director: Martin Justice
year: 1918
country: USA
history notes: Unidentified Film No. 154
alternative titles: De grieksche Schoone, Wild Greek Girl

This film has been identified thanks to contributions from members of the Lost FIlms community.

Credits: De grieksche schoone / Komische comedie in twee acten / H.A.P. Film / In den hoofdrol... Flo Donahoe. (The Greek Beauty / Funny comedy in two acts / H.A.P. Film / In the lead role... Flo Donahoe.) [frame scans 1 & 2] – The impoverished lead actress [frame scan 3] flees from her burning boarding house onto the streets, where she flits around wildly before the commotion. An unemployed photographer [frame scans 4 & 5] notices the quality in her fevered dancing [frame scan 6]. He convinces her to pass herself off as a descendent of the Greek Gods – which is what she proceeds to talk like! [frame scan 7] She makes the daily press headlines and receives a contract as a performer [frame scan 8]: "Hebe – the Wild Greek Girl in her Sensational Symphonic Dances" (poster) [frame scans 9 & 10]. A townswoman is outraged by her skimpy clothes and alerts a police officer. All the while the "Greek Girl" has changed clothes in the car and exits the vehicle as a glamourously made-up Star - and the straightlaced townswoman passes out!

Length: 455m
Format: 35mm, 1.33:1
Picture/Sound: coloured, silent
Notes: Dutch version; Orange, blue and pink tints.

Source notes
Deutsche Kinemathek - Museum für Film und Fernsehen

I believe that this film was actually made in 1918, for the following reasons:

In still #10, in front of a cigar store, there is a sign in the window about having to keep their lights out, as in wartime (World War I).

Also, in still #17, there is a poster for Theda Bara's 1918 film, "Under the Yoke", just behind the man's head.

The woman resembles Agnes Ayres, who made many films in 1918 and 1919.

I hope this helps someone to figure this out!

Bob Hansen

The main actress is likewise named "Donahoe" in the film so this is presumably not the actress' real name. IMDB recognises no actress by the name of Flo or Florence Donahoe.
It clearly seems to be an American production (American shops, policemen, etc.).
The English title given on the index card ("Wild Greek Girl") could not be found on IMDB and possibly derives from the poster seen in the film.

This is undoubtedly the 1918 Paramount-Flagg Comedies two-reeler "Hick Manhattan" starring Peggy Hopkins (subsequently to find greater fame as Peggy Hopkins Joyce).

The description of that film in the Hamilton Daily Republican-News, Hamilton (Ohio), January 21st, 1919, p.8, reads as follows:
"At the Jewel, Tuesday, Peggy Hopkins will be starred in "Hick Manhattan" (...). The story tells of a pretty girl, busted and up against it for a job. The girl, Flo Donahoe, meets by accident a struggling photographer who is trying to get a 'rep' in cold Manhattan. Dressed in her night attire our photographer has her pinched for doing Greek dances in the streets. This is front page stuff for the newspapers and all the theatrical managers in Hick Manhattan are outbidding one another for her services."

Scanned versions of the Hamilton Daily Republican-News are available at the subscription site www.newspaperarchive.com

A 16mm duplicate negative and print of this film already exist. The print is available to rent from the Deutsche Kinemathek. See the film's entry in the Kinemathek's online distribution catalogue.