Romance of the Underworld | |
---|---|
![]() Film poster | |
Directed by | Irving Cummings |
Written by | Douglas Z. Doty (screenplay) Garrett Graham (intertitles) |
Story by | Douglas Z. Doty Sidney Lanfield |
Based on | A Romance of the Underworld by Paul Armstrong |
Produced by | William Fox |
Starring | Mary Astor |
Cinematography | Conrad Wells |
Edited by | Frank Hull |
Distributed by | Fox Film Corporation |
Release date |
|
Running time | 68 minutes; 7 reels (6,162 feet) |
Country | United States |
Languages | Sound (Synchronized) (English Intertitles) |
Romance of the Underworld is a 1928 American synchronized sound drama film produced and distributed by Fox Film Corporation. While the film has no audible dialog, it was released with a synchronized musical score with sound effects using the sound-on-film movietone process. Directed by Irving Cummings and starring Mary Astor, it was based upon a stage play called A Romance of the Underworld by Paul Armstrong. A previous version of the story was filmed as A Romance of the Underworld in 1918 by director James Kirkwood with Catherine Calvert in Astor's part.
![]() | This article needs a plot summary.(December 2023) |
The film featured a theme song titled "Judy", which was composed by Irving Kahal, Sammy Fain, and Pierre Norman.
The Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America, formed by the film industry in 1922, regulated the content of films through a list of subjects that were to be avoided. While Mary Astor portrayed a prostitute in Romance of the Underworld, this was acceptable as prostitution was not explicitly barred so long as it was not forced (i.e., white slavery) and aspects of her work were not shown in the film. [1] Here the work of Astor's character is ambiguously described as being a "hostess."
Romance of the Underworld is extant at the Museum of Modern Art [2] [3] and in a European archive. [4]
Glorious Betsy is a 1928 sound part-talkie drama film. In addition to sequences with audible dialogue or talking sequences, the film features a synchronized musical score and sound effects along with English intertitles. The soundtrack was recorded using the Vitaphone sound-on-disc system. The film is based on the 1908 play of the same name by Rida Johnson Young, and it stars Dolores Costello. It was produced by Warner Bros. and nominated for an Academy Award for Best Writing, Adaptation in 1929. The film was directed by Alan Crosland with cinematography by Hal Mohr.
Don Juan is a 1926 synchronized sound American romantic adventure film directed by Alan Crosland. It is the first feature-length film to utilize the Vitaphone sound-on-disc sound system with a synchronized musical score and sound effects, though it has no spoken dialogue. The film is inspired by Lord Byron's 1821 epic poem of the same name. The screenplay was written by Bess Meredyth with intertitles by Maude Fulton and Walter Anthony.
The Rough Riders is a 1927 American silent drama film directed by Victor Fleming, released by Paramount Pictures, and starring Noah Beery, Sr., Charles Farrell, George Bancroft, and Mary Astor. Due to the public apathy towards silent films, a sound version was also prepared early in 1928. While the sound version 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. The picture is fictional account of Theodore Roosevelt's military unit in Cuba. This film had an alternate release title, The Trumpet Call. The cinematography was by James Wong Howe and E. Burton Steene.
The Last Performance is a 1929 American sound part-talkie film directed by Paul Fejos and starring Conrad Veidt and Mary Philbin. In addition to sequences with audible dialogue or talking sequences, the film features a synchronized musical score and sound effects along with English intertitles. The soundtrack was recorded using the Western Electric sound-on-film system. The talking sequences were featured on the last reel.
Hearts in Exile is a 1929 American pre-Code romance film produced and distributed by Warner Bros. and directed by Michael Curtiz. It was also released in a silent version with music and effects. It starred Dolores Costello in a story based on the 1904 novel by John Oxenham. An earlier 1915 film starring Clara Kimball Young was also produced, and is extant, but the 1929 version is considered to be a lost film.
Uncle Tom's Cabin is a 1927 American synchronized sound drama film directed by Harry A. Pollard and released by Universal Pictures. While the film has no audible dialog, it was released with a synchronized musical score with sound effects using the Western Electric sound-on-film process. The film is based on the 1852 novel Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe and was the last version filmed without audible dialogue. This film is important historically as being Universal's first sound feature.
