Alice Joyce: The Madonna of the Screen (1890 – 1955)

Early Life and Entry into Films

Silent movie star Alice Joyce was born in Kansas City, Missouri on 1st October 1890. Before gracing the silver screen, she worked as a fashion model and a telephone operator. Around 1910, she made her film debut, primarily working with Kalem Studios, which was later acquired by Vitagraph Studios.

During Alice Joyce's time, the silent film era predominantly used 35mm film, which was the standard format for both professional and amateur filmmakers. This format provided a high-quality viewing experience but has become increasingly rare to find in working condition. At Digital Converters, we specialise in converting these antique cine films into modern digital formats, preserving the magic of the past for future generations.

Rise to Stardom

In the 1910s, Joyce quickly established herself as a charming, reserved, and dignified leading lady. She was often cast alongside actors Tom Moore and Carlyle Blackwell. Unfortunately, few of her earliest short films have survived the test of time. However, many of her feature films from the 1920s are still available, albeit hard to find.

Noteworthy Films

Joyce's filmography is rich with classics such as "The Courage of Silence" (1917), the original "Stella Dallas" (1925), and "The Green Goddess" (1925), where she starred opposite George Arliss. She also ventured into British cinema with films like "The Passionate Adventure" (1924) and "The Rising Generation" (1928).

Transition to Talkies and Beyond

Known as "The Madonna of the Screen," Joyce's career began to wane with the advent of sound in films. Her last appearance was in "Song o' My Heart," an early talkie from 1930.

Personal Life and Retirement

Joyce was married three times and had two daughters. After retiring from films, she focused on raising her daughters and performing on stage. Financially secure, she no longer needed to work in films. She passed away on 9th October 1955 due to heart failure.

Vintage Bio

As captured in the 1920 edition of "Who’s Who On The Screen," Alice Joyce was initially known as "The Kamen Girl." Under Vitagraph's direction, she became a household name. With her madonna-like face, she was aptly dubbed "The Madonna of the Silver Sheet."

Preserving the Legacy

For those interested in reliving the golden era of silent films, many of Alice Joyce's works can be converted from their original formats to digital or DVD. At Digital Converters, we offer services that range from old cine formats to converting camcorder tapes to dvd and more, ensuring that these cinematic treasures are not lost to history.

