DOLORES COSTELLO FILMOGRAPHY



from DeWitt Bodeen's "From Hollywood" (1976)





Dolores Costello began her film career as a child actress with her sister Helen (or Helene, as she became) at the Eastern Vitagraph Studios. Whenever there was a child's role in a Maurice Costello picture, one of the Costello girls played it, usually Helene who, being older but more diminutive, acted more frequently. On December 13, 1912, a contingent known as the Vitagraph Globe Trotters sailed from San Francisco on a round-the-world cruise aboard the "Tanyo Maru." They were to be gone until the following summer, and they were to make a series of films en route and at selected stopover ports. Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Costello and their daughters, Dolores and Helene, were members of the troupe, as were James Young and his beautiful wife Clara Kimball Young. When the company returned to New York, there were a few more acting roles at Vitagraph for the Costello sisters, but Mrs. Costello then wisely withdrew them to place them in separate private schools. The appearances in Vitagraph films by the Costello girls were almost never publicised, but film reviewers of the time noted them: the reviewer for "Dramatic Mirror," in reviewing Wanted, a Grandmother, in which Maurice Costello co-starred with Florence Turner, observed that the film also presented "the pleasing and bewitching little Dolores." Those Vitagraph features known to include Dolores Costello in an important role are as follows:

THE MEETING OF THE WAYS (1911)

HIS SISTER'S CHILDREN (1911)

A JUVENILE LOVE AFFAIR (1912)

WANTED, A GRANDMOTHER (1912)

VULTURES AND DOVES (1912)

IDA'S CHRISTMAS (1912)

A REFORMED SANTA CLAUS (1912)

THE HINDOO CHARM (1913)

SOME STEAMER SCOOPING (1914)

ETTA OF THE FOOTLIGHTS (1914)

THE EVIL MEN DO (1914)

TOO MUCH BURGLAR (1914)

THE GLIMPSES OF THE MOON (1923). Romantic society drama; in an uncredited supporting role. Dir: Allan Dwan. Sc: E. Lloyd Sheldon, Edfrid Bingham (from the novel by Edith Wharton). With Bebe Daniels, Nita Naldi, David Powell, Maurice Costello, Rubye de Remer, Charles Gerard. William Quirk, Pearl Sindelar. Prod: Paramount. 7 reels. Exteriors filmed in Florida.

LAWFUL LARCENY (1923). Domestic melodrama of gambling and deception: as Nora, a maid. Dir: Allan Dwan. Sc: John Lynch. (from the play by Samuel Shipman). With Hope Hampton, Conrad Nagel, Nita Naldi, Lew Cody, Russell Grifffin, Yvonne Hughes, Gilda Gray, Florence O'Denishawn, Alice Maison. Prod: Paramount. 6 reels. Refilmed as a talkie, RKO, 1930, Dir: Lowell Sherman and starring Bebe Daniels with Sherman.

GREATER THAN A CROWN (1925). Romantic melodrama of royal intrigue; as Isabel Francis, who is really the Princess of Lividia, a mythical kingdom. Dir: R. William Neill. Sc: Wyndham Gittens (from the novel, 'The Lady from Longacre,'' by Victor Bridges). With Edmund Lowe, Margaret Livingston, Ben Hendricks, Paul Panzer, Anthony Merlo, Robert Klein. Prod: Fox. 5 reels. Filmed by Fox, 1922, as The Lady from Longacre, starring Mary Thurman.

BOBBED HAIR (1925). Comedy melodrama of the flapper era; in an uncredited supporting role. Dir: Alan Crosland. Sc: Lewis Milestone (from a book by Alexander Woollcott, Louis Bromfield, and others). With Marie Prevost, Kenneth Harlan, Louise Fazenda, John Roche, Emily Fitzroy, Reed Howes, Pat Hartigan, Walter Long, Francis McDonald, Tom Ricketts, Otto Hoffman, Kate Toncray. Prod: Warner Bros. 6 reels.

THE SEA BEAST (1926). Period sea drama as Esther Wiscasset. With John Barrymore.

MANNEQUIN (1926). Manhattan melodrama; as Joan Herrick, mannequin, accused of murder, and brought into her own father's court. Dir: James Cruze. Sc: Frances Agnew adapted by Walter Woods (from Fannie Hurst's "Liberty Magazine" story). With Alice Joyce, Warner Baxter, ZaSu Pitts, Walter Pidgeon. Prod: Paramount. 6981 ft.

BRIDE OF THE STORM (1926) Seacoast melodrama; as Faith Fitzhugh an orphan raised by three generations of Vrooms in a lighthouse, who attracts a young ensign. Dir: J. Stuart Blackton. Sc: Marion Constance (Blackton) (from a story, "Maryland, My Maryland," by James Francis Dwyer). With John Harron, Otto Matiesen, Sheldon Lewis Tyrone Power Sr., Julia Swayne Gordon. Prod: Warner Bros. 70m.

