Lost1915Thanhouser CompanyOne reelComedy

Big Brother Bill

Name: Big Brother Bill
Genre: Comedy
Released: 1915-04-18

No copy you can watch online. No print is known to survive. What follows is what does: the release, the cast, the story, and what the trade press said at the time.

The story

“Jack, Helen’s brother, never fails to defend her against bad boys who tease. When he slaps Tim for imposing on Helen, Jack is threatened with the dreadful things ‘big brother Bill’ will do to him, when Bill gets home next day. This doesn’t scare Jack. But little Helen worries so that that night she dreams of a ferocious giant, called Bill, who is on the point of overpowering her brother—when she wakes up. Tim’s champion proves no such Titan as Helen has dreamed, and Jack gives him the trouncing of his life.”

Summary from Reel Life · 3 April 1915

What the papers said

1 review · 1 article

“The Kidlet has a friend who is always talking about a big brother. She goes to sleep and dreams of him. This makes a very fair juvenile subject and is well photographed.”

The Moving Picture World · 24 April 1915

Article

11 April 1915The Morning Telegraph1 min

“Helen Badgley, Leland Benham and Jack Dowling provide the laughter and the tears that lend interest and feeling to the Thanhouser production, Big Brother Bill, designed for release in the Mutual programme. Helen is very fond of Jack because he always protects her, but when he has to lick Tim for teasing Helen and Tim threatens to bring his big brother Bill around Helen becomes scared. That night she dreams of Bill, who proves in her dreams to be an enormous giant whom her toy pistol even fails to frighten. The next day she advises her brother to run, but he takes off his coat, and when the real Bill appears, gives him a trouncing much to Helen’s pride.”

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Cast and crew

Director: Arthur Ellery
: James Durkin
Cast: Arthur Le Vien
: George Darling
: Helen Badgley as Helen
: Jack Dougherty
: Jack Dowling/George Darling as Big Brother Bill
: “Jock” Gironda
: Leland Benham as Jack
: Nolan Gane
: Phil Brady

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More about this film

Bowers’ notes: The New Rochelle Pioneer, December 5, 1914, stated that James Durkin was directing George Darling, a seven and one-half foot tall English giant, in a film. The same publication, issue of April 3, 1915, stated that George Dowling (sic), “the British giant,” was working with Arthur LeVien in a film directed by Arthur Ellery. In Thanhouser credits, the part of Big Brother Bill was credited to Jack Dowling. The actor playing the part of Big Brother Bill was listed as Jack Dowling in Reel Life, April 3, 1915, and as Jack Darling in the same publication a week later. It is believed that George Dowling, George Darling, Jack Darling, and Jack Dowling were the same person. It is also believed that after Director James Durkin left Thanhouser in December 1914, the direction of the unfinished film was assumed by Arthur Ellery, who completed it. 2. This film was originally scheduled for release on February 7, 1915, and many trade schedules listed that date. 3. Jock (or “Jack”) Gironda’s name was misspelled as Jack “Jarondo” in Reel Life, January 30, 1915.

From Volume II: Filmography of Q. David Bowers’ Thanhouser Films: An Encyclopedia and History, reproduced with permission and unchanged. Read the history of 1915 →

Cite as: Bowers, Q. David. Thanhouser Films: An Encyclopedia and History, “Big Brother Bill”. thanhouser.org/films/big-brother-bill/

Where a print is held

Held by: No print known