Betrayal (1929 film)
| Betrayal | |
|---|---|
 Lobby card | |
| Directed by | Lewis Milestone |
| Written by |
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| Story by | |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Henry W. Gerrard |
| Edited by | Del Andrews |
| Music by |
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Production company | |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
Release dates |
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Running time | 80 minutes 8 reels, 6,614 ft |
| Country | United States |
| Language | Sound (Synchronized) |
Betrayal is a 1929 American sound drama film produced for Famous Players–Lasky and released by Paramount Pictures. While the film has no audible dialog, it was released with a synchronized musical score with sound effects using both the sound-on-disc and sound-on-film process.[1] The film is the last film without audible dialogue that was directed by Lewis Milestone,[2] the last non-speaking role performance by Gary Cooper,[3] the last non-speaking performance by Germany's Emil Jannings,[4][3] and the only onscreen pairing of Cooper and Jannings.[1] It is considered a lost film.[5]
Plot
[edit]Swiss peasant girl Vroni (Esther Ralston) is having a secret summer romance with Viennese artist Andre Frey (Gary Cooper). When Andre later returns to Switzerland, he learns that Vroni has been forced to marry wealthy burgomeister Poldi Moser (Emil Jannings). Explaining Andre's appearance, Vroni introduces him as a young man who has just lost his sweetheart, and in sympathy, Poldi invites Andre to be a guest in his house.
Several times over the next few years Andre visits, during which time Poldi and Vroni have two children. Andre is overwrought by his repressed feelings toward Vroni, and after seven years, begs her to run off with him. She refuses, but agrees to one last tryst. While speeding down a dangerous run on a toboggan together, Vroni is killed and Andre fatally injured. Poldi learns the truth of the relationship while attending Vroni's funeral, and swears vengeance but discovers that Andre has died from the severity of his injuries.
Cast
[edit]- Emil Jannings as Poldi Moser
- Esther Ralston as Vroni
- Gary Cooper as Andre Frey
- Douglas Haig as Peter
- Jada Weller as Hans
- Bodil Rosing as Andre's Mother
- Ann Brody
- Paul Guertzman
- Leone Lane
Music
[edit]The film featured a theme song entitled "Under The Weather" which was written by J.S. Zamecnik (music and lyrics).
Production
[edit]Filmed at locations near Lake Tahoe, the film was intended to be a "part-talkie" with incorporated talking sequences,[1][6] but because of Jannings's heavy German accent and the poor recording of Ralston's voice, it was released as a synchronized film with only music and sound effects.[3]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c Hal Erickson. "Betrayal". Allmovie. Retrieved April 15, 2011.
- ^ Joseph R. Millichap (1981). Lewis Milestone. Twayne's Theatrical Arts Series. Twayne Publishers. pp. 16–34. ISBN 0-8057-9281-3.
- ^ a b c Homer Dickens (1970). The Films of Gary Cooper. Volume 335 of Citadel film series. Citadel Press. pp. 8, 66. ISBN 0-8065-0010-7.
- ^ René Jordan (1974). Gary Cooper. The Pyramid illustrated history of the movies. Pyramid Communications. pp. 41, 144. ISBN 0-515-03416-9.
- ^ Jean Arthur. "Betrayal (1928\9)". Gary Cooper Scrapbook. Retrieved April 15, 2011.
- ^ Carl Bennett. "Betrayal (1929)". The Progressive Silent Film List. silentera.com. Retrieved April 15, 2011.
External links
[edit]- Betrayal at IMDb
- Synopsis at AllMovie
- Lobby card
- 1929 films
- Silent American drama films
- American silent feature films
- 1920s English-language films
- American black-and-white films
- English-language drama films
- Films directed by Lewis Milestone
- Paramount Pictures films
- Famous Players-Lasky films
- Films set in Switzerland
- Films set in the Alps
- Lost American drama films
- Transitional sound drama films
- 1929 drama films
- 1929 lost films
- 1920s American films