THE LITTLE IRISH GIRL (1926). Crook melodrama, as Dot Walker, a come-on girl for a gang. Dir. Roy Del Ruth. Sc: Darryl Francis Zanuck (from the story, "The Grifters," by G. D. Lancaster). With John Harron, Matthew Betz, Lee Moran, Gertrude Claire, Henry Barrows, Dot Farley, Joseph Dowling. Prod: Warner Bros. 67m.

THE THIRD DEGREE (1927). Romantic melodrama; as Annie Daly, carnival star, who marries a rich you ng man and gets involved in a murder. Dir: Michael Curtiz. Sc: C. Graham Baker (from the play by Charles Klein). With Louise Dresser, Rockcliffe Fellowes, Jason Robards, Kate Price, Tom Santschi, David Torrence, Myrna Loy. Prod: Warner Bros. 80m. Alice Joyce had appeared in the Costello role in a 1919 Vitagraph production as had Ethel Clayton for Lubin, 1913.

WHEN A MAN LOVES (AKA, GB, His Lady) (1927). Costume romance; as Manon Lescaut, torn between her love of luxury and for the Chevalier des Grieux. (See listing in John Barrymore filmography for full details.) Other famous film Manons have been Lya de Putti (German, Ufa, 1926), Alida Valli (Italian 1941); Cecile Aubrey (French, 1950) Catherine Deneuve (French, 1968).

A MILLION BID (1927). Romantic melodrama; as Dorothy Gordon, put on the marriage auction block by her money-mad mother. Dir: Michael Curtiz. Sc: Robert Dillon (story by George Cameron, from Mrs. Sidney Drew's play, "Agnes"). With WarnerOland, Malcolm McGregor, Betty Blythe, William Demarest Douglas Gerrard, Prod: Warner Bros. 7 reels. Anita Stewart had created the Costello role (then named Agnes Belgradin) for Vitagraph, 1913. (See listing in Anita Stewart filmography.)

OLD SAN FRANCISCO (1927). Period melodrama; as Dolores Vasquez, daughter of an old Spanish California family, loved by an Irishman, desired by a Chinese, saved by the 1906 earthquake and fire. Dir: Alan Crosland. Sc: Anthony Coldeway (from a story by Darryl Francis Zanuck). With Charles Emmett Mack, Warner Oland, Josef Swickard, John Miljan William Demarest, Anders Randolph, Sojin, Anna May Wong, Rose Dione, W. Lawson Butt, Otto Matiesen, Walter McGrail, Martha Mattox, Tom Santschi. Prod: Warner Bros. 9 reels.

THE HEART OF MARYLAND (1927). Period romance; as Maryland Calvert, proud Confederate heroine who loves a Union soldier and saves his life by swinging on the clapper of the bell that would summon guards to apprehend him. Dir: Lloyd Bacon. Sc: C. Graham Baker (from the play by David Belasco). With Jason Robards, Carroll Nye, Charles Edward Bull, Erville Alderson Warner Richmond, Myrna Loy Francis Ford. Prod: Warner Bros. 6 reels. Mrs. Leslie Carter had played Maryland for Metro, 1915, recreating her original stage role; and Catherine Calvert had played it for Vitagraph, 1921.

THE COLLEGE WIDOW (1927). Romantic college comedy; as Jane Witherspoon, college president's daughter who recruits a prize football team, each piayer thinking he is her chosen favourite. Dir: Archie L. Mayo. Sc: Paul Schofield and Peter Milne (from a play by George Ade.) With William Collier Jr., Anders Randolph, Charles Hill Mailes, Douglas Gerrard, Sumner Getchell, Guinn "Big Boy" Williams. Prod: Warner Bros. 67m. Ethel Clayton had played the Costello role in 1915 for Lubin in 1936 Patrica Ellis played it in the re-title] vers~on, Freshman Love.

TENDERLOIN (1928). Crook melodrama, as Rose Shannon, cabaret dancer, who falls in love with a crook trying to go straight and is implicated with him in a big bank robbery. Dir: Michael Curtiz. Sc: E. T. Lowe, Jr. (from the story by Melville Crosman) dialogue by Lowe and Joseph Jackson, the latter also titlewriter). With Conrad Nagel, Mitchell Lewis Georgie Stone, Dan Wolheim, Pat Hartigan Fred Kelsey, G. Raymond Nye. Prod: Warner Bros. 85m. (15m in spoken dialogue). (Miss Costello's talking picture debut.)

