Duke Worne
Directing
Biography
Howard "Duke" Worne (December 14, 1888 – October 13, 1933) was an American director and actor of the silent era. He directed more than 70 films between 1919 and 1931. He also appeared in 27 films between 1914 and 1928. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and died in Los Angeles, California. In 1930, Worne married silent film actress Virginia Brown Faire, to whom he remained married until his death three years later in 1933.
Known For
Angered by his son Dick's boastful ways, which in one incident lead him to lose a business deal, an automobile manufacturer challenges him to complete four difficult missions.
The Boaster

When Jim is released from prison, he returns to his Chinatown neighborhood determined to lead a virtuous life. While walking, he hears a woman's cries issuing from a house and enters to investigate. In her delirium, the dying woman mistakes Jim for her nephew and entrusts him to deliver a package to her daughter.
Just Jim

William Gordon, Jr. is the rebellious heir to a million dollar airplane business. He leaves home in search of adventure, and falls in love with Helen, the daughter of an eccentric, destitute inventor. William enters an air race using a souped-up plane.
Daring Deeds

The Isle of Lost Men is one of those lawless tropical island colonies so beloved of adventure-story writers.
Isle of Lost Men

As a baby, John Ermine is stolen from a wagon train by the Crow Indians and is adopted by Chief Fire Bear. John grows to manhood, ignorant that he is a white man until his parentage is disclosed to him by Crooked Bear, a white hermit who is on friendly terms with the Crows. Crooked Bear teaches John the language and customs of the white man's civilization, impressing upon him that it is his sacred responsibility to keep peace between the white men and the Indians.
John Ermine of the Yellowstone
The plot of this silent western short is unknown and it is presumably lost.
The Showdown

The friendship of Damon, the senator, and Pythias, the soldier, is famous in Ancient Syracuse.
Damon and Pythias

Bud Taylor loves Mary Stoddard but is leaving for Alaska in search of gold, leaving a police-dog pup with her that he has named "Phantom." Wade Burton is anxious to win Mary and her father's money. Later, Wade follows Bud to Alaska and attempts to claim-jump Bud's gold strike, but is foiled by Bud and "Phantom."
The Silent Hero

Carter Holmes, master criminologist, must help the oft-kidnapped Ruth Stanhope to find the 9 daggers that will unlock the secret of the cursed Devil's Trademark!
The Trail of the Octopus

Cunard turns into The Queen of the Apaches, an outlaw who steals from the rich to gives to the poor, always leaving a purple mask behind as a trademark.
The Purple Mask
When bandits capture the wife of a US army lieutenant stationed in the Philippines, along with her lover, the choice is his whether to forgive.
The Trail of Hate

Dick Van Buren, a wealthy young man with a penchant for breaking traffic laws, is arrested for speeding and sentenced to 10 days in jail. He is given the option to work out his sentence and becomes a lifeguard at a public beach, where he rescues a mysterious woman from several perils. The woman, with whom he begins a romance, turns out to be a famous film actress caught up in the frenetic antics of a publicity campaign.
Ten Days

Australian Rex [Snowy] Baker stars in this USA film. Rex as Captain William Ballard of the Territorials is sent to make a treaty with the natives. But he meets resistance from the Boers, still unreconciled to British rule.Love interest is Katryn van der Poel [Margaret Landis] Theodore Lorch plays Hendrik van der Poel Pinckney Harrison as Karui the king. J.P. Lockney as the friendly "treader". And as the "baddy" Fritz van Roon played by Jere Austin. After fighting and horse riding and rescues "Rex" wins the natives over to the British way of life, and "gets" the girl!
The Empire Builders

Bored with the ranch, Buck's girl goes off to the city and gets involved (innocently) in a brothel. When Buck brings a herd of cattle to town, a streetwalker lures him to the house just in time for him to save his girl from Martin.
The Scrapper

A wealthy Wyoming man disowns his son, Wayne Sturgis (William Fairbanks), for marrying art student Joan Prescott (Dorothy Revier). After several years on a small farm, Joan begins to suffer from disillusionment, unhappiness, and ill health. The marriage is nearly ruined by the attentions that neighbor Monte Brett (Gladden James) pays Joan.
Marry in Haste

When two young tearaways are fleeing from the scene of a crime one is shot and the other escapes. He makes his way to the home of his companion's mother, who recognizes him as the son she has been separated from for fifteen years.
Some Mother's Boy

Restored by the George Eastman House in 2001, this 1928 serial was considered a “last hurrah” for the silent-era serial, and brought together some of the biggest names of the era: director J.P. McGowan, actors Francis Ford and Joe Bonomo (a carnival strongman-turned-actor), producer Trem Carr (who would later help found Monogram Pictures), and a slew of silent-era supporting icons such as Ruth Hiatt, Grace Cunard, and more. Chapter names like “The Clutching Claw,” “The Devil’s Dice, “Galloping Fury,” and “The Invisible Hand” offer all one needs to know of the film’s concerns: to promise and deliver as much action and suspense as possible, and move our intrepid hero and heroine from one perilous situation to another. One of the biggest stars of the early silent era and a successful serials director in his own right, Francis Ford was the brother of director John Ford.
The Chinatown Mystery

Silent adventure serial starring Ann Little. Episodes: 1) Message of Hate, 2) Menace from the Sky, 3) Mysterious Prisoner, 4) A Perilous Ride, 5) A Woman's Wit, 6) A Night of Terror, 7) Washed Ashore, 8) A Perilous Leap, 9) Lost Identity, 10) In Close Pursuit, 11) The Wilds of Alaska, 12) The Camp of the Charkas, 13) The Secret Skull, 14) The Desert Island, 15) Home and Happiness.
The Blue Fox
Shirley Mason plays the title-role, a glamorous musical star having a hard time escaping the clutches of her lecherous producer (Tom Curran). The producer, however, refuses to leave well enough alone, and Anne is tempted to return to her glamorous life.
Anne Against the World

An Indian scholar seeks an American colleague who is working on a powerful explosive, trying to get to his formula by taking advantage of his drinking problem.