Valeska Suratt

Originally posted on July 22, 2020.

“The Immigrant” is Valeska Suratt’s second film, however it is the ONLY film she did that was not under Fox. How did this happen? Typically actors/actresses of the era were under contract to a particular studio. Was Valeska a “free agent”? Well, not quite it seems. Upon my research for “The Immigrant”, I found some articles relating to a lawsuit between Suratt, Fox and the Lasky Feature Play Company. It appears that on (or about) October 29, 1914, Valeska signed a contract with the LFPC to appear in one of their productions for $5,000, which she received an advance sum of $500. This production was to start around June 15, 1915. She had her manager, Joseph Pincus, find out from the LFPC when her service would be in demand but he was told no play suitable for her was ready. Valeska claims to have offered to refund the advance as to void the contract but was told from the treasurer of Lasky (Samuel Goldfish) to keep the money until she could find work elsewhere. Before filming with LFPC would start, Valeska signed a contract with Fox that would prohibit her from working with any other company for at least a year. As you can see, this conflicts with the contract from Lasky. A lawsuit was brought upon Valeska when the LFPC found out about the Fox movie “The Soul of Broadway.” Lasky sued to block Fox and Valeska from advertising or even exhibiting the film as well for monetary damages that amounted to what Suratt’s salary would have been ($5,000). Of the two articles I found, there was not a definitive settlement listed but obviously we can see that Valeska was allowed to proceed with Fox and she also starred in Lasky’s “The Immigrant.” Lesson of the story, don’t sign conflicting contracts!

While “The Soul of Broadway” was a showcase for Valeska with all the outfits that was featured, “The Immigrant” would be quite the opposite, though she does have some outfits to show off (this is Valeska after all!).  In this film, Valeska portrays a young Russian girl who comes to the United States as an immigrant to escape from poverty.  Here is the main cast for the film:

---

Valeska Suratt…………………..Masha

Theodore Roberts…………… J. J. Walton

Thomas Meighan………………David Harding

Jane Wolfe……………………….Olga

Raymond Hatton……………….Munsing

Hal Clements…………………….John

Ernest Joy…………………………Walton’s Partner

Gertrude Kellar………………….Walton’s Housekeeper

Bob Flemming……………………Officer on Board Ship

Directed by George Melford and written by Marion Fairfax.  

Released in theaters on December 20, 1915.

Story:

Masha, a young Russian immigrant, is heading towards America to escape her life of poverty. On the ship to the US, Masha is insulted by an officer on the ship. A young American contractor and civil engineer, David Harding, takes it upon himself to get Masha out of harm’s way and secures a room on the second cabin for her and even pays the difference out of his own pocket. J.J. Walton, who is a wealthy politician and contractor, and travelling on the ship as well (via first class), is captivated by Masha’s beauty.

When the ship arrives at New York, Masha is met by her sister Olga, as well as her brother in law John, who is a drunkard. David is given the address to Olga’s place so he can be repaid for the money he advanced to Masha. J.J. also learns of the address and secures permission from John on having Masha come over to his place and be employed as a maid.

The first night Masha works as J.J.’s maid, he attacks her. She flees back to her sister but he pursues her and by a promise of marriage and an education, he convinces Masha to return to his house.

David Harding has opened up offices in the same building where J.J. Walton is established. Harding successfully outbids Walton on a big government contract for a dam in Arizona. This infuriates Walton who plans revenge against Harding by plotting to blow up the dam once it’s near completion!

As the dam is being built in Arizona, Walton takes Masha on a trip to the area so he can keep an eye on it’s status as he still plans on blowing up the dam. Since meeting on the ship, Masha and Harding have met up several times. Harding has assumed that Masha married his rival Walton.

On the night of the planned dam explosion, Walton threatens Masha and persuades her to entice Harding away from the area.  When she meets up with David, she informs him of Walton’s plan to blow up the dam. David rushes back but it is too late and the dam explodes, causing water to rush down to the village that is nearby. Masha goes after David fearing he may be hurt in the incident. Meanwhile, gloating in his triumph victory of blowing up the dam, Walton failed to realize the house he was at was in the way of rushing water. The house quickly floods and collapses, killing Walton in the process.

Masha eventually finds David unconscious on top of a floating house top.  Once she gets to him, she wakes him up and informs him that she was never Walton’s wife. Having feelings for her all this time, David is delighted and asks Masha to marry him.

Hell of a way to end the film!

An interest factoid I found out was that the director’s assistant was able to secure 100 Russians who recently arrived in the US from Siberia as extras on the scenes involving Masha’s voyage to America. A large ocean liner was rented and the extras were placed on board. Once the ship was miles out in the ocean, it was realized that none of the extras spoke any English! Whoops!! The director, George Melford, was unable to speak to any of them and this caused quite the stir. Right before they had to turn the ship around, down in the fire-room of the ship there was a worker who spoke both English and Russian! The next two days, this worker got to translate between the director and the extras.

Of all her films, I personally feel “The Immigrant” has a better chance of survival due to the fact it was NOT made by Fox. The Library of Congress has a list of American silent feature films that state whether a film is known to survive (if it does, it lists archives) or if it’s lost. This film is not present on the list for some odd reason. Hopefully it turns up at some archive before it becomes dust.

Unlike “The Soul of Broadway”, the reviews I found of “The Immigrant” all pretty much had the same information.  I feel very confident in this reconstruction and hope you all enjoyed it!         -bP

Please do not reuse without permission (just link to the website)

Sources: 

Picture World Feb 12, 1916

Motography – July 17, 1915

Variety – Dec 1915

Condobolin Lachlander and Condobolinand Western Districts Record – Condobolin, New South Wales, AU – June 20, 1917

Motion Picture News – Jan 1, 1916

Decatur Daily – Feb 1, 1916

Evening Independent – Mar 8, 1916

Melbourne Herald – Nov 4, 1916

Montana Helena Independent – Jan 16, 1916

Tacoma Times – Jan 19, 1916

Waco Morning News – Dec 23, 1915

And many other newspapers that had similar information.