Jean (dog)

Jean, also known as the Vitagraph Dog (1902–1916), was a female collie that starred in silent films. Owned and guided by director Laurence Trimble, she was one of the first canines to have a leading role in motion pictures. Jean was with Vitagraph Studios from 1909, and in 1913 went with Trimble to England to work with Florence Turner in her own independent film company.

Life and career

Around 1908, Maine resident and writer Laurence Trimble sold an animal story to a New York magazine. In 1909 Trimble visited Vitagraph Studios in New York while doing research for a series of articles called "How Movies Are Made". As he chatted with the sole assistant working under Rollin S. Sturgeon, head of the scenario department, he learned that a story of special interest to producer Albert E. Smith had been set aside because it required a dog that could act—not simply do tricks, but to behave naturally on command. The next morning Trimble returned with his dog, a tri-color Scotch Collie named Jean. "Jean, the Vitagraph Dog" became the first canine to have a leading role in motion pictures.

"Jean was equal in popularity to Vitagraph's human stars, Florence Turner and Maurice Costello," wrote film historian Anthony Slide. Jean was soon starring in her own films, all directed by Trimble. One-reelers and two-reelers with titles such as Jean and the Calico Doll, Jean and the Waif and Jean Goes Fishing were made by Trimble as their troupe filmed along the coastline in his native Maine.

Trimble became a leading director at Vitagraph, directing most of the films made by Turner and John Bunny, as well as those made by Jean. Actress Helen Hayes recalled in a 1931 interview with The New York Times that as an eight-year-old she had roles in two of the 1910 films. "I had long curls and they let me play the juvenile lead in two pictures in support of Jean, the collie," Hayes said. "Jean was the most famous dog of the day and I was very thrilled."

In December 1912, Jean gave birth to six puppies—two male and four female—and was the subject of the Vitagraph documentary short film, Jean and Her Family (1913).

In March 1913, Trimble and Jean left Vitagraph and accompanied Florence Turner to England, where she formed her own company, Turner Films. Trimble and Jean returned to the United States in 1916. Jean died later that year, at age 14.

Trimble tried to launch the career of a successor, Shep the Vitagraph Dog, without success. He then discovered and worked with another dog star, the famed Strongheart.

The four films he made with Strongheart won Trimble a special place in film history, but in later years he would say that, in the qualities of spirit and intelligence, Jean was the best of all his dogs. Trimble eventually retired from filmmaking and trained animals exclusively. His special interest was training guide dogs for the blind.

Films

Jean's films are lost films, with the exception of Jean the Match-Maker (1910), Jean Rescues (1911), in paper print at the Library of Congress, and Playmates (1912). Year Title Role Notes 1910 Jean and the Calico Doll Jean Short filmFilm debut of Helen Hayes 1910 Jean the Match-Maker Jean Short film 1910 Jean Goes Foraging Jean Short film 1910 Jean Goes Fishing Jean Short film 1910 Short film 1910 Jean and the Waif Jean Short film 1910 Where the Winds Blow Short film 1910 Her Mother's Wedding Gown Short film 1911 Jean Rescues Jean Short film 1911 When the Light Waned Short film 1911 Short film 1911 Tested by the Flag Short film 1911 Auld Lang Syne Geordie's dog Short film 1912 Jean Intervenes Billy's dog Short film 1912 Playmates Short film 1912 Jean Short film 1912 Bachelor Buttons Short film 1912 Jean Short film 1913 Jean and Her Family Herself Documentary short film 1913 Jean's Evidence Madge's dog Short film, second release of Turner Films 1914 Fraid Cat Jeanne, Jim's Dog Short film 1914 1914 Through the Valley of Shadows 1915 Lost and Won 1915 Far from the Madding Crowd Gabriel's Dog

Jean (dog)

Bron en licentie