Vintage original 11 x 14 in. US title lobby card from the 1920s two-reel dramatic short, THE BASHFUL SUITOR, released in 1921 by W.W. Hodkinson and directed by Herbert Blaché.
 
The simple and effective design features artwork of a young couple in love beneath a tree. It is unrestored in fine- condition.
 
*"The painting by the same title was done by Josef Israels, and now hangs in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. A charming little story is woven around the characters pictured in the painting. The scenes are laid somewhere in Europe, where the peasants wear wooden shoes and make fine lace. The artist has painted a landscape when the characters walk on. Youth and bashful love inspires the painter, and he starts to work putting in the figures. A little drama evolves from innocent circumstances. The suitor is suspected of theft, the adopted child is taken away, and in the fight the pet dog is killed. But love wins out in the end. The production concludes with a shot of the original painting."
*(source: IMDb)
 
*"Herbert Blaché (5 October 1882 – 23 October 1953), born Herbert Reginald Gaston Blaché-Bolton was a British-born American film director, producer and screenwriter, born of a French father. He directed more than 50 films between 1912 and 1929."
 
Blaché was born in London, England. His father was a French hatmaker originally from Mont-de-Marsan, while his mother was an English actress, Elizabeth Bolton. In 1907 he married filmmaking pioneer Alice Guy, head of production with the French Gaumont Film Company. Their marriage meant that Alice had to resign from her position working with Gaumont. Looking for new beginnings, the couple immigrated to New York where Herbert was soon appointed the production manager for Gaumont's operations in the United States.
 
The two struck out on their own in 1910, partnering with George A. Magie in the formation of The Solax Company, the largest pre-Hollywood studio in America. With production facilities for their new company in Flushing, New York, Herbert served as production manager as well as cinematographer and Alice worked as the artistic director, directing many of its releases. Within two years they had become so successful that they were able to invest more than $100,000 into new and technologically advanced production facilities in Fort Lee, New Jersey, when many early film studios in America's first motion picture industry were based at the beginning of the 20th century.
 
To focus on writing and directing, in 1914 Alice made her husband the president of Solax. Shortly after taking the position Herbert started his own film company. For the next few years the couple maintained a personal and business partnership, working together on many projects, but with the decline of the East Coast film industry in favor of the more hospitable and cost-effective climate in Hollywood, their relationship also ended. In 1918 Herbert Blaché left his wife and children to pursue a career in Hollywood with one of his actresses. By 1922 they were officially divorced, prompting Alice to auction off her film studio while claiming bankruptcy. She returned to France the same year. Herbert directed his last film in 1929.
*(source: Wikipedia)
 
SFB1