Subway Sadie

Last updated

Subway Sadie
Subway Sadie lobby card 1926.jpg
Lobby card
Directed by Alfred Santell
Screenplay by Adele Comandini
Paul Schofield
Based onSadie of the Desert
by Mildred Cram
Produced by Al Rockett
Starring Dorothy Mackaill
Jack Mulhall
Cinematography Arthur Edeson
Edited by Hugh Bennett
Production
company
Distributed by First National Pictures
Release date
  • September 12, 1926 (1926-09-12)
Running time
70 minutes
CountryUnited States
Language Silent with intertitles

Subway Sadie is a 1926 American silent comedy-drama film directed by Alfred Santell. Adapted from Mildred Cram's 1925 short story "Sadie of the Desert", the film focuses on a relationship between New York salesgirl Sadie Hermann (Dorothy Mackaill) and subway guard Herb McCarthy (Jack Mulhall), who meet on the subway and become engaged. However, after Sadie receives a promotion, she must choose between her new job and marrying Herb. The cast also includes Charles Murray, Peggy Shaw, Gaston Glass, and Bernard Randall.

Contents

The film began production in May 1926. Arthur Edeson served as cinematographer, shooting around Central Park in areas like casinos and nightclubs. Distributed by First National Pictures, the film premiered in New York on September 12, 1926. Many publications wrote positively of the film, praising its acting and Santell's direction. Today, it remains unknown if a print of Subway Sadie has survived.

Plot

Salesgirl Sadie Hermann (Dorothy Mackaill), employed in a New York City fur store, has always dreamed of traveling to Paris. While riding the subway to work one morning, she meets Irish subway guard Herb McCarthy (Jack Mulhall), and the two strike up a conversation before Herb eventually arranges to have them meet at Cleopatra's Needle that Sunday.

Herb and Sadie are soon engaged to be married, but as Sadie has been promoted from saleslady to firm buyer she must cancel the wedding date to sail to Paris for the job, saddening Herb. Sadie prepares to leave, but then receives a message from Herb, which informs her that he is in the hospital as the result of an accident. Sadie chooses to visit him, and she decides to forgo her new job and marry Herb instead, Herb revealing that his father is the president of the subway company. [1] [2]

Production

Dorothy MacKaill Stars of the Photoplay.jpg
Jack Mulhall - Jul 1920 MP.jpg
Dorothy Mackaill and Jack Mulhall, who both had lead roles in Subway Sadie

Alfred Santell directed Subway Sadie, [2] from a screenplay written by Adele Comandini and Paul Schofield. The pair adapted a short story by Mildred Cram entitled "Sadie of the Desert", which had first been published in an October 1925 issue of The Red Book Magazine. [3]

On May 3, 1926, the film entered production. [4] Santell and Al Rockett, the film's producer and production manager, selected the actors to appear in the film. Jack Mulhall was cast in the lead as Herb McCarthy. Although he had ridden on a subway many times, he did not take notice of the guards, so as preparation for playing the character he rode on a subway for "practically an entire day" to observe them. [5] Mulhall said of Santell:

That man's a great director. He can make people feel perfectly natural. He's got what Chaplin did when he directed A Woman of Paris —he and Lewis Milestone and Mal St. Clair all have that same touch, they all belong to the new school of directors, it seems to me. They're not so busy thinking about technique that they have actors turning into marionettes. [6]

Chosen to play female lead Sadie Hermann, Dorothy Mackaill opined that the film would appeal to "every girl in America". She believed that "there is not a situation in this picture which could not happen to any girl. That is one of the things I like about it. There is nothing in it that could not be true." [7] The rest of the cast includes Charles Murray as a driver, Peggy Shaw as Ethel, Gaston Glass as Fred Perry, and Bernard Randall portraying Brown. [8]

