Where Are My Children? (1916) commentary track

“We must be brave enough to look truth in the face.” – Where Are My Children? (1916) This week, we return to the public domain vault for a full-length commentary track on Where Are My Children?, the provocative 1916 silent drama from Lois Weber and Phillips Smalley. As one of the earliest American films to tackle topics like birth control, abortion, and eugenics, it remains a landmark of progressive intent and moral complexity—albeit through a lens that’s deeply of its time. Watch along with us as we break down the film’s bold messaging, cultural context, and the pioneering role of Lois Weber in early Hollywood.