GLORIOUS BETSY (1928). Period romance; as Betsy Patterson, who falls in love with a French tutor who turns out to be Napoleon's brother Jerome Bonaparte incognito. Dir: Alan Crosland. Sc: Anthony Coldeway (from the play by Rida Johnson Young). With Conrad Nagel, John Miljan, Marc McDermott, Betty Blythe, Pasquale Amato, Michael Vavitch, Andre De Segurola, Clarissa Selwynne. Prod: Warner Bros. 7 reels. Part talkie (featured a Southern melody and "La Marseillaisle"). Re-made, 1936, as Hearts Divided with Marion Davies in the Costello role.

THE REDEEMING SIN (1929). Romantic melodrama; as Fleurette, flower of the French underworld, who loves the young doctor she has sworn to kill because she thinks he let her brother die. Dir: Howard Bretherton. Sc: Harvey Gates, with dialogue by Joseph Jackson (from a story by L. V. Jefferson). With Conrad Nagel, Georgie Stone, Philippe De Lacy, Lionel Belmore, Warner Richmond, Nina Quartero. Prod: Warner Bros. 75m. (32m. of sound). Previously filmed by Vitagraph, 1925, with Nazimova in the Costello role.

NOAH'S ARK (1929). Reincarnation drama with Biblical and pre-World War One settings, a double role: as Miriam, the Old Testament heroine, spared in the Great Flood; and Mary, a touring actress, caught in a train wreck on the Orient Express and nearly drowned. Dir: Michael Curtiz. Sc: Anthony Coldeway, with dialogue by De Leon Anthony (story by Darryl Francis Zanuck). With George O'Brien, Noah Beery, Louise Fazenda, Guinn Williams, Paul McAllister Nigel de Brulier, Anders Randolph, Armand Kaliz, Myrna Loy, William V. Mong. Prod: Warner Bros. Ten reels, of which two had dialogue.

GLAD RAG DOLL (1929). Comedy romance as Annabel Lee, who likes dancing and pretty clothes. Dir: Michael Curtiz. Sc: C. Graham Baker (from a story by Harvey Gates). With Ralph Graves, Audrey Ferris, Albert Gran, Maude Turner Gordon, Arthur Rankin, Dale Fuller, Claude Gillingwater, Douglas Gerrard, Andre Beranger, Lee Moran, Tom Kennedy, Louise Beavers. Prod: Warner Bros: 70m. Miss Costello's first all-talkie film.

MADONNA OF AVENUE A (1929). Mother-daughter drama; as Maria, educated at an exclusive boarding school, although her mother operates a saloon on Avenue A. Dir: Michael Curtiz. Sc: Ray Doyle, with dialogue by Francis Powers (from a story by Mark Canfield). With Louise Dresser, Grant Withers Douglas Gerrard, Otto Hoffman, Lee Moran. Prod: Warner Bros. 71m., 60% of which is dialogue.

THE SHOW OF SHOWS (1929). In a songand dance number, "My Sister," introduced by Richard Barthelmess, with her own sister Helene. The number was staged by Larry Ceballos, and had music by Ray Perkins, with Iyr~cs by Perkins and J. K. Breenan. The Costello sisters headlined a group featuring other actresses who were real-life sisters. Loretta Young and Sally Blane, Sally O'Neil and Molly O'Day, Lola VendriH and Armida, Viola Dana and Shirley Mason, Harriet Lake and Marion Byron, Alice and Marceline Day, Adamae and Alberta Vaughn. Prod: Warner Bros. 124m. (Entire film, aHtalking, singing and dancing, 86% in colour.)

HEARTS IN EXILE (1929). Romantic melodrama, of old Russia; as Vera Zuanova, fishmonger's daughter, who rises in the world. Dir: Michael Curtiz. Sc: Harvey Gates (from a play by John Oxenham). With Grant Withers James Kirkwood, George Fawcett, David Torrence, Olive Tell, Rose Dione. Prod: Warner Bros: 82m., all-talkie, with songs. Clara Kimball Young had played the same role in a 1915 World release (re-issued two years later as Hearts Afire).

SECOND CHOICE (1930). Romance, as Vallery Grove, who is loved and sought by two men. Dir: Howard Bretherton. Sc: Joseph Jackson (from a story by Elizabeth Alexander). With Chester Morris, Jack Mulhall, Edna Murphy, Charlotte Merriam, Ethlynne Claire. Prod: Warner Bros. 67m.

EXPENSIVE WOMEN (1931). Romantic drama; as Constance Newton, a girl of whims who goes from one man to another and almost loses the man she really loves. Dir: Hobart Henley. Sc: Harvey Thew and Raymond Griffith (from a story, "Passionate Sonata," by Wilson Collison). With Warren WiHiam, Anthony Bushell, Joe Donahue, H. B. Warner Polly Walters, WiHiam House. Prod: First National. 62m.

