D.W. Griffith, Billy Bitzer, Marion Leonard, Henry Walthall, Biograph Company, silent film, silent movie stars, free classic film, old movies, silent film streaming, silent era, archive films, rare films, silent drama

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Out Yonder 1919 The Woman God Forgot 1917 That Model from Paris 1926 For Better for Worse 1919 Dorothy Vernon of Haddon Hall 1924

OUR DOCUMENTARY

We are proud to present to all silent film lovers our multiple award-winning documentary! In March 2015 it won the distinction "Award of Merit" at the San Francisco Film Awards. In May it won the Silver Award at the 2015 International Independent Film Awards. In September 2015 it won the Award of Recognition at the Accolade Global Film Competition. Of equal merit is the inclusion of the documentary in the Official Selection of the San Jose International Short Film Festival in October 2015. In December the documentary won the extremely prestigious Diamond Award at the 2015 California Film Awards. The amazing run of recognition for our documentary continued in 2016. In February it was included in the Official Selection of the Buffalo Niagara International Film Festival.

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D.W. Griffith, Billy Bitzer, Marion Leonard, Henry Walthall, Biograph Company, silent film, silent movie stars, free classic film, old movies, silent film streaming, silent era, archive films, rare films, silent drama

"A Trap for Santa" (1909) - hidden gem
   Henry Walthall and Marion Leonard

Directed by       D.W. Griffith
Cinematography by      Billy Bitzer
Starring       Marion Leonard, Henry Walthall, Gladys Egan, Mack Sennett
Distributed by       Biograph Company
Release date    December 20, 1909
Country       United States
Running time          15 m.

This film is part of our series 'Hidden Gems'. It can be watched by registered users who make a donation. For more details, please click here.

"A Trap for Santa" is a short drama directed by D.W. Griffith. It is included in our program to illustrate the work of our star cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

A jobless man (Henry Walthall) is filled with guilt and decides to leave his wife (Marion Leonard) and children behind. Then one day Marion Leonard's fortunes turn around when she receives inheritance. Before Christmas her children set a trap, but instead of catching Santa, they nab a burglar entering through the window.

Click to enlarge:
A Trap for Santa
Henry-Walthall-and-Marion-Leonard-in-A-trap-for-Santa-1909-DW-Griffith-and-Billy-Bitzer-01.jpg
Henry Walthall is a jobless man and his wife Marion Leonard looks desperate in "A Trap for Santa" (1909), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.
http://www.silent-hall-of-fame.org/images/FilmStills/Billy-Bitzer/A-trap-for-Santa/Henry-Walthall-and-Marion-Leonard-in-A-trap-for-Santa-1909-DW-Griffith-and-Billy-Bitzer-01.jpg
Henry-Walthall-in-A-trap-for-Santa-1909-DW-Griffith-and-Billy-Bitzer-01a.jpg
Henry Walthall drowns his sorrow in alcohol in "A Trap for Santa" (1909), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.
http://www.silent-hall-of-fame.org/images/FilmStills/Billy-Bitzer/A-trap-for-Santa/Henry-Walthall-in-A-trap-for-Santa-1909-DW-Griffith-and-Billy-Bitzer-01a.jpg
Henry-Walthall-and-Marion-Leonard-in-A-trap-for-Santa-1909-DW-Griffith-and-Billy-Bitzer-02.jpg
Henry Walthall returns home drunk as Marion Leonard gets both fearful and angry in "A Trap for Santa" (1909), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.
http://www.silent-hall-of-fame.org/images/FilmStills/Billy-Bitzer/A-trap-for-Santa/Henry-Walthall-and-Marion-Leonard-in-A-trap-for-Santa-1909-DW-Griffith-and-Billy-Bitzer-02.jpg
Henry-Walthall-in-A-trap-for-Santa-1909-DW-Griffith-and-Billy-Bitzer-03.jpg
Henry Walthall leaves his home and family in desperation in "A Trap for Santa" (1909), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.
http://www.silent-hall-of-fame.org/images/FilmStills/Billy-Bitzer/A-trap-for-Santa/Henry-Walthall-in-A-trap-for-Santa-1909-DW-Griffith-and-Billy-Bitzer-03.jpg
Mack-Sennett-and-Henry-Walthall-in-A-trap-for-Santa-1909-DW-Griffith-and-Billy-Bitzer-04.jpg
An angry waiter, Mack Sennett, confronts a drunk Henry Walthall in "A Trap for Santa" (1909), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.
http://www.silent-hall-of-fame.org/images/FilmStills/Billy-Bitzer/A-trap-for-Santa/Mack-Sennett-and-Henry-Walthall-in-A-trap-for-Santa-1909-DW-Griffith-and-Billy-Bitzer-04.jpg
Marion-Leonard-in-A-trap-for-Santa-1909-DW-Griffith-and-Billy-Bitzer-05.jpg
Marion Leonard is elated for receiving inheritance money in "A Trap for Santa" (1909), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.
http://www.silent-hall-of-fame.org/images/FilmStills/Billy-Bitzer/A-trap-for-Santa/Marion-Leonard-in-A-trap-for-Santa-1909-DW-Griffith-and-Billy-Bitzer-05.jpg
A-trap-for-Santa-1909-DW-Griffith-and-Billy-Bitzer-06.jpg
The children set a trap in "A Trap for Santa" (1909), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.
http://www.silent-hall-of-fame.org/images/FilmStills/Billy-Bitzer/A-trap-for-Santa/A-trap-for-Santa-1909-DW-Griffith-and-Billy-Bitzer-06.jpg
Henry-Walthall-and-Marion-Leonard-in-A-trap-for-Santa-1909-DW-Griffith-and-Billy-Bitzer-07.jpg
Marion Leonard catches a burglar who turns out to be Henry Walthall in "A Trap for Santa" (1909), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.
http://www.silent-hall-of-fame.org/images/FilmStills/Billy-Bitzer/A-trap-for-Santa/Henry-Walthall-and-Marion-Leonard-in-A-trap-for-Santa-1909-DW-Griffith-and-Billy-Bitzer-07.jpg
Henry-Walthall-and-Marion-Leonard-in-A-trap-for-Santa-1909-DW-Griffith-and-Billy-Bitzer-08.jpg
Henry Walthall begs Marion Leonard's forgiveness in "A Trap for Santa" (1909), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.
http://www.silent-hall-of-fame.org/images/FilmStills/Billy-Bitzer/A-trap-for-Santa/Henry-Walthall-and-Marion-Leonard-in-A-trap-for-Santa-1909-DW-Griffith-and-Billy-Bitzer-08.jpg
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