Boss Peggy Winston, the little boss David Smith Vitagraph Lost
July 12, 1919 Cupid Forecloses Geraldine Farleigh David Smith Vitagraph Survives
September 21, 1919 Over the Garden Wall Peggy Gordon David Smith Vitagraph Lost
November 16, 1919 A Fighting Colleen Alannah Malone David Smith Vitagraph Lost
January 11, 1920 Pegeen Pegeen O'Neill David Smith Vitagraph Lost
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Andrew J. Callaghan Productions

All were box-office failures.[5]

More information Release date, Title ...
Release date Title Role Director Studio(s) / Distributor(s) Preservation status Notes
October 17, 1920 Bonnie May Bonnie May Joseph De Grasse, Ida May Park Andrew J. Callaghan Productions / Federated Film Exchanges Lost
December 1920 The Midlanders Aurelie Lindstrom Joseph De Grasse, Ida May Park Andrew J. Callaghan Productions / Federated Film Exchanges Incomplete
May 7, 1921 Penny of Top Hill Trail Penny Arthur Berthelet Andrew J. Callaghan Productions / Federated Film Exchanges Lost
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Free agent

After the failures of her Callaghan-produced films, Love fired her manager, and became a free agent.[5]

She appeared in two series of short films headlined by other actors: The Santschi Series (Tom Santschi) and The Strange Adventures of Prince Courageous (Arthur Trimble).

