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Noah's Ark (film)
Encyclopedia
Noah’s Ark is a 1928 American
early romantic
melodrama
disaster film
directed by Michael Curtiz
and written by Darryl F. Zanuck
. The film starred George O'Brien and Dolores Costello
. Released by Warner Bros.
studio, the film was important in that it was representative of the transition from silent movies
to “talkies”, although it was essentially a kind of film known as a part-talkie
, utilizing new (at that time) Vitaphone
sound-on-disc technology.
During the filming of the climactic flood scene, the great volume of water used was so overwhelming that three extras drowned, one was so badly injured that his leg needed to be amputated, and a number suffered broken limbs and other serious injuries and led to implementation of stunt safety regulations the following year. Dolores Costello caught a severe case of pneumonia
. John Wayne
and Andy Devine
appeared among the hundreds of extra
s in the flood scene. Wayne also worked in the prop department for the film.
Travis (George O'Brien) and German
Marie (Dolores Costello
) meet on the Orient Express
, which wrecks when a bridge washes out. Travis, and his friend Al, rescue Marie, and Travis falls in love with her. When the war breaks out, Al enlists and Travis follows him shortly, after the two lovers have married. When a Russia
n military officer (Noah Beery) accuses Marie of being a German spy
, she is sentenced to face a firing squad, but Travis, who is part of the squad, rescues her in the nick of time. When the French town they are hiding in is bombed by the Germans, the couple and others are trapped below a demolished building. Here, a minister makes a lengthy comparison of the war to the ancient Biblical account of the time of Noah and the Flood
.
The film premiere
d in Hollywood in late 1928, with a running time of 135 minutes. Originally, it had been planned as a silent film in 1927, but a number of talking sequences had been added by the time of the premiere. (These had been directed not by Michael Curtiz but by Roy Del Ruth). After the premiere, Warner Bros. withdrew the film for extensive revision, which included removing about a half hour of footage, including all the talking scenes featuring Paul McAllister, who played both a minister and Noah. The film then opened around the country in reserved-seat engagements, after which it concluded its successful run at popular prices, even though by that time "part-talking" films like this one were considered nearly obsolete. Although it had cost far more than any Warner film to date—over $1 million—it ultimately grossed more than twice its cost.
The film was re-released in 1957 as a 75-minute long silent film, with narration added.
in conjunction with the project American Moviemakers: The Dawn of Sound. It was released in laserdisc
format on October, 1993.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
early romantic
Romance film
Romance films are love stories that focus on passion, emotion, and the affectionate involvement of the main characters and the journey that their love takes through courtship or marriage. Romance films make the love story or the search for love the main plot focus...
melodrama
Melodrama
The term melodrama refers to a dramatic work that exaggerates plot and characters in order to appeal to the emotions. It may also refer to the genre which includes such works, or to language, behavior, or events which resemble them...
disaster film
Disaster film
A disaster film is a film genre that has an impending or ongoing disaster as its subject...
directed by Michael Curtiz
Michael Curtiz
Michael Curtiz was an Academy award winning Hungarian-American film director. He had early creditsas Mihály Kertész and Michael Kertész...
and written by Darryl F. Zanuck
Darryl F. Zanuck
Darryl Francis Zanuck was an American producer, writer, actor, director and studio executive who played a major part in the Hollywood studio system as one of its longest survivors...
. The film starred George O'Brien and Dolores Costello
Dolores Costello
Dolores Costello was an American film actress who achieved her greatest success during the era of silent movies. She was nicknamed "The Goddess of the Silent Screen"...
. Released by Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
studio, the film was important in that it was representative of the transition from silent movies
Silent Movies
Silent Movies are 13 solo guitar compositions by Marc Ribot released September 28, 2010 on Pi Recordings.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Thom Jurek awarded the album 4 stars stating "For those interested in one of the more compelling and quietly provocative and graceful guitar records of 2010,...
to “talkies”, although it was essentially a kind of film known as a part-talkie
Part-talkie
A part-talkie is a partly, and most often primarily, silent film which includes one or more synchronous sound sequences with audible dialog or singing. During the silent portions lines of dialog are presented as "titles" -- printed text briefly filling the screen -- and the soundtrack is used only...
, utilizing new (at that time) Vitaphone
Vitaphone
Vitaphone was a sound film process used on feature films and nearly 1,000 short subjects produced by Warner Bros. and its sister studio First National from 1926 to 1930. Vitaphone was the last, but most successful, of the sound-on-disc processes...
sound-on-disc technology.
