Martha Mansfield

Martha Mansfield (1899–1923) was an American stage and silent-film actress whose career ended after she suffered fatal burns during a film production in 1923.

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The Warrens of Virginia: A 1915 American silent film adapted from William C. deMille’s play about a Virginia family during the Civil War. Mansfield’s early screen work included this adaptation of a successful stage play.
Broadway theatre: The professional theater industry centered in New York City’s Broadway district. Mansfield began her public career on New York stages.
Nitrate film: A highly flammable motion-picture film base made from cellulose nitrate. Combustible film stock formed part of the wider fire risk on early sets.
John Barrymore: An American stage and film actor known for his Shakespearean roles and silent-era performances. Mansfield shared the screen with Barrymore in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1920 film): A silent horror film starring John Barrymore as Robert Louis Stevenson’s divided doctor. Mansfield appeared in this prominent silent-film adaptation.
Ziegfeld Follies: A series of elaborate Broadway revues produced by Florenz Ziegfeld from 1907 to 1931. Mansfield performed in the revue tradition before becoming known in films.
Film set safety: Rules, equipment, and practices intended to prevent injury during film and television production. Mansfield’s accident highlights the dangers that production safeguards seek to control.
William C. deMille: An American playwright, screenwriter, and film director who wrote The Warrens of Virginia. His play provided the source material for the production in which Mansfield was injured.
The Warrens of Virginia (1924 film): A silent film adaptation of William C. deMille’s Civil War drama, released after filming was interrupted by a fatal accident. Mansfield was filming this production when her costume caught fire.
Florenz Ziegfeld: An American theatrical producer who created the Ziegfeld Follies and promoted lavish Broadway revues. His productions shaped the theatrical world in which Mansfield worked.