More information Release date, Title ...
Release date Title Role Director Studio(s) / Distributor(s) Preservation status Notes
October 16, 1921 The Honor of Rameriz The Geologist's Wife Robert North Bradbury Pathé Exchange Lost
October 30, 1921 The Spirit of the Lake Robert North Bradbury Pathé Exchange Lost
  • Short film
  • Series: Santschi Series
October 30, 1921 The Swamp Mary Colin Campbell Robertson–Cole Survives
December 5, 1921 The Sea Lion Blossom Nelson Rowland V. Lee Associated Producers Survives
March 19, 1922 The Vermilion Pencil Hyacinth Norman Dawn Robertson–Cole Lost
July 23, 1922 Forget Me Not Ann, the girl W. S. Van Dyke Metro Pictures Lost
August 1922 Bulldog Courage Gloria Phillips Edward A. Kull Russell Productions / State Rights Survives
November 2, 1922 The Village Blacksmith Rosemary Martin, the daughter John Ford Fox Film Incomplete
November 15, 1922 Night Life in Hollywood Herself Fred Caldwell A.B. Maescher Productions / Arrow Film Corporation Incomplete
December 1, 1922 Deserted at the Altar Anna Moore, the country girl William K. Howard Phil Goldstone Survives
January 7, 1923 Three Who Paid John Caspar / Virginia Cartwright Colin Campbell Fox Film Lost
January 21, 1923 The Ghost Patrol Effie Kugler Nat Ross Universal Pictures Lost
March 27, 1923 Souls for Sale Herself Rupert Hughes Goldwyn Pictures Survives
April 7, 1923 The Little Knight Bernice Frederick G. Becker Arthur Trimble Productions / Anchor Survives
1923 The Love Charm Bernice Frederick G. Becker Arthur Trimble Productions / Anchor Unknown
  • Short film
  • Series: The Strange Adventures of Prince Courageous
1923 The Crown of Courage Bernice Frederick G. Becker Arthur Trimble Productions / Anchor Unknown
  • Short film
  • Series: The Strange Adventures of Prince Courageous
May 10, 1923 The Purple Dawn Mui Far Charles R. Seeling Aywon / State Rights Lost
May 22, 1923 Mary of the Movies Herself John McDermott Columbia / Robertson–Cole / Film Booking Offices Incomplete
June 17, 1923 Human Wreckage Mary Finnegan John Griffith Wray Thomas H. Ince Corporation / Film Booking Offices Lost
September 23, 1923 The Eternal Three Hilda Gray Marshall Neilan, Frank Urson Goldwyn Pictures Lost
September 30, 1923 St. Elmo Edna Earle Jerome Storm Fox Film Lost
October 14, 1923 Slave of Desire Pauline Gaudin George D. Baker Goldwyn Pictures Survives
December 24, 1923 Gentle Julia Julia Rowland V. Lee Fox Film Lost
February 11, 1924 Torment Marie Maurice Tourneur Tourneur / Associated First National Lost
April 20, 1924 The Woman on the Jury Grace Pierce Harry O. Hoyt Associated First National Lost
April 28, 1924 Those Who Dance Veda Carney Lambert Hillyer Thomas H. Ince Corporation / Associated First National Lost
October 5, 1924 The Silent Watcher Mary Roberts Frank Lloyd First National Pictures Lost
October 12, 1924 Dynamite Smith Violet Ralph Ince Thomas H. Ince Corporation / Pathé Exchange Survives
November 30, 1924 Sundown Ellen Crawley Laurence Trimble, Harry O. Hoyt First National Pictures Lost
December 15, 1924 Tongues of Flame Lahleet Joseph Henabery Famous Players–Lasky / Paramount Pictures Lost
February 2, 1925 The Lost World Paula White Harry O. Hoyt First National Pictures Survives
May 3, 1925 Soul-Fire Teita John S. Robertson Inspiration Pictures / First National Pictures Survives
September 28, 1925 A Son of His Father Nora Shea Victor Fleming Famous Players–Lasky / Paramount Pictures Lost
October 12, 1925 New Brooms Geraldine Marsh William C. deMille Famous Players–Lasky / Paramount Pictures Lost
October 25, 1925 The King on Main Street Gladys Humphreys Monta Bell Famous Players–Lasky / Paramount Pictures Survives
February 28, 1926 The Song and Dance Man Leola Lane Herbert Brenon Famous Players–Lasky / Paramount Pictures Incomplete
June 26, 1926 Lovey Mary Lovey Mary King Baggot Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Incomplete
October 11, 1926 Young April Victoria Donald Crisp Producers Distributing Corporation Survives
December 12, 1926 Going Crooked Marie Farley George Melford Fox Film Survives
Not released (filmed in 1927) The American Jane Wilton J. Stuart Blackton Natural Vision Pictures Lost Never released theatrically
February 7, 1927 Rubber Tires Mary Ellen Stack Alan Hale, Sr. Producers Distributing Corporation Survives
October 10, 1927 A Harp in Hock Nora Banks Renaud Hoffman DeMille Pictures / Pathé Exchange Lost
November 11, 1927 Dress Parade Janet Cleghorne Donald Crisp Pathé Exchange Survives
March 14, 1928 The Matinee Idol Ginger Bolivar Frank Capra Columbia Pictures Survives
July 15, 1928 Sally of the Scandals Sally Rand Lynn Shores Film Booking Offices Survives
September 9, 1928 Anybody Here Seen Kelly? Mitzi Lavelle William Wyler Universal Pictures Lost
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Sound: 1928–1983

All of Love's sound films are extant.

