When in 2016 all the known surviving footage of the 1916 American series Who’s Guilty?, preserved at the Gosfilmofond of Russia archive, was shown at the Giornate, the surprise about the quality of the episodes was mixed with deep regret that, out of the original 14 chapters, only 10 survived (seven in a complete form, three incomplete). However, this year, thanks to the efforts of archivist Tamara Shvediuk, another complete episode has resurfaced.
The plot of Episode 5 deals with a young couple, engineer Tom Carter and wealthy girl Leila Austin (“Lily Lustin” in the Russian version), who get married and move away prospecting for gold. When Tom’s venture seems unsuccessful, the separate actions of Leila’s parents, her old wicked suitor Halsey Brent, and her best friend Nellie Collins (“Henry Brent” and “Nelly Collos” respectively in the Russian version) all contribute to the ill-fated epilogue.
Unlike the other chapters in the series, here the answer to the title question seems to point at the collective responsibility of everyone who did not trust Tom’s efforts.
The newfound Who’s Guilty? episode was the one most covered in the press. While the interiors where shot, as usual, at the Arrow Film Corporation Studios in Yonkers, New York, the crew moved to another state for the filming of the outdoor sequences, possibly a unique case in the making of the series. The zinc mines of Ogdensburg, New Jersey, were the main location, where director Howell Hansel had to face rough weather and funny mishaps with the local extras.
The notes in the 2016 Giornate catalogue include more details about the idea for the series, and its production and reception. – Federico Striuli