Alice Joyce’s Silent Films

Rising Generation, The (1928) …. Mrs. Kent 13 Washington Square (1928) …. Mrs. De Peyster Noose, The (1928) …. Mrs. Bancroft Sorrell and Son (1927) …. Fanny Garland So’s Your Old Man (1926/I) …. Princess Lescaboura Ace of Cads, The (1926) …. Eleanour Beau Geste (1926) …. Lady Patricia Brandon Dancing Mothers (1926) …. Ethel Westcourt Mannequin (1926) …. Selene Herrick Little French Girl, The (1925) …. Madame Vervier Home Maker, The (1925) …. Eva Knapp Stella Dallas (1925) …. Helen Morrison Headlines (1925) …. Phyllis Dale Daddy’s Gone A-Hunting (1925) …. Edith Passionate Adventure, The (1924) …. Drusilla Sinclair White Man (1924) …. Lady Andrea Pellor Green Goddess, The (1923) …. Lucilla Crespin Inner Chamber, The (1921) …. Claire Robson Scarab Ring, The (1921) …. Constance Randall Her Lord and Master (1921) …. Indiana Stillwater Cousin Kate (1921) …. Kate Curtis Prey, The (1920) …. Helen Reardon Vice of Fools, The (1920) …. Marion Rogers Dollars and the Woman (1920) …. Madge Hillyer Sporting Duchess, The (1920) …. Muriel, Duchess of Desborough Slaves of Pride (1920) …. Patricia Leeds Vengeance of Durand, The (1919) …. Marion Durand/Beatrice Durand… aka Two Portraits, The (1919) (USA) Winchester Woman, The (1919) …. Agatha Winchester Spark Divine, The (1919) …. Marcia Van Ardale Third Degree, The (1919) …. Annie Sands Cambric Mask, The (1919) …. Rose Ember Lion and the Mouse, The (1919) …. Shirley Rossmore Captain’s Captain, The (1919) …. Louise Greyling … aka Cap’n Abe’s Niece (1919) (USA: alternative title) Woman Between Friends, The (1918) …. Cecelie White Everybody’s Girl (1918) …. Florence To the Highest Bidder (1918) …. Barbara Preston Find the Woman (1918) …. Madeline Renard Triumph of the Weak, The (1918) …. Edith Merrill Business of Life, The (1918) …. Jacqueline Nevers Song of the Soul, The (1918) …. Ann Fenton Fettered Woman, The (1917) …. Angelina Allende Alabaster Box, An (1917) …. Lydia Bolton/Lydia Orr Richard the Brazen (1917) …. Harriet Renwyk Question, The (1917) …. Martha Wainwright Her Secret (1917) …. Clara Weston … aka Northward Ho! (1917) (USA) Within the Law (1917) …. Mary Turner Womanhood, the Glory of the Nation (1917) …. Mary Ward … aka Battle Cry of War (1917/II) … aka Womanhood (1917) (copyright title) Courage of Silence, The (1917) …. Mercedes Whom the Gods Destroy (1916) …. Mary ‘Mar’ O’Neil Cast Up by the Sea (1915) …. Ruth Adams Face of the Madonna, The (1915) …. Jane Girl of the Music Hall, The (1915) …. Ida Her Supreme Sacrifice (1915) …. Ora Eames Leech, The (1915) …. Grace Swindler, The (1915) …. Bess Harris Unfaithful to His Trust (1915) …. Eugenia Burbank White Goddess, The (1915) …. Elsie Farnum Beast, The (1914) …. Edith Brand, The (1914) …. Mary Halleck Dance of Death, The (1914) …. Mabel Fate’s Midnight Hour (1914) Girl and the Stowaway, The (1914) …. Adele Colby Green Rose, The (1914) Hand Print Mystery, The (1914) …. Ruth In Wolf’s Clothing (1914) …. Daisy Brooks Lynbrook Tragedy, The (1914) …. Ruth Malloy Mayor’s Secretary, The (1914) Mystery of the Sleeping Death (1914) …. Lizzie Old Army Coat, The (1914) …. Alice Price of Silence, The (1914) …. Barbara Ragan Riddle of the Green Umbrella, The (1914) …. Madelyn Mack Shadow, The (1914) …. Sarah Show Girl’s Glove, The (1914) …. Mrs. Mary Hampton Theft of the Crown Jewels, The (1914) …. Princess Zavia of Eltwich-Haldmandt Vampire’s Trail, The (1914) …. Laura Payne Viper, The (1914) …. Mary Putnam Weakling, The (1914) …. Nancy Berry School for Scandal, The (1914) …. Lady Ann Teazle Nina of the Theatre (1914) …. Mrs. Nina Brent Celebrated Case, A (1914) Cabaret Dancer, The (1914) …. Linee Hayden Christian, The (1914) Artist’s Sacrifice, The (1913) …. Neil Winston Bolt from the Sky, A (1913) …. Wynne Carter Christian, The (1913) …. Esther For Her Sister’s