Arthur Edeson served as the cinematographer for Subway Sadie, shooting the silent film in black-and-white. [8] Filming took place at several locations in Central Park, including Cleopatra's Needle [9] and a local casino inn, which marked the first time the location had been filmed. [10] A nightclub scene was also shot in New York. [11] Hugh Bennett served as the film's editor, while Al Rockett Productions produced. [8] Rockett told Motion Picture News in June 1926 that the film had been completed. [12] First National Pictures filed a copyright for the film on August 18, 1926. [3] The finished product was seven reels long, and comprised 6,727 feet (2,050 m) of film, [8] running for about 70 minutes. [13]

Release and reception

A scene from the film, featuring Mulhall and Mackaill. Their successful pairing in Subway Sadie led to them appearing in several other films. Subway Sadie film still Picture-Play jpg version.jpg
A scene from the film, featuring Mulhall and Mackaill. Their successful pairing in Subway Sadie led to them appearing in several other films.

First National Pictures handled distribution for Subway Sadie, with the film premiering in New York on September 12, 1926. [3] It received positive reviews; a journalist for The New York Times enjoyed the film, calling it "an amusing photoplay". Although the review branded the ending unsurprising, they described it as "nevertheless pleasing". [14] The Evening Independent praised the film, lauding it as "one of the cleverest and most interesting pictures that has been here this season". [15]

A review from Photoplay applauded Mackaill's performance and described the film as "a true and human story". [16] The review in the Motion Picture Herald assessed it as "a nice little feature, nothing big, but will go over on bargain nights", with praise directed to Mulhall's performance. [17] A Berkeley Daily Gazette review wrote of the film by saying "sheer brilliance rarely has been equalled" and praised the story, direction, and acting. [18]

The Morning Telegraph 's review said that Subway Sadie would "delight the majority of straphangers" and that "it is what the boys call excellent box-office". The New York American review was similarly positive, describing it as "a light but charming comedy". In the New York World , the review described the film as "a consistently decent affair" which featured good direction by Santell. [19] A review in The Daily Mirror wrote positively of Mackaill's performance and complimented Santell's directing abilities, [19] while Reading Eagle praised the performances of the leads, calling them "a stellar combination". [20] Not all reviews were positive; a negative review came from The Educational Screen , whose reviewer found the film to be "pretty trite stuff". [21]

In June 1927, a Southeast Missourian journalist wrote that the film had since become "very successful". [22] The pairing of Mulhall and Mackaill was described as "such a perfect team" that plans to have them star in many further films occurred. [6] Films they appeared in after Subway Sadie include Smile, Brother, Smile (1927), [23] Ladies' Night in a Turkish Bath (1928), [24] Lady Be Good (1928), [25] and Children of the Ritz (1929). [26] The 1933 drama Curtain at Eight marked the final film they appeared in together. [27]

Screenings of Subway Sadie occurred as late as January 12, 1928. [28] As of November 2007, it is unclear whether a print of the film exists; it has likely become a lost film. [8] A poster of the film can be seen at the New York Transit Museum. [29]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alfred Santell</span> American film director

Alfred Allen Santell (1895–1981), was an American film director and film producer.

<i>The King of Kings</i> (1927 film) 1927 silent film

The King of Kings is a 1927 American synchronized sound epic film produced and directed by Cecil B. DeMille. It depicts the last weeks of Jesus before his crucifixion and stars H. B. Warner in the lead role. While the film has no audible dialog, it was released with a synchronized musical score with sound effects using the RCA Photophone sound-on-film process.

<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">Dorothy Mackaill</span> British-American actress (1903–1990)

Dorothy Mackaill was a British-American actress, most active during the silent-film era and into the pre-Code era of the early 1930s.

<i>Gentlemen Prefer Blondes</i> (1928 film) 1928 film

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes is a 1928 American silent comedy film directed by Mal St. Clair, co-written by Anita Loos based on her 1925 novel, and released by Paramount Pictures. No copies are known to exist, and it is now considered to be a lost film. The Broadway version Gentlemen Prefer Blondes starring Carol Channing as Lorelei Lee was mounted in 1949. It was remade into the film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes with Jane Russell as Dorothy Shaw and Marilyn Monroe as Lorelei Lee in 1953, directed by Howard Hawks.