State Street Sadie is a 1928 American sound part-talkie crime drama film directed by Archie Mayo. In addition to sequences with audible dialogue or talking sequences, the film features a synchronized musical score and sound effects along with English intertitles. The soundtrack was recorded using the Vitaphone sound-on-disc system. This is regarded as a lost film.
Ginsberg the Great is a lost 1927 synchronized sound film starring George Jessel in the period in which he made films with Warner Bros. While the film has no audible dialog, it was released with a synchronized musical score with sound effects using the Vitaphone sound-on-disc process.
The Cop is a 1928 American silent drama film directed by Donald Crisp. Due to the public apathy towards silent films, a sound version was also prepared. While the sound version 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. At the 2nd Academy Awards in 1930, Elliott J. Clawson was nominated for an Academy Award in the category Best Writing. Prints of the film exist in several film archives including the Library of Congress.
To the Ladies is a 1923 American silent comedy film produced by Famous Players–Lasky and released by Paramount Pictures. It is based on a 1922 Broadway play, To the Ladies, by George S. Kaufman and Marc Connelly.
Excess Baggage is a lost 1928 American synchronized sound comedy film directed by James Cruze and distributed by MGM. 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. The film was based on the 1927 play of the same name by John McGowan. The film starred William Haines, Josephine Dunn and Kathleen Clifford.
The Woman from Hell, known in some markets as The Woman from Luna or The Woman of Damnation, is a 1929 American sound film drama produced and distributed by Fox Film Corporation and starring Mary Astor. Although the film had no dialogue, it featured a synchronized Movietone sound track of music and sound effects. This was Dean Jagger's film debut. It is considered to be a lost film.
Rose of the Golden West is a surviving 1927 American silent romantic drama film produced by Richard A. Rowland and released by First National Pictures. It was directed by George Fitzmaurice and starred Mary Astor and Gilbert Roland.
A Sailor's Sweetheart is a 1927 Warner Bros. synchronized sound film comedy directed by Lloyd Bacon. While the film has no audible dialog, it was released with a synchronized musical score with sound effects using the Vitaphone sound-on-disc process. It stars Louise Fazenda and Clyde Cook.
New Year's Eve is a lost 1929 sound film drama produced and distributed by Fox Film Corporation and starring Mary Astor and Charles Morton. While the film has no audible dialog, it was released with a synchronized musical score with sound effects using the sound-on-film movietone process. Veteran Henry Lehrman, who had worked with Mack Sennett and Charlie Chaplin, was the director. Samuel L. Rothafel wrote the music for film. As was the case for the majority of films during the early sound era, a silent version was prepared for theatres who had not yet converted to sound. Max Gold was an assistant director.
Dry Martini is a 1928 synchronized sound film comedy produced and distributed by Fox Film Corporation starring Mary Astor and Matt Moore. While the film has no audible dialog, it was released with a synchronized musical score with sound effects using the sound-on-film movietone process. Samuel L. Rothafel also contributed music for the film. It was adapted from the 1926 novel Dry Martini: a Gentleman Turns to Love by John Thomas. Ray Flynn was an assistant director.
Jaws of Steel is a 1927 American synchronized sound family adventure film directed by Ray Enright and featuring dog star Rin Tin Tin and Jason Robards Sr. While the film has no audible dialog, it was released with a synchronized musical score with sound effects using the Vitaphone sound-on-disc process. Warner Bros. produced and distributed the film. Darryl F. Zanuck, under the alias Gregory Rogers, wrote the story. The film is in the public domain in the United States.
John F. Kelly was an American actor whose career spanned the very end of the silent film era through the 1940s. While most of his parts were smaller, often-uncredited roles, he was occasionally given a more substantial supporting or even featured role.
Finders Keepers is an extant 1928 American silent military comedy film directed by Wesley Ruggles and Otis B. Thayer and starring Laura La Plante and John Harron. Due to the public apathy towards silent films, a sound version was prepared late in 1928. While the sound version has no audible dialog, it features a synchronized musical score with sound effects using both the sound-on-disc and sound-on-film process. It was produced and distributed by Universal Pictures. The film may or may not be a remake of a 1921 film Finders Keepers singularly directed by Thayer.
Brass Knuckles is a surviving 1927 synchronized sound crime film directed by Lloyd Bacon and starring Monte Blue, Betty Bronson and William Russell. While the film has no audible dialog, it was released with a synchronized musical score with sound effects using the Vitaphone sound-on-disc process. The film was produced and distributed by Warner Brothers Pictures.