Night Watch (1928 film)
| Night Watch | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Film poster | |
| Directed by | Alexander Korda |
| Written by | Lajos Bíró (continuity) Dwinelle Benthall (titles) Rufus McCosh (titles) |
| Based on | 'In the Night Watch 1921 play by Michael Morton Veille d'Armes 1917 play by Claude Farrère and Lucien Nepoty |
| Produced by | Ned Marin |
| Starring | Billie Dove Paul Lukas Donald Reed Nicholas Soussanin |
| Cinematography | Karl Struss |
| Edited by | George McGuire |
| Music by | Emil Bierman Mortimer Wilson |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | First National Pictures[1] Warner Bros. Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 72 minutes[1] |
| Country | United States |
| Languages | Sound (Synchronized) English Intertitles |
Night Watch is a 1928 American synchronized sound drama film directed by Alexander Korda and starring Billie Dove, Paul Lukas and Donald Reed. While the film has no audible dialog, it was released with a synchronized musical score with sound effects using the sound-on-disc Vitaphone process. The film was an adaptation of the dramatic 1921 play In the Night Watch, written by Michael Morton. The film is set almost entirely on a French warship at the beginning of the First World War.[2] Night Watch was the first of Korda's films to feature sound.[2][3]
Plot[edit]
On the night of August 1, 1914, Commander Corlaix of the French Navy and his wife, Yvonne, arrange a shipboard dinner for the officers of his cruiser. Afterward, Lieutenant D'Artelle asks Yvonne to stay on board with him, and when Corlaix (learning by classified wireless that war has been declared) abruptly orders her from the ship, she goes instead with D'Artelle to his cabin. The ship is sunk by a torpedo, and Corlaix is brought before the Admiralty Court on charges of incompetence. Yvonne comes forward to testify and, by compromising herself, proves her husband's adherence to duty. Corlaix, realizing Yvonne's great love for him, forgives her for her indiscretions, and they are reunited.
Cast[edit]
- Billie Dove as Yvonne Corlaix
- Paul Lukas as Captain Corlaix
- Donald Reed as Lieutenant D'Artelle
- Nicholas Soussanin as Officer Brambourg
- Nicholas Bela as Leduc
- George Periolat as Fargasson
- William H. Tooker as Mobrayne
- Gusztáv Pártos as Dagorne
- Anita Garvin as Ann
Music[edit]
The theme song for this film was entitled "Yvonne" and was composed by Mortimer Wilson.
Preservation status[edit]
A print of Night Watch is preserved at Cineteca Italiana in Milan.[4]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b Night Watch at the American Film Institute Catalog
- ^ a b Kulik, Karol (1990). Alexander Korda: The Man Who Could Work Miracles. Virgin Books. pp. 49–51. ISBN 0870003356. OCLC 1827622.
- ^ The Night Watch at silentera.com
- ^ The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: Night Watch
External links[edit]
- Night Watch at the American Film Institute Catalog
- Night Watch at IMDb
- Night Watch at the TCM Movie Database
- Night Watch at AllMovie
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- 1928 films
- American silent feature films
- Silent American drama films
- Films directed by Alexander Korda
- First National Pictures films
- American films based on plays
- 1928 drama films
- American black-and-white films
- 1920s American films
- Synchronized sound films
- Films scored by Mortimer Wilson
- 1920s silent drama film stubs