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Role Studio(s) / Distributor(s) Notes
1928 The Swell Head Warner Vitaphone Short film
1929 The Broadway Melody Hank Mahoney Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Nominated—Academy Award for Best Actress
The Idle Rich Helen Thayer Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
The Hollywood Revue of 1929 Herself Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
The Girl in the Show Hattie Hartley Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
1930 Chasing Rainbows Carlie Seymour Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Missing Technicolor scenes
They Learned About Women Mary Collins Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Conspiracy Margaret Holt RKO Pictures
Good News Babe Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Missing Technicolor ending
See America Thirst Ellen Universal Pictures
1931 Morals for Women Helen Huston Tiffany Pictures
1936 I Live Again Kathleen Vernon G.B. Morgan Productions / National Provincial Film Distributors
1941 Atlantic Ferry Begonia Baggot Warner Brothers
1945 London Scrapbook Herself Spectator Short Films Short film
Journey Together Mrs. Mary McWilliams RKO Pictures
1951 No Highway in the Sky Aircraft passenger Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corp. Uncredited
The Magic Box Wedding group member British Lion Films
1954 The Weak and the Wicked Prisoner
The Barefoot Contessa Mrs. Eubanks Figaro / United Artists
Beau Brummell Maid Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Uncredited
1955 Touch and Go Mrs. Baxter Ealing Studios / J. Arthur Rank Film Distributors / Universal Pictures
1957 The Story of Esther Costello Matron in art gallery Romulus Films / Columbia Pictures
1958 Next to No Time Becky Wiener Montpelier / British Lion Film Corporation
Nowhere to Go Harriet P. Jefferson Ealing Studios / Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
1959 Too Young to Love Mrs. Busch Welbeck Films Ltd. / J. Arthur Rank Film Distributors
1961 The Greengage Summer[10] American tourist PKL Productions / Victor Saville-Edward Small Productions / Columbia Pictures
The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone Bunny Warner Bros. / Seven Arts / Warner-Pathé Distributors / Warner Bros. Pictures Costar Warren Beatty later directed Love in Reds
1963 The Wild Affair Marjorie's mother Bryanston Films / British Lion Films
Children of the Damned Mrs. Robbins, Mark's grandmother Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
1964 I Think They Call Him John Co-narrator (with Victor Spinetti) Samaritan Films Short film
1965 Promise Her Anything Pet shop customer Seven Arts Productions / Paramount Pictures
1967 Battle Beneath the Earth Matron Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
I'll Never Forget What's'isname American tourist J. Arthur Rank Film Distributors
1968 Isadora Mrs. Duncan Universal Pictures
1969 On Her Majesty's Secret Service Baccarat player Eon-Danilag Productions Uncredited
1971 Sunday Bloody Sunday Answering service lady Vectia / United Artists
Catlow Mrs. Frost Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
1974 Vampyres American lady Cambist Films / Cinépix Film Properties Inc.
1976 The Ritz Maurine Warner Bros.
1977 Gulliver's Travels Arrow Films / Sunn Classic Pictures Voice
1981 Reds Mrs. Partlow Barclays Mercantile / Industrial Finance / JRS Productions / Paramount Pictures Director Warren Beatty was Love's costar in The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone
Ragtime Old lady (T.O.C.) Paramount Pictures
Lady Chatterley's Lover Flora Cannon Films / Columbia Pictures
1983 The Hunger Lillybelle Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer / MGM/UA Entertainment Co
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Stage

