Margaret Dale
Actor
About Margaret Dale
Margaret Dale was an American actress who appeared during the silent film era, with her only known screen credit being in D.W. Griffith's 1922 mystery thriller 'One Exciting Night.' Her brief career spanned just one year, making her one of the many performers who graced the silver screen during Hollywood's formative years but did not achieve lasting fame. Like many supporting actors of the period, she was likely part of Griffith's stock company or contracted for this specific production. Her appearance in 'One Exciting Night' places her among the early generation of film actors who helped establish the language of cinema performance before the transition to sound. Unfortunately, detailed records about her life, career trajectory, or other potential film work remain scarce, which was common for actors in minor roles during this era. Her contribution, though brief, represents the collective effort of countless performers who populated early American cinema.
The Craft
Milestones
- Appeared in D.W. Griffith's 'One Exciting Night' (1922)
Best Known For
Must-See Films
Working Relationships
Studios
Why They Matter
Impact on Culture
Margaret Dale's cultural impact is limited to her contribution as a supporting player in one of D.W. Griffith's later films. Her participation in 'One Exciting Night' represents the collective effort of countless actors who helped build the foundation of American cinema during the silent era, even if their individual contributions were not widely recognized or preserved in historical records.
Lasting Legacy
Margaret Dale's legacy is primarily that of a representative figure from the silent era - one of the many actors whose names and contributions have been largely lost to time, but who were integral to the creation of early American cinema. Her story illustrates how the film industry was built not just by stars, but by countless performers in smaller roles.
Who They Inspired
Given her brief film career, there is no documented evidence of Margaret Dale's influence on other actors or filmmakers. Her influence exists only insofar as she contributed to the overall fabric of silent era cinema through her performance in 'One Exciting Night.'
Off Screen
Very little is documented about Margaret Dale's personal life, which was typical for supporting actors in the silent era who did not achieve star status. Her brief film appearance suggests she may have been a stage actor transitioning to film or someone pursuing acting as a temporary career.
Did You Know?
- Margaret Dale appeared in 'One Exciting Night,' which was one of D.W. Griffith's later films during his decline in popularity
- The film she appeared in was a mystery thriller that attempted to capitalize on the success of earlier 'old dark house' films
- Her entire known film career consists of a single year, 1922
- Like many silent era actors, her personal details and career history remain largely undocumented
- Her film 'One Exciting Night' survives and is available for viewing, allowing modern audiences to see her performance
- The film was produced by D.W. Griffith Productions, suggesting she may have been part of his stock company
- Her role, like many in the film, was likely a supporting part that did not receive prominent billing
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Margaret Dale?
Margaret Dale was an American actress from the silent film era who appeared in only one known film, D.W. Griffith's 'One Exciting Night' in 1922. Her career was extremely brief, spanning just that single year, and detailed information about her life and other potential work remains scarce.
What films is Margaret Dale best known for?
Margaret Dale is known exclusively for her appearance in 'One Exciting Night' (1922), a mystery thriller directed by the legendary D.W. Griffith. This appears to be her only surviving film credit, making her one of many actors from the silent era with extremely brief filmographies.
When was Margaret Dale born and when did she die?
Unfortunately, specific birth and death dates for Margaret Dale are not documented in available historical records, which was common for supporting actors in the silent era who did not achieve lasting fame. Her nationality is listed as American, but other biographical details remain unknown.
What awards did Margaret Dale win?
There are no records of Margaret Dale receiving any awards or nominations during her brief film career. The Academy Awards were not established until 1929, after her known film work, and supporting actors in minor roles during the silent era rarely received formal recognition.
What was Margaret Dale's acting style?
Specific details about Margaret Dale's acting style are not documented in available sources. As a performer in a D.W. Griffith film, she would have employed the dramatic, exaggerated style typical of silent era acting, though without access to the film or contemporary reviews, her specific approach cannot be determined.
Why is so little known about Margaret Dale?
The scarcity of information about Margaret Dale reflects the reality for many supporting actors in early cinema. Studios did not systematically preserve records about performers in minor roles, and unless an actor achieved star status or had a lengthy career, their biographical details were often lost to time. This was especially common for actors whose careers spanned only a brief period in the 1920s.
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Films
1 film
