Lois Weber
Known for Directing · 30 credits
- Born
- 1879-06-12
- Died
- 1939-11-13
- Place of birth
- Allegheny City [now Pittsburgh], Pennsylvania, USA
- Also known as
- Florence Lois Weber · Mrs. Phillips Smalley
Biography
Lois Weber (1879 - 1939) was a true American auteur on par with D. W. Griffith. A director, actress, screenwriter, and producer of mostly silent films, she was the first American woman to direct a full-length feature film (1914's The Merchant of Venice), the first American woman director to own her own film studio, and one of the first film directors to experiment with sound. Weber pioneered the split-screen technique in the 1913 short film Suspense, and Hypocrites featured the first non-pornographic full-frontal female nude scene in 1915. Many of her films tackled social issues like abortion, poverty, discrimination, and religion, drawing the attention of censors.
Only a fraction of her films, estimated to number between 200 and 400, were preserved. In 2022, the American Film Institute announced a new initiative titled "Behind the Veil," after one of Weber's lost films. The initiative "will document 6,000 short films from the silent and early sound eras to uncover the innovative contributions of female and BIPOC storytellers."
Known For
Movies (30)
The Women Who Run Hollywood
2016
as Self (archive footage)
The Merchant of Venice
1914
as Portia
The Spider and Her Web
1914
as Madame DuBarr
Lost by a Hair
1914
as Summer Girl
Suspense.
1913
as The Wife
A Japanese Idyll
1912
Early Directors on Directing
2009
as Self
Idle Wives
1916
as Anne
The Hand That Rocks the Cradle
1917
as Mrs. Broome
Scandal
1915
as Daisy Dean
From Death to Life
1911
as Aratus' Wife
Sunshine Molly
1915
as Sunshine Molly
Hop - The Devil's Brew
1916
as Lydia Jansen
A Heroine of '76
1911
as The Tavern Keeper's Daughter
The Jew's Christmas
1913
as Leah - Isaac's Daughter
Alone in the World
1917
The Twins
1911
as The Twin Sisters
False Colors
1914
as Mrs. Moore
The Picture of Dorian Gray
1913
How Men Propose
1913
as The Maid
The Price
1911
as Ann
Fate
1911
as Flora Brown
Sherlock Holmes, Jr.
1911
as Mrs. Brown
Eyes That See Not
1912
as The Millionaire's Wife
The Pursuit of Hate
1914
as Diana Grave
The Eye of God
1916
as Renie
Fine Feathers
1912
as Mira, the Artist's Model
Lost Illusions
1911
as Grace - The Wife
On the Brink
1911
as Tess
The Rosary
1913
as The Soldier's Sweetheart
About Lois Weber
Lois Weber (1879 - 1939) was a true American auteur on par with D. W. Griffith. A director, actress, screenwriter, and producer of mostly silent films, she was the first American woman to direct a full-length feature film (1914's The Merchant of Venice), the first American woman director to own her own film studio, and one of the first film directors to experiment with sound. Weber pioneered the split-screen technique in the 1913 short film Suspense, and Hypocrites featured the first non-pornographic full-frontal female nude scene in 1915. Man… With 30 credits spanning from 1911 to 2016, Lois Weber has appeared in 30 films and 0 TV shows.
Fans searching for Lois Weber movies, Lois Weber filmography, or the latest projects starring Lois Weber can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Lois Weber Movies
- The Women Who Run Hollywood (2016) — as Self (archive footage)
- The Merchant of Venice (1914) — as Portia
- The Spider and Her Web (1914) — as Madame DuBarr
- Lost by a Hair (1914) — as Summer Girl
- Suspense. (1913) — as The Wife
Where to Watch Lois Weber Films
Most Lois Weber movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Lois Weber, check our movies catalogue and browse page.