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Role Venue / Location Notes Ref.
1928 Burlesque Bonny San Francisco [11]
Merry Ann Idea Touring production A one-woman, Fanchon and Marco stage revue [12][13][14]
1930 Whispering Friends El Capitan Theatre, Hollywood [15][16]
1931 Vaudeville show
[17]
1936 Stop and Go Touring production A C. B. Cochran revue [17]
1936 Lucky Stars Touring production [18][19]
1938 The Women Lyric Theatre, London Understudy [20]
1944 Love in Idleness Miss Dell
  • Lyric Theatre, London
  • Touring production
 Replaced Peggy Dear [21][22][23]
1945 Zenobia The Actress Granville Theatre, Walham Green [24]
Say It With Flowers Julie Granville Theatre, Walham Green [24]
1947 Born Yesterday Mrs. Hedges Garrick Theatre, London [25]
1948 Native Son Miss Emmet Bolton's Theatre Club, London [26]
1949 Death of a Salesman Laughing Woman Phoenix Theatre, London [27]
The Male Animal Myrtle Keller New Wimbledon Theatre, London Also performed the role on television in 1956 [28][29]
1951 The Glass Menagerie Amanda Wingfield Touring production [30]
1953 The Season's Greetings Lucy Barlow Q Theatre, London [31]
1954 The Wooden Dish Bessie Bockser Phoenix Theatre, London [32][33]
Mother Is a Darling Dulcie Lander New Theatre, Bromley [34]
1955 The Children's Hour Mrs. Lily Mortar Arts Theatre, London [35]
South Mrs. Priolieau Arts Theatre, London Performed the role again in 1961 [36][37][38]
A Girl Called Jo Mrs. Kirke Piccadilly Theatre, London [39]
1956 Someone to Talk To Miss Froslyn Duchess Theatre, London [40]
1958 The Homecoming Babe Love Perth Theatre, Perth, Scotland Written by Love [41][42]
1959 Orpheus Descending The Nurse Royal Court Theatre, London [43]
1960 Visit to a Small Planet Reba Spelding Westminster Theatre, London [44]
1961 South Mrs. Priolieau Criterion Theatre, London Had previously performed the role in 1955 [22]
1962 Gentlemen Prefer Blondes Mrs. Ella Spofford
Playwright Anita Loos had attended Love's wedding in 1929 [45][46][47]
1963 Never Too Late Grace Kimborough Prince of Wales Theatre, London [48]
1964 Saint Joan of the Stockyards A Worker Queen's Theatre, London [49]
In White America The White Woman Arts Theatre, London [50][51]
1966 The Silence of Lee Harvey Oswald Marguerite Oswald Hampstead Theatre Club, London [52]
1968 Sweet Bird of Youth Aunt Nonnie Palace Theatre, Watford [53]
1970 Harvey Mrs. Gaffney Touring production [54]
1971 The Heiress Lavinia Penniman Touring production [55]
1971 West of Suez Mrs Dekker Royal Court Theatre, London [56][57][58]
1972 Gone with the Wind Aunt Pittypat Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London [59]
1979 The Woman I Love Aunt Bessie Merryman Touring production [60]
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Television

More information Year(s), Title ...
Year(s) Title Role Notes Ref.
1946 Mr. Know-All [61]
1947 You Can't Take It with You Penelope Sycamore Television film [62]
1948 The Front Page Mrs. Grant Television film [63]
1952 Mystery Story Grace Jones [64][65]
1953 The Hero Harriet Quinn [66]
1954, 1957, 1958 BBC Sunday-Night Theatre Various 7 episodes [67][68][69][70]
1954 Queen's Folly Mrs. Temple [71]
1955 London Playhouse Mrs. Goren Episode: "The Glorification of Al Toolum" [72]
1956 The Male Animal Myrtle Keller
  • Television film
  • Love had previously performed the role in the stage production at the New Wimbledon Theatre in 1949
 [28][29]
1957, 1960 ITV Television Playhouse Various 3 episodes
1957, 1959 ITV Play of the Week Various 3 episodes
1958 Long Distance Mrs. MacLean Television short [73][74]
1959 Saturday Playhouse Mrs. Stykeley-Mosher Episode: "Golden Rain" [75]
1960 Emergency – Ward 10 Mrs. Broom Episode: "Mrs. Broom"
Don't Do It, Dempsey! Mrs. Glenton Episode: "Visiting Firemen" [76]
International Detective Various 2 episodes [17]
1961 Harpers West One Customer 1 episode
1962 Zero One Mrs. Glorny Episode: "Gunpoint to Shannon" [77][78]
Man of the World Mrs. Van Kempson Episode: "Portrait of a Girl" [17]
The Andromeda Breakthrough Mrs. Neilson Episode: "Gale Warning" [79][80]
BBC Sunday-Night Play Mrs. Marshall Episode: "Means to an End"
1963 This Is Your Life Herself Reality documentary [81][citation needed][82]
The Sentimental Agent Mamie Episode: "Never Play Cards with Strangers" [17]
1964 Story Parade Mrs. Arquette Episode: "A Kiss Before Dying" [83]
1965 The Wednesday Play Martha Burroughs Episode: "The Pistol" [84]
1966 The Poppy Is Also a Flower Television film; uncredited
1968 ITV Playhouse Mrs. Teitelbaum Episode: "Bon Voyage" [17]
Late Night Line-Up Herself [85][86]
1969 Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) Mrs. Trotter Episode: "When Did You Start to Stop Seeing Things?" [17]
Omnibus Episode: "Where Are You Going to My Pretty Maid?" [87][88]
British Film Comedy Becky Episode: "Next to No Time" [89]
1970 W. Somerset Maugham American lady Episode: "Jane" [90]
Kate Lady Hartford-Cape Episode: "A Good Spec" [17]
1971 Great Day Herself [17]
Public Eye Chrissy Husack Episode: "The Beater and the Game" [17]
From a Bird's Eye View Old Lady Episode: "Family Tree"
1973 Pollyanna Mrs. Snow Miniseries [91]
1974 Mousey Mrs. Richardson Television film
1975 Shades of Greene St. Louis Woman Episode: "Cheap in August" [92]
1976 Katy Mrs. Finch 3 episodes [93][94][95]
1977 Good Afternoon! Herself [12]
1978 Edward & Mrs. Simpson Maud Cunard Miniseries
The Hollywood Greats Herself Documentary series [96]
1980 Hollywood: A Celebration of the American Silent Film Herself Documentary series [97]
Nationwide Herself [98]
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Radio