<i>Safe in Hell</i> 1931 film

Safe in Hell is a 1931 American pre-Code melodrama directed by William A. Wellman and starring Dorothy Mackaill and Donald Cook, with featured performances by Morgan Wallace, Ralf Harolde, Nina Mae McKinney, Clarence Muse, and Noble Johnson. The screenplay by Joseph Jackson and Maude Fulton is based on a play by Houston Branch.

The Next Corner is a 1924 American silent romantic melodrama film directed by Sam Wood. The film starred Dorothy Mackaill and Lon Chaney. Based on the romance novel of the same name by Kate Jordan, the film was produced by Famous Players–Lasky and distributed by Paramount Pictures.

<i>Just Another Blonde</i> 1926 film

Just Another Blonde is a 1926 American silent romantic comedy / adventure film distributed by First National Pictures. Based on the short story "Even Stephen" by Gerald Beaumont, the film was directed by Alfred Santell and stars Dorothy Mackaill, Jack Mulhall, and Louise Brooks.

<i>The Dancer of Paris</i> 1926 lost film by Alfred Santell

The Dancer of Paris is a lost 1926 American silent drama film produced and distributed by First National Pictures. It was directed by Alfred Santell and starred Dorothy Mackaill. A vintage movie trailer displaying short clips of the film still exists.

<i>Joanna</i> (1925 film) 1925 film

Joanna is a 1925 American silent romantic comedy film produced and directed by Edwin Carewe and distributed by First National Pictures. The film was based on the short story "Joanna, of the Skirts Too Short and the Lips Too Red and the Tongue Too Pert" by Henry Leyford Gates. The film starred Dorothy Mackaill and Jack Mulhall and marked the first motion-picture appearance of Mexican actress Dolores del Río.

<i>Two Weeks Off</i> 1929 film

Two Weeks Off is a 1929 American sound part-talkie comedy film directed by William Beaudine. 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. A complete nitrate print survives at UCLA.

<i>Picture Brides</i> 1933 film by Phil Rosen

Picture Brides is a 1933 American pre-Code adventure film, directed by Phil Rosen. The film stars Dorothy Mackaill, Regis Toomey and Alan Hale.

The Doctor's Secret is a 1929 American drama film directed by William C. deMille and written by William C. deMille. The film stars Ruth Chatterton, H. B. Warner, John Loder, Robert Edeson, Wilfred Noy and Ethel Wales. It is based on the 1913 play Half an Hour by J. M. Barrie. The film was released on January 26, 1929, by Paramount Pictures. As part of the policy of multiple-language versions during the early sound era, a separate Swedish version was produced at the Joinville Studios in Paris and released the following year.

<i>Classified</i> (1925 film) 1925 film by Alfred Santell

Classified is a 1925 American silent drama film directed by Alfred Santell and produced by and starring Corinne Griffith. It was based on a novel by Edna Ferber and distributed through First National Pictures.

<i>The Crystal Cup</i> 1927 film

The Crystal Cup is a 1927 American silent drama film directed by John Francis Dillon and written by Gerald Duffy and Mort Blumenstock. It is based on the 1925 novel The Crystal Cup by Gertrude Atherton. The film stars Dorothy Mackaill, Rockliffe Fellowes, Jack Mulhall, Clarissa Selwynne, Jane Winton, and Edythe Chapman. The film was released on October 16, 1927, by First National Pictures.

<i>Man Crazy</i> (1927 film) 1927 film

Man Crazy is a 1927 American silent comedy film directed by John Francis Dillon and written by Dwinelle Benthall, Rufus McCosh, and Perry Nathan. The film stars Dorothy Mackaill, Jack Mulhall, Edythe Chapman, Phillips Smalley, Walter McGrail, and Ray Hallor. Man Crazy was released on November 27, 1927, by First National Pictures.

Smile, Brother, Smile is a 1927 American comedy film directed by John Francis Dillon, and written by Dwinelle Benthall, Rufus McCosh and Rex Taylor. The film stars Jack Mulhall, Dorothy Mackaill, Philo McCullough, E. J. Ratcliffe, Harry Dunkinson and Ernest Hilliard. The film was released on September 11, 1927, by First National Pictures.

