Margarita Fischer: A Biography of the Silent Film Star

Born on February 12, 1886, in Missouri Valley, Iowa, Margaret Fischer made her stage debut at the tender age of eight. Now called Margarita, by 1910, she had embarked on a new and daring occupation--as an actress in the fledgling industry of motion pictures. Although Margarita Fischer made an attempt to preserve her cinematic accomplishments shortly before her death in 1975, her career has remained largely unknown--until now. This biography details Fischer's life and career, examining not only her work in front of the camera but also the broader issues--including her devotion to family and her shrewd management of her public image--which informed her personal and professional decisions. It follows her sometimes difficult marriage to fellow performer Harry Pollard and examines her work with Pollard Picture Plays, a production company founded by the couple.
Movies discussed include The Butterfly Girl, The Devil's Assistant, Impossible Susan and, her final film, Uncle Tom's Cabin. Through the lens of Fischer's life and career, the reader sees the changing mores and lifestyles of America, particularly those of the film industry itself. Never-before-published photographs and a filmography listing over 170 projects complete this story of one of America's earliest film stars.