LITTLE LORD FAUNTLEROY (1936). Period juvenile drama, as "Dearest,'' widow whose son becomes heir to an English earldom. Dir: John Cromwell. Sc: Hugh Walpole (from a novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett). With Freddie Bartholomew, C. Aubrey Smith, Guy Kibbee, Mickey Rooney, Eric Alden Jackie Searle, Henry Stephenson, Reginald Barlow, Ivan Simpson, E. E. Clive, Una O'Connor, Jessie Ralph, Gilbert Emery, Mary MacLaren. Prod: David O. Selznick, released by United Artists. 98m. In 1921, for United Artists, Mary Pickford had played both "Dearest" and young Ceddie, her son, in a silent version.

YOURS FOR THE ASKING (1936). Gambling romance, as Lucielle Sutton, impoverished society beauty, who becomes partners with a gangster in a gambling establishment. Dir: Alexander Hall. Sc: Eve Greene, Harlan Ware, Philip MacDonald (from a story by William R. Lipman and WiHiam H. Wright). With George Raft, Ida Lupino, Reginald Owen James Gleason, Edgar Kennedy, Lynne Overman, Skeets Gallagher, Betty Blythe, Olive TeH. Prod: Paramount. 68m.

THE BELOVED BRAT (AKA GB, A Dangerous Age) (1938). Juvenile deiinquency drama; as Miss Cosgrove, who understands the problems of a neglected and unhappy girl and is largely responsible for her regeneration. Dir: Arthur Lubin. Sc: Lawrence Kimble (from a story, "Girls on Probation," by Jean Negulesco). With Bonita GranviHe, Donald Crisp, Donald Briggs, Natalie Moorehead, Lucille Webster Gleason.Prod: Warner Bros. 63m. Working title: Too Much of Everything.

BREAKING THE ICE (1938). Drama of the Pennsylvania Mennonites; as Martha Martin widowed mother of a boy who makes a hit at a Philadelphia ice rink. Dir: Edward Cline. Sc: Mary McCall Jr., Manuel Seff, Bernard Schubert (from a story by Fritz Falkenstein and N. Brewster Morse). With Bobby Breen Charlie, Ruggles, Robert Barrat, Dorothy Peterson, John King, Billy Gilbert, Charlie Murray, Margaret Hamilton, Jonathan Hale. Prod: Sol Lesser, released by RKO. 80m.

THE KING OF THE TURF(1939). Racetrack drama; as Mrs. Barnes, whose son by a first marriage becomes a jockey. Dir: Alfred E. Green. Sc: George Bruce. With Adolphe Menjou, Roger Daniel, Walter Abel, Alan Dinehart, William Demarest Harold Huber, William BakeweH. Prod: United Artists. 88m.

WHISPERING ENEMIES (1939). Drama of rivalries, as Laura Crandall, head of a cosmetic firm, who fights a whispering campaign conducted by a commercial rival. Dir: Lewis D. Collins. Sc: Gordon Rigby, Tom Kilpatrick (from a story by John Rawlins and Harold Tarshis). With Jack Holt, Addison Richards Joseph Crehan, Pert Kelton. Prod: Columbia. 62m.

OUTSIDE THESE WALLS (1939). Prison newspaper melodrama; as Margaret Bronson; newspaper owner, who uses prison politics to gain her way to a governor's race. Dir: Raymond McCarey. Sc: Harold Buchman (from a story by Ferdinand Reyher). With Michael Whalen, Virginia Weidler, Don Beddoe. Mary Forbes, Robert Emmett Keane, Pierre Watkin, Kathleen Lockhart, Protl: 20th Century-Fox. 60m.

THE MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS (1942). Story of the decline of an American family; as Isabel Amberson, widowed mother of George Minafer, who possesses her life and finally gets his comeuppance. Dir.lSc: Orson Welles (from the novel by Booth Tarkington). With Joseph Cotten, Tim Holt, Anne Baxter, Agnes Moorehead, Ray Collins, Richard Bennett, Erskine Sanford, Don Dillaway, Prod: RKO. 88m. Alice Calhoun had played Isabel Amberson in a 1925 Vitagraph silent version of Tarkington's novel, called Pampered Youth.

THIS IS THE ARMY (1943). War musical; as Mrs. Davidson, who sees both her husband and son in the service. Dir: Michael Curtiz. Sc: Casey Robinson and Claude Binyon (from the stage show by Irving Berlin). With George Murphy, Joan Leslie, Ronald Reagan, George Tobias, Alan Hale, Charles Butterworth, Una Merkel, Stanley Ridges, Rosemary De Camp, Ruth Donnelly, Dorothy Peterson, Frances Langford, Gertrude Niesen, Kate Smith, Joe Louis, Irving Berlin. Prod: Warner Bros. 118m.
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