The Duke Steps Out

Last updated

The Duke Steps Out
Posterdukex.jpg
Theatrical poster
Directed by James Cruze
Written by Raymond L. Schrock
Dale Van Every
Joseph Farnham (titles)
Story by Lucian Cary
Produced byJames Cruze
Starring William Haines
Joan Crawford
Karl Dane
Tenen Holtz
Cinematography Ira H. Morgan
Edited by George Hively
Music by William Axt (uncredited)
Distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date
  • March 16, 1929 (1929-03-16)
Running time
62 minutes
CountryUnited States
Languages Sound (Synchronized)
(English Intertitles)
Budget$218,000 [1]
Box office$920,000 [1]

The Duke Steps Out is a 1929 American synchronized sound comedy-drama film directed by James Cruze and starring William Haines and Joan Crawford. 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 is lost, but the Vitaphone sound discs track of music and sound effects survive in the UCLA Film and Television Archive. [2] [3]

Contents

Plot

Duke (Haines) a pampered millionaire's son, who longs to be a boxer, takes an interest in Susie (Crawford), a college coed, after he defends her from being bullied. Duke's interest in Susie leads him to enroll in the same school as Susie. After a misunderstanding between Duke and Susie, they realize they are meant to be together and are reunited.

Cast

Music

The film featured a theme song entitled "Just You" which was composed by William Axt, David Mendoza and Raymond Klages.

Box office

According to MGM records the film earned $714,000 in the US and Canada and $206,000 elsewhere, resulting in a profit of $343,000. [1]

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>The Hollywood Revue</i> 1929 film

The Hollywood Revue of 1929, or simply The Hollywood Revue, is a 1929 American pre-Code musical comedy film released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was the studio's second feature-length musical, and one of their earliest sound films. Produced by Harry Rapf and Irving Thalberg and directed by Charles Reisner, it features nearly all of MGM's stars in a two-hour revue that includes three segments in Technicolor. The masters of ceremonies are Conrad Nagel and Jack Benny.

<i>The Singing Fool</i> 1928 film

The Singing Fool is a 1928 American sound part-talkie musical drama motion picture directed by Lloyd Bacon which was released by Warner Bros. 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 stars Al Jolson and is a follow-up to his previous film, The Jazz Singer. It is credited with helping to cement the popularity of American films of both sound and the musical genre. The film entered the public domain on January 1, 2024.

<i>Our Dancing Daughters</i> 1928 film

Our Dancing Daughters is a 1928 American synchronized sound drama film starring Joan Crawford and John Mack Brown about the "loosening of youth morals" that took place during the 1920s. The film was directed by Harry Beaumont and produced by Hunt Stromberg. 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.

<i>Show People</i> 1928 film by King Vidor

Show People is a 1928 American synchronized sound comedy film directed by King Vidor. 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 a starring vehicle for actress Marion Davies and actor William Haines and included notable cameo appearances by many of the film personalities of the day, including stars Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks, William S. Hart and John Gilbert, and writer Elinor Glyn. Vidor also appears in a cameo as himself, as does Davies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joan Crawford filmography</span> List of film appearances of American actress Joan Crawford

The Joan Crawford filmography lists the film appearances of American actress Joan Crawford, who starred in numerous feature films throughout a lengthy career that spanned nearly five decades.

<i>Thunder</i> (1929 film) 1929 film

Thunder is a 1929 American synchronized sound melodrama film starring Lon Chaney and directed by William Nigh. The film has no audible dialogue but featured a synchronized musical score and sound effects. The soundtrack was recorded using the Western Electric Sound System sound-on-film process. The soundtrack was also transferred to discs for those theatres that were wired with sound-on-disc sound systems. Thunder was Chaney's penultimate film appearance and his last film without audible dialogue.

<i>Dream of Love</i> 1928 film by Fred Niblo

Dream of Love is a 1928 American synchronized sound biographical drama film directed by Fred Niblo, and starring Joan Crawford and Nils Asther. 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 sound was recorded via the Western Electric sound system. The film is based on the 1849 French tragedy Adrienne Lecouvreur by Eugène Scribe and Ernest Legouvé.

<i>Our Modern Maidens</i> 1929 film

Our Modern Maidens is a 1929 American synchronized sound comedy-drama film directed by Jack Conway. 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 starts Joan Crawford in her last film role without dialogue, the film also stars Rod La Rocque, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., and Anita Page.