During the filming of the climactic flood scene, the great volume of water used was so overwhelming that three extras drowned, one was so badly injured that his leg needed to be amputated, and a number suffered broken limbs and other serious injuries and led to implementation of stunt safety regulations the following year. Dolores Costello caught a severe case of pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
. John Wayne
John Wayne
Marion Mitchell Morrison , better known by his stage name John Wayne, was an American film actor, director and producer. He epitomized rugged masculinity and became an enduring American icon. He is famous for his distinctive calm voice, walk, and height...
and Andy Devine
Andy Devine
Andrew Vabre "Andy" Devine was an American character actor and comic cowboy sidekick known for his distinctive raspy voice.-Early life:...
appeared among the hundreds of extra
Extra (actor)
A background actor or extra is a performer in a film, television show, stage, musical, opera or ballet production, who appears in a nonspeaking, nonsinging or nondancing capacity, usually in the background...
s in the flood scene. Wayne also worked in the prop department for the film.
Synopsis
On the eve of “The Great War” (WWI), AmericanUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Travis (George O'Brien) and German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Marie (Dolores Costello
Dolores Costello
Dolores Costello was an American film actress who achieved her greatest success during the era of silent movies. She was nicknamed "The Goddess of the Silent Screen"...
) meet on the Orient Express
Orient Express
The Orient Express is the name of a long-distance passenger train service originally operated by the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits. It ran from 1883 to 2009 and is not to be confused with the Venice-Simplon Orient Express train service, which continues to run.The route and rolling stock...
, which wrecks when a bridge washes out. Travis, and his friend Al, rescue Marie, and Travis falls in love with her. When the war breaks out, Al enlists and Travis follows him shortly, after the two lovers have married. When a Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n military officer (Noah Beery) accuses Marie of being a German spy
SPY
SPY is a three-letter acronym that may refer to:* SPY , ticker symbol for Standard & Poor's Depositary Receipts* SPY , a satirical monthly, trademarked all-caps* SPY , airport code for San Pédro, Côte d'Ivoire...
, she is sentenced to face a firing squad, but Travis, who is part of the squad, rescues her in the nick of time. When the French town they are hiding in is bombed by the Germans, the couple and others are trapped below a demolished building. Here, a minister makes a lengthy comparison of the war to the ancient Biblical account of the time of Noah and the Flood
Noah's Ark
Noah's Ark is a vessel appearing in the Book of Genesis and the Quran . These narratives describe the construction of the ark by Noah at God's command to save himself, his family, and the world's animals from the worldwide deluge of the Great Flood.In the narrative of the ark, God sees the...
.
Cast
- Dolores CostelloDolores CostelloDolores Costello was an American film actress who achieved her greatest success during the era of silent movies. She was nicknamed "The Goddess of the Silent Screen"...
as Marie/Miriam - George O'Brien as Travis/Japheth
- Noah Beery as Nickoloff/King Nephiliu
- Louise FazendaLouise FazendaLouise Fazenda was an American film actress, appearing chiefly in silent comedy films.-Early life:Of Portuguese ancestry, she was born in Lafayette, Indiana. Her father, Joseph Fazenda, was a merchandise broker. After moving west Louise attended Los Angeles High School and St. Mary's Convent...
as Hilda/Tavern Maid - Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams as Al/Ham (billed as Gwynn Williams)
- Paul McAllisterPaul McAllisterPaul McAllister , was an American film actor. He appeared in 37 films between 1913 and 1940.He was born in Brooklyn, New York and died in Santa Monica, California.-Selected filmography:* Forever...
as Minister/Noah - Myrna LoyMyrna LoyMyrna Loy was an American actress. Trained as a dancer, she devoted herself fully to an acting career following a few minor roles in silent films. Originally typecast in exotic roles, often as a vamp or a woman of Asian descent, her career prospects improved following her portrayal of Nora Charles...
as Dancer/Slave Girl - Anders RandolfAnders RandolfAnders Randolf was a Danish American actor in American films from 1913 to 1931.Anders was born in Viborg, Denmark where he became a professional soldier in the Danish army and a world-class swordsman. He immigrated to the United States in 1895, quickly giving in to a lifelong passion for the...
as The German/Leader of Soldiers - Armand KalizArmand KalizArmand Kaliz was a French born American film actor of the silent film and early sound period of the 1930s.Born in Paris, Kaliz began his career in vaudeville...
