A Thief in the Dark

Last updated

A Thief in the Dark
A Thief in the Dark (1928) Insert.jpg
Directed by Albert Ray
Screenplay byC. Graham Baker
William Kernell
Story byAlbert Ray
Kenneth Hawks
Andrew Bennison
Starring George Meeker
Doris Hill
Gwen Lee
Marjorie Beebe
Michael Vavitch
Noah Young
Cinematography Arthur Edeson
Edited byJack Dennis
Production
company
Distributed byFox Film Corporation
Release date
  • May 20, 1928 (1928-05-20)
Running time
60 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

A Thief in the Dark is a 1928 American silent mystery film directed by Albert Ray, written by C. Graham Baker and William Kernell (based on a plot idea from director Ray), and starring George Meeker, Doris Hill, Gwen Lee, Marjorie Beebe, Michael Vavitch and Noah Young. The film was released on May 20, 1928, by Fox Film Corporation. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Plot

A young drifter named Ernest joins a troupe of phony mystics working in a carnival, led by a Professor Xeno. Ernest learns that his colleagues are systematically burglarizing some of the wealthy homes in the towns through which they travel. Ernest finds out that Xeno has stooped to murdering an old lady for her jewelry, and sets about trying to expose Xeno to the authorities.

Cast

Production

The film is thought by critics to have lifted its storyline from Tod Browning's successful 1925 film The Unholy Three. Cameraman Edeson later became one of James Whale's favorite associates, photographing Frankenstein (1931), The Old Dark House (1932) and The Invisible Man (1933) for the director. [4]

Related Research Articles

<i>The Dove</i> (1927 film) 1927 film

The Dove is a 1927 American silent romantic drama film directed by Roland West based on a 1925 Broadway play by Willard Mack and starring Norma Talmadge, Noah Beery, and Gilbert Roland.

The following is an overview of 1928 in film, including significant events, a list of films released and notable births and deaths. Although some films released in 1928 had sound, most were still silent. This year is notable for the introduction of the official mascot of The Walt Disney Company, Mickey Mouse, in the animated short Steamboat Willie, the first film to include a soundtrack completely created in post production.

This is an overview of 1922 in film, including significant events, a list of films released and notable births and deaths.

The year 1920 in film involved some significant events.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park and Mortuary</span> Cemetery in Los Angeles, California, US

Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park and Mortuary is a cemetery and mortuary located in the Westwood area of Los Angeles. It is located at 1218 Glendon Avenue in Westwood, with an entrance from Glendon Avenue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raoul Walsh</span> American film director and actor (1887–1980)

Raoul Walsh was an American film director, actor, founding member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), and the brother of silent screen actor George Walsh. He was known for portraying John Wilkes Booth in the silent film The Birth of a Nation (1915) and for directing such films as the widescreen epic The Big Trail (1930) starring John Wayne in his first leading role, The Roaring Twenties starring James Cagney and Humphrey Bogart, High Sierra (1941) starring Ida Lupino and Humphrey Bogart, and White Heat (1949) starring James Cagney and Edmond O'Brien. He directed his last film in 1964. His work has been noted as influences on directors such as Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Jack Hill, and Martin Scorsese.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mary Brian</span> American actress

Mary Brian was an American actress who made the transition from silent films to sound films.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arthur Edeson</span> American cinematographer (1891–1970)

Arthur Edeson, A.S.C. was an American cinematographer. Born in New York City, his career ran from the formative years of the film industry in New York, through the silent era in Hollywood, and the sound era there in the 1930s and 1940s. His work included many landmarks in film history, including The Thief of Bagdad (1924), All Quiet on the Western Front (1930), Frankenstein (1931), The Maltese Falcon (1941), and Casablanca (1942).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Meeker</span> American actor (1904–1984)

George Meeker was an American character film and Broadway actor.

<i>A Thief in Paradise</i> 1925 film

A Thief in Paradise is a 1925 American silent drama film produced by Samuel Goldwyn, directed by George Fitzmaurice, and adapted by Frances Marion from Leonard Merrick's 1900 novel The Worldlings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles Murray (American actor)</span> American actor

Charles Albert Murray, was an American film actor of the silent era.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doris Hill</span> American actress (1905–1976)

Doris Hill, born Roberta M. Hill, was an American film actress of the 1920s and 1930s.

<i>Sharp Shooters</i> 1928 film

Sharp Shooters is a 1928 American silent comedy film directed by John G. Blystone and starring George O'Brien, Lois Moran, and Noah Young. A print survives in the UCLA Film and Television Archive. Sharp Shooters contains uncredited performances by Boris Karloff and Randolph Scott in his first film appearance.

<i>Six Cylinder Love</i> (1923 film) 1923 film by Elmer Clifton

Six Cylinder Love is a 1923 American silent comedy film produced and distributed by Fox Film and directed by Elmer Clifton. The film is based on a popular 1921 Broadway play and stars Ernest Truex from the play. Other actors appearing in the film from the Broadway play are Donald Meek and Ralph Sipperly.

<i>Hollywood Cavalcade</i> 1939 American film

Hollywood Cavalcade is a 1939 American film featuring Alice Faye as a young performer making her way in the early days of Hollywood, from slapstick silent pictures through the transition from silent to sound.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marjorie Beebe</span> American actress (1908–1983)

Marjorie Eileen Beebe was an American film actress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Vavitch</span> American actor

Mikhail Vavich was a Russian actor, operetta and singer.

<i>Rich But Honest</i> 1927 film directed by Albert Ray

Rich But Honest is a lost 1927 American silent comedy-drama film, written by Randall H. Faye and directed by Albert Ray and Horace Hough. The film was released on May 22, 1927 by Fox Film Corporation, starring Nancy Nash, John Holland, Charles Morton, and J. Farrell MacDonald.

<i>The Farmers Daughter</i> (1928 film) 1928 American film

The Farmer's Daughter is a 1928 American comedy film directed by Arthur Rosson and written by Garrett Graham, Frederica Sagor Maas and Gilbert Pratt. The film stars Marjorie Beebe, Frank Albertson, Arthur Stone, Lincoln Stedman, Jimmie Adams and Charles Middleton. The film was released on October 14, 1928, by Fox Film Corporation.

<i>The Midnight Sun</i> (1926 film) 1926 film by Dimitri Buchowetzki

The Midnight Sun is a 1926 American silent drama film directed by Dimitri Buchowetzki and starring Laura La Plante, Pat O'Malley, and Michael Vavitch. It is based on a novel by the French writer Pierre Benoît. The film is set in pre-Revolutionary Tsarist Russia.

References

  1. ↑ "A Thief in the Dark (1928) - Overview". TCM.com. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
  2. ↑ Hal Erickson. "Thief in the Dark (1928) - Albert Ray". AllMovie. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
  3. ↑ "A Thief in the Dark". Catalog.afi.com. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
  4. ↑ Workman, Christopher; Howarth, Troy (2016). "Tome of Terror: Horror Films of the Silent Era". Midnight Marquee Press. p. 334. ISBN   978-1936168-68-2.


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.