Sake (1913) Hunchback, The (1913) …. Marie Carver Midnight Message, A (1913) …. Sybil Douglas Our New Minister (1913) …. Lem’s daughter Perils of the Sea (1913) Riddle of the Tin Soldier, The (1913) …. Madelyn Mack Thief in the Night, A (1913) Unseen Terror, An (1913) …. Anita Victim of Deceit, A (1913) …. Fern Barclay Octoroon, The (1913) Cloak of Guilt, The (1913) …. Helen Dana Attorney for the Defense, The (1913) …. Ruth Davenport Pawnbroker’s Daughter, The (1913) …. Esther Dreyfus … aka Modern Christian, A (1913) (USA) When Fate Decrees (1913) …. Jane Hallowell Adventure of an Heiress, The (1913) …. Florence Baker Heart of an Actress, The (1913) …. Alice Steart Sneak, The (1913) …. Elise Dupont Streak of Yellow, The (1913) …. Evelyn Gregory In the Grip of a Charlatan (1913) …. Anne Sinclair Exposure of the Land Swindlers, The (1913) American Princess, The (1913) …. Princess Alexa $20,000 Carat, The (1913) …. Mary Hamilton Power of Blacklegs, The (1913) Senator’s Dishonor, The (1913) …. Ethel Warren Cub Reporter’s Temptation, The (1913) Nurse at Mulberry Bend, The (1913) …. Rose, the Nurse Flag of Freedom, The (1913) …. Betsy Ross Business Buccaneer, A (1912) Finger of Suspicion, The (1912) …. Kathleen Race with Time, A (1912) Daughter’s Sacrifice, A (1912) …. Alice Wells Battle of Wits, A (1912) …. Sue Elwood Young Millionaire, The (1912) …. Anna Newton Mystery of Grandfather’s Clock, The (1912) …. Nellie Morse Strange Story of Elsie Mason, The (1912) …. Elsie Mason/Christine Hastings County Fair, The (1912) …. Mary Street Singer, The (1912) …. Pepita Saved from Court Martial (1912) Rube Marquard Marries (1912) Wandering Musician, The (1912) Freed from Suspicion (1912) …. Mary Soldier Brothers of Susanna, The (1912) Family Tyrant, The (1912) Fantasca the Gypsy (1912) …. Fantasca Suffragette Sheriff, The (1912) …. Bill’s wife Saved by Telephone (1912) …. Mrs. Lawson Organ Grinder, The (1912) …. Pepina Gun Smugglers, The (1912) Outlaw, The (1912) Stolen Invention, The (1912) …. Gladys Conery Mexican Revolutionist, The (1912) …. Marcella Adventures of American Joe, The (1912) …. The Ranch Owener’s Daughter Secret of the Miser’s Cave, The (1912) Spanish Revolt of 1836, The (1912) …. Isabella Jean of the Jail (1912) Defeat of the Brewery Gang, The (1912) Bell of Penance, The (1912) …. Dona Josefa Alcalde’s Conspiracy, The (1912) …. Melitta American Invasion, An (1912) Princess of the Hills, A (1912) Interrupted Wedding, An (1912) Russian Peasant, The (1912) …. Princess Olga Mrs. Simms Serves on the Jury (1912) Love of Summer Morn, The (1911) …. Summer Morn Higher Toll, The (1911) (unconfirmed) Between Father and Son (1911) …. Preciosa Too Much Realism (1911) Long Arm of the Law, The (1911) Temptation of Rodney Vane, The (1911) …. Millie Waine When California Was Won (1911) Engineer’s Daughter, The (1911) …. Lillian For Her Brother’s Sake (1911/III) Peril of the Plains, The (1911) …. Nancy Prisoner of Mexico, A (1911) …. Ethel Mistress of Hacienda del Cerro, The (1911) Blackfoot Halfbreed, The (1911) Alpine Lease, The (1911) …. Chick Jensen When Two Hearts Are Won (1911) Branded Shoulder, The (1911) …. Lillian ‘The Branded Baby’ Winthrop Don Ramon’s Daughter (1911) Wasp, The (1911) …. Suzanne Peggy, the Moonshiner’s Daughter (1911) …. Peggy Over the Garden Wall (1911) …. Nellie Indian Maid’s Sacrifice, The (1911) Badge of Courage, The (1911) …. Jane Mayfield Reckless Reddy Reforms (1911) Cattle Herder’s Romance, A (1911) Tangled Lives (1911) (unconfirmed) Carrier Pigeon, The (1911) …. Molly Loyalty of Don Luis Verdugo, The (1911) …. Donna Maria Slabsides (1911) Slim Jim’s Last Chance (1911) Mission Carrier, The (1911) Lost Ribbon, The (1911) …. Jennie … aka Saved from Indians (1911) (USA) Trail of the Pomas Charm, The (1911) …. Drooping Eyes Engineer’s Sweetheart, The (1910)