as The Frenchman/Leader of the King's Guard - William V. MongWilliam V. MongWilliam V. Mong was an American film actor, screenwriter and director. He appeared in 195 films between 1910 and 1939.He was born in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, and died in Studio City, California.-Selected filmography:...
as Innkeeper/Guard - Malcolm WaiteMalcolm WaiteMalcom Waite , was an American film actor. He appeared in 31 films between 1924 and 1942.He was born in Memominee, Michigan and died in Van Nuys, California.-External links:...
as The Blakan/Shem - Nigel De BrulierNigel De BrulierNigel De Brulier was an English film actor, who launched his career in the theatre stage in his native country and transferred to movies after moving to USA. His first film role was a poet in The Pursuit of the Phantom in 1914...
as Soldier/High Priest - Noble JohnsonNoble JohnsonNoble Johnson was an African American actor and film producer.-Biography:Standing 6'2" at 215 pounds, his impressive physique and handsome features made him in demand as a character actor and bit player...
as Broker - Otto HoffmanOtto HoffmanOtto Hoffman was an American film actor. He appeared in 199 films between 1915 and 1944.He was born in New York and died in Los Angeles, California from lung cancer.-Selected filmography:* The Haunted Bedroom...
as Trader
Uncredited cast
- Joe BonomoJoe Bonomo (strongman)Joe Bonomo born 25 December 1901 in Coney Island New York died 28 March 1978 in Los Angeles was a famous American weight lifter, strongman, film stunt performer and actor....
as Aide to Leader of Soldiers - Andy DevineAndy DevineAndrew Vabre "Andy" Devine was an American character actor and comic cowboy sidekick known for his distinctive raspy voice.-Early life:...
as Flood Extra - Alphonse Martell as French Policeman
- Torben MeyerTorben MeyerTorben Emil Meyer was a Danish character actor who appeared in over 190 films in a 55-year career.-Early career:...
as Man on Train - Nina QuarteroNina QuarteroNina Quartero was a motion picture actress from New York City, whose career spanned the years 1928 - 1943. Often she played supporting roles and sometimes a diversive love interest for the lead male actor....
as French Girl - Cliff Saum as Soldier in Trench
- John WayneJohn WayneMarion Mitchell Morrison , better known by his stage name John Wayne, was an American film actor, director and producer. He epitomized rugged masculinity and became an enduring American icon. He is famous for his distinctive calm voice, walk, and height...
as Flood Extra
Release & re-release
Premiere
A premiere is generally "a first performance". This can refer to plays, films, television programs, operas, symphonies, ballets and so on. Premieres for theatrical, musical and other cultural presentations can become extravagant affairs, attracting large numbers of socialites and much media...
d in Hollywood in late 1928, with a running time of 135 minutes. Originally, it had been planned as a silent film in 1927, but a number of talking sequences had been added by the time of the premiere. (These had been directed not by Michael Curtiz but by Roy Del Ruth). After the premiere, Warner Bros. withdrew the film for extensive revision, which included removing about a half hour of footage, including all the talking scenes featuring Paul McAllister, who played both a minister and Noah. The film then opened around the country in reserved-seat engagements, after which it concluded its successful run at popular prices, even though by that time "part-talking" films like this one were considered nearly obsolete. Although it had cost far more than any Warner film to date—over $1 million—it ultimately grossed more than twice its cost.
The film was re-released in 1957 as a 75-minute long silent film, with narration added.
Preservation
The original 135-minute release is believed to be no longer in existence. This film has been partially restored to the length of 100 minutes by the UCLA Film and Television ArchiveUCLA Film and Television Archive
The UCLA Film and Television Archive is an internationally renowned visual arts organization focused on the preservation, study, and appreciation of film and television, based at the University of California, Los Angeles. It holds more than 220,000 film and television titles and 27 million feet of...
in conjunction with the project American Moviemakers: The Dawn of Sound. It was released in laserdisc
Laserdisc
LaserDisc was a home video format and the first commercial optical disc storage medium. Initially licensed, sold, and marketed as MCA DiscoVision in North America in 1978, the technology was previously referred to interally as Optical Videodisc System, Reflective Optical Videodisc, Laser Optical...
format on October, 1993.
See also
- John Wayne filmography (1926-1940)John Wayne filmography (1926-1940)The filmography of John Wayne from 1926 to 1940. John Wayne also acted in many films from 1941–1960 and 1961–1976.-Overview:John Wayne began working in films in 1926 as an extra, propman, and stuntman, mainly for the Fox Film Corporation...
- Accidents while performing a stunt