<i>Sweet Daddies</i> 1926 film

Sweet Daddies is a 1926 American silent comedy crime film directed by Alfred Santell and starring George Sidney, Charles Murray, and Vera Gordon. The film foregrounds positive relationships between Jewish and Irish American characters, despite the presence of some stereotypes.

<i>The Lunatic at Large</i> (1927 film) 1927 film by Fred C. Newmeyer

The Lunatic at Large is a 1927 American comedy film directed by Fred C. Newmeyer and starring Leon Errol, Dorothy Mackaill and Warren Cook. Written by Ralph Spence, it is based on the 1899 novel The Lunatic at Large and its sequels The Lunatic at Large Again (1922), The Lunatic Still at Large (1923), and The Lunatic In Charge (1926) by British writer J. Storer Clouston, which had previously inspired a 1921 film of the same title. The film shifted the setting from the original's London to New York. The film was released on January 2, 1927, by First National Pictures.

Al Rockett, born Albert L. Rockett, was a movie producer. His 1924 film Abraham Lincoln, produced with his brother Ray Rockett, was a major production. It won the Photoplay Medal of Honor for 1924 from Photoplay Magazine, the most prestigious American film award of the time. He was born in Vincennes, Indiana, and played piano in a nickelodeon theater for five years. He worked for First National Pictures and Fox Film Corporation.

References

  1. ↑ "Subway Sadie (1926) – Full Synopsis". Turner Classic Movies . Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  2. 1 2 "Subway Sadie". National Board of Review . Internet Archive . Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 "Subway Sadie". American Film Institute . Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Peggy Shaw in Subway Sadie". The Film Daily . Internet Archive. January 1926.
  5. ↑ "Jack Mulhall Rides Subway for Accuracy". Ottawa Citizen . October 26, 1926. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  6. 1 2 Sebastian, Inez. "Discovered – Jack Mulhall". Picture-Play Magazine. Internet Archive . Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  7. ↑ "'"Subway Sadie" A Film Story of Every Girl,' Says Star". Lockport Union-Sun & Journal . January 18, 1927. p. 2.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 "Subway Sadie". Silent Era. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  9. ↑ Koszarski 2008 , p. 129
  10. ↑ "Attractions at Showhouse Offer Variety". The Miami News . November 26, 1926. Retrieved January 12, 2014.[ permanent dead link ]
  11. ↑ "Plaza". St. Petersburg Times . September 13, 1926. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Pictures and People". Motion Picture News . Internet Archive. May 1926.
  13. ↑ Erickson, Hal (2014). "Subway Sadie". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times . Archived from the original on January 24, 2014. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  14. ↑ "A Subway Guard's Romance". The New York Times . September 13, 1926. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Herbert Clifton is Star on Keith Bill This Week". Evening Independent . December 10, 1926. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  16. ↑ "Photoplay". Internet Archive. January 1927. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  17. ↑ "Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World". Moving Picture Herald . Internet Archive . Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  18. ↑ "Subway Sadie To be Exhibited Here". Berkeley Daily Gazette. December 11, 1926. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  19. 1 2 "Subway Sadie advert". The Film Daily . Internet Archive. July 1926. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  20. ↑ "Dorothy Mackaill in Subway Sadie". Reading Eagle . October 24, 1926. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  21. ↑ "Subway Sadie". The Educational Screen. Internet Archive . Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  22. ↑ "Ball Game Played by Artificial Light Is Dazzling Success". The Southeast Missourian . June 25, 1927. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  23. ↑ "Smile, Brother, Smile". Turner Classic Movies . Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  24. ↑ Erickson, Hal. "Ladies' Night in a Turkish Bath". Allmovie .
  25. ↑ "Lady Be Good". American Film Institute . Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  26. ↑ Erickson, Hal. "Children of the Ritz". Allmovie . Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  27. ↑ Pitts 1997, p. 224.
  28. ↑ "Euclid". St. Petersburg Times . January 12, 1928. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  29. ↑ Plitt, Amy. "Highlights of the New York Transit Museum in New York City". Time Out . Archived from the original on July 26, 2014. Retrieved June 26, 2014.

Bibliography

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.