Volume II: Filmography

HIS MAJESTY, THE KING

British release title: HIS MAJESTY THE BABY

December 18, 1915 (Saturday)

Length: 3 reels

Character: Comedy-drama; Than-O-Play

Cast: Gladys Hulette (lady in waiting), Bert Delaney (officer of the guard), Madeline and Marion Fairbanks, Master Gerald Badgley (Alfonso VII, the king of Ilicia, who is only a few months old), Helen Badgley (Princess Helen, the king's sister), Arthur Bauer (the commandant), Morgan Draper (the regent)

Notes: 1. Some notices name Helen Badgley as the queen of Ilicia, rather than the princess. 2. The British title of this film was His Majesty the Baby, with a different last word from the American title, and without a comma. The kingdom was referred to as "Alicia" in British publicity, when the film was released in England in 1916.

SYNOPSIS, Reel Life, December 11, 1915:

"No more charming play has been released recently than His Majesty the King - this of the adventures of two royal children - scheduled for December 18th, on the regular Mutual Program. Innocent of the seriousness of the dangers which beset herself and the infant king, the little Princess Helen (played by Helen Badgley, the Thanhouser kiddie) looks upon their flight and concealment among the peasantry as a delightful pastime. Her thrilling ride on horseback to carry Baby Brother out of the reach of their foes, while undertaken with all possible understanding of their immediate peril, still retains the sparkling quality of a story-book adventure. Helen, no matter what happens, is 'game.' The plot, as told on the screen, is as follows: King Alfonso VII, King of Ilicia, is only a few months old when his uncle, the Regent, determines to take the throne permanently for himself. As he is in absolute command of the army, he instigates an uprising, and the reins of government quickly change hands. The Regent is on the point of seizing the baby king when he discovers that both the infant and his five year old sister, the Princess Helen, have been taken secretly from the city. A young officer and a lady of honor to the Princess have smuggled the children out of the palace. Overtaken by troops of the usurper, the officer stands them off in a single-handed fight, giving the lady of honor, with her little charges, time to make her escape. Their defender finally is overpowered.

"The fugitives find refuge in a neighboring kingdom, where their identities are unknown. The soldiers of the usurper search far and wide for the little king. At last, believing that he can force information from the young officer, the Regent offers him his choice between revealing the hiding place of his infant monarch, or keeping silence and dying as a traitor. The officer chooses the honorable alternative. With the assistance of an old retainer he manages to escape from the firing squad, and it is supposed that he has fled over the border. In fact, however, he stays in the capital in disguise, and secretly arranges with followers of the rightful king to head an uprising to dethrone the usurper. The uprising is successful. But the Regent has discovered the hiding place of the royal child. Already his men are on their way, bearing strict orders to put the little king to death. But they have reckoned without the lady of honor or her stout-hearted little confederate, the Princess Helen. As the soldiers force their way into the house, Helen mounts her horse and, with her baby brother in her arms, rides away through the forest. In the king's crib the soldiers find only a dummy. A few hours later the followers of the rightful king arrive. The lady of honor leads them to the hiding place of their tiny ruler. As they approach the cottage the Princess Helen appears in the doorway, holding up a warning hand. 'His Majesty, the King,' she says solemnly, 'has just completed his bath.'"

REVIEW, The Moving Picture World, December 11, 1915:

"This is an entertaining drama in which Helen Badgley and her baby brother play important roles. The baby boy plays the role of the king, and little Helen is his sister, the princess. The uncle of the young king plots to get him out of the way. His plan, however, is overheard in the making and is frustrated by friends of the child king. Gladys Hulette plays the role of the first lady in waiting, with her usual charm. This picture will be especially pleasing to the children."

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