More information Date, Title ...
Date Title Role Ref.
August 31, 1942 Ladies' Man Anita [99]
October 30, 1942 Paul Temple Intervenes: "The October Hotel" Maisie [100]
November 26, 1943 Entertainment Annual [101]
October 3, 1944 News Headlines Host [102]
October 8, 1944 Variety Band-Box Host [103]
January 30, 1946 Vic Oliver Introduces... [104]
January 19, 1947 Scrapbook for 1925 [105]
March 6, 1954 Theatre Royal: "The Outcasts of Poker Flat" [106]
December 4, 1954 Saturday-Night Theatre: "The Old Reliable" Adela Cork [107][108]
June 16, 1955 Melville's Choice [109]
July 30, 1955 Saturday-Night Theatre [107]
April 18, 1957 Woman's Hour Narrator [110]
August 8, 1957 Desert Island Discs Herself [111]
December 29, 1961 I Remember Herself [112]
December 31, 1963 Hollywood Memories Herself [113]
March 21, 1966 Illumination Sister Constance Soulsby [114]
July 13, 1968 Afternoon Theatre [115]
March 28, 1970 Saturday-Night Theatre: "Mrs. Gibbons' Boys" Mrs. Gibbons [116][117]
September 18, 1975 Afternoon Theatre [115]
August 23, 1977 Spoon River [118]
September 12, 1977 Star Sound Herself [119]
February 27, 1978 The Monday Play: "Dark" by Victor Pemberton Virginia's mother [120]
March 5, 1978 Afternoon Theatre [115]
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Erroneous credits

Love mistakenly has been identified as being in the cast of The Birth of a Nation (1915) as "a Piedmont girl", but she took steps in her later years to clarify that she was not in the film.[86][121]

The Internet Movie Database lists Love as appearing in a 1915 film entitled Georgia Pearce. "Georgia Pearce" was actually the stage name used by actress Constance Talmadge for one of her roles in Intolerance, and it is not the name of a film.[122]

Some sources include Love in the cast of Meet the Prince (1926).[123] However, no contemporaneous sources do, and some sources note this as an error.[124]

Love does not include any of the above films in her autobiography's filmography.

Notes

  1. [a]
    Various publications provide different release dates: December 21,[1] 23,[2] and 24.[3]
  2. [b]
    Pathé's first choice was Mary Pickford, who was too expensive.[4]

References

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