<i>Tide of Empire</i> 1929 film

Tide of Empire is a 1929 American synchronized sound Western film directed by Allan Dwan and starring Renée Adorée and Tom Keene. 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.

<i>The Trail of 98</i> 1928 film

The Trail of '98 is a 1928 American synchronized sound action-adventure/drama film featuring Harry Carey and Dolores del Río about the Klondike Gold Rush. 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 originally released by MGM in a short-lived widescreen process called "Fantom Screen". The film is based on the 1910 novel of the same name, written by Robert W. Service.

<i>Beggars of Life</i> 1928 film by William A. Wellman

Beggars of Life is a 1928 American part-talkie sound film that was directed by William Wellman. Although the film featured sequences with audible dialogue, the majority of the film had a synchronized musical score with sound effects. The film was released on both sound-on-disc and sound-on-film formats. Currently circulating are mute prints from the sound-on-disc version. The majority of the sound discs are believed to be lost.

<i>A Lady of Chance</i> 1928 film

A Lady of Chance is a 1928 synchronized sound film directed by Robert Z. Leonard. While the film has no audible dialog, it was released with a synchronized musical score with singing and sound effects using both the sound-on-disc and sound-on-film process. The film is based upon the story "Little Angel" by Leroy Scott and is Norma Shearer's last silent film. Although the film was released with added dialogue scenes, Shearer had no lines. The film's copyright was renewed, so it did not enter the public domain until January 1, 2024.

<i>Speedway</i> (1929 film) 1929 film

Speedway is a 1929 American synchronized sound drama film directed by Harry Beaumont and starring William Haines, Anita Page and Ernest Torrence. The film has no audible dialogue but featured a synchronized musical score and sound effects. The soundtrack was recorded using the Western Electric Sound System sound-on-film process. The soundtrack was also transferred to discs for those theatres that were wired with sound-on-disc sound systems. This was Haines' last film without dialogue.

<i>Good Time Charley</i> 1927 film by Michael Curtiz

Good Time Charley is a 1927 American synchronized sound drama film produced and distributed by Warner Bros. and directed by Michael Curtiz. 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 was considered to be a lost film. However, as of January 2021, the film is listed as extant at the Library of Congress.

<i>The Single Standard</i> 1929 film

The Single Standard is a 1929 American synchronized sound romantic drama film from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer directed by veteran John S. Robertson and starring Greta Garbo, Nils Asther and Johnny Mack Brown. The film has no audible dialogue but featured a synchronized musical score and sound effects. The soundtrack was recorded using the Western Electric Sound System sound-on-film process. The soundtrack was also transferred to discs for those theatres that were wired with sound-on-disc sound systems.

<i>Hardboiled Rose</i> 1929 film

Hardboiled Rose is a 1929 American sound part-talkie romantic drama film directed by F. Harmon Weight and released by Warner Bros. 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 starred Myrna Loy, William Collier, Jr., and John Miljan.

Two Lovers is a 1928 American synchronized sound historical drama film directed by Fred Niblo. 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 stars Vilma Bánky, Ronald Colman, and Noah Beery. Based on the novel Leatherface: A Tale of Old Flanders by Baroness Emma Orczy, it was produced by Samuel Goldwyn.

<i>Excess Baggage</i> (1928 film) 1928 film by James Cruze

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.

<i>A Mans Man</i> (1929 film) 1929 film

A Man's Man is a lost 1929 synchronized sound film produced and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and directed by James Cruze. 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 starred William Haines and Josephine Dunn. It was based on a Broadway play, A Man's Man by Patrick Kearney. Greta Garbo and John Gilbert notably appear in a cameo. The film is believed to be lost, although the Vitaphone type sound discs exist and are currently held at the UCLA Film and Television Archive.

<i>Hot Stuff</i> (1929 film) 1929 film

Hot Stuff is a 1929 American sound part-talkie comedy film directed by Mervyn LeRoy and written by Robert S. Carr, Humphrey Pearson and Louis Stevens. 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 sound was recorded via the Vitaphone sound-on-disc process. The film stars Alice White and features Louise Fazenda, William Bakewell, Doris Dawson, Ben Hall and Charles Sellon. The film was released by First National Pictures on May 5, 1929.

References

  1. 1 2 3 The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study.
  2. Arne Andersen's Lost Film Files; Metro/MGM
  3. The Duke Steps Out at silentera.com