View Full Version : Noah's Ark (1928)


ethanedwards
December 23rd, 2009, 05:45 AM
NOAH'S ARK

DIRECTED BY MICHAEL CURTIZ/DARRYL F. ZANUCK (uncredited)
PRODUCED BY DARRYL F. ZANUCK
WARNER BROS (as The Vitaphone Corporation)

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c187/john-wayne/John%20Wayne/draft_lens2409602module62078282phot.jpg..http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c187/john-wayne/John%20Wayne/Noah-FullPage.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c187/john-wayne/John%20Wayne/noahsark.jpg

George O’Brien & Dolores Costell

Information From IMDb

Plot Summary
After a short split prologue showing riches as the root of evil
in ancient and modern times, the film settles into 1914 France,
where the Orient Express is about to be wrecked when a bridge washes out.
Among those on board are Al and Travis, Americans
who are traveling Europe spending Travis' money, and Marie, a German girl.
The boys save Marie after the wreck and Travis falls in love with her.
When World War I breaks out Al wants to enlist,
but Travis can't, feeling loyal to Marie, a German.
By 1917 Al has enlisted, and Travis follows him shortly after marrying Marie.
Accused of being a German spy by a Russian agent,
she is sentenced to die but is recognized by Travis,
who is part of the firing squad.
The town they are in is shelled and they are all trapped underground,
during which a minister makes a lengthy parallel to ancient times
when the King of Akkad persecuted his subjects and defied Jehovah,
who finally sends a flood to wipe out mankind,
except for Noah and his family, whom he has instructed to build an ark
and fill it with two of every creature on earth.
Written by Ron Kerrigan

Full Cast
Dolores Costello ... Mary / Miriam
George O'Brien ... Travis / Japheth
Noah Beery ... Nickoloff / King Nephiliu
Louise Fazenda ... Hilda / Tavern Maid
Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams ... Al / Ham (as Gwynn Williams)
Paul McAllister ... Minister / Noah
Myrna Loy ... Dancer / Slave Girl
Anders Randolf ... The German / Leader of Soldiers
Armand Kaliz ... The Frenchman / Leader of the King's Guard
William V. Mong ... Innkeeper / Guard
Malcolm Waite ... The Blakan / Shem
Nigel De Brulier ... Soldier / High Priest
Noble Johnson ... Broker
Otto Hoffman ... Investor with Gun / Trader
Joe Bonomo ... Aide to Leader of Soldiers (uncredited)
Andy Devine ... Flood Extra (uncredited)
Alphonse Martell ... French Policeman (uncredited)
Torben Meyer ... Man on Train (uncredited)
Nina Quartero ... French Girl (uncredited)
Cliff Saum ... Soldier in Trench (uncredited)
Duke Morrison ... Flood Extra (uncredited)

Writing Credits
Darryl F. Zanuck (story) (as Darryl Francis Zanuck)
Anthony Coldeway (adaptation) (as Anthony Coldewey)
De Leon Anthony (titles)

Produced
Darryl F. Zanuck .... associate producer (uncredited)

Original Music
Alois Reiser (uncredited)

Cinematography
Barney McGill (photographed by)
Hal Mohr (photographed by)

Trivia
* Three extras drowned during the filming of the flood scene.
* One of the extras who survived the flood scene was John Wayne.

* When cameraman Hal Mohr was shown how the climactic flood scene was to be shot, he objected on the grounds that it would place many of the extras in jeopardy. Mohr told the executives that while the trained stuntmen knew what to expect, the ordinary extras would have no idea what was coming, and many would be hurt. When his objections were overruled, he quit the picture. During filming of the scene, the huge torrents of water overwhelmed the actors; three were drowned, one was so severely injured his leg had to be amputated, and almost a dozen had broken limbs and other serious injuries.

* John Wayne and Andy Devine were swimmers in the temple collapse sequence, but they are not recognizable among the hundreds of other swimmers.

Movie Status
* This film has been preserved by the UCLA Film and Television Archive in conjunction with the project American Moviemakers: The Dawn of Sound.

* The "premiere" version, running 135 minutes, ran only at the opening engagement in Hollywood. By the time of the New York premiere some weeks later, the film had been trimmed by over 30 minutes. At least some of the cuts were of Vitaphone talking sequences that didn't work well. In particular, Paul McAllister (Noah/Minister) fared poorly, as all his talking scenes were removed.

* Vitaphone production reels #2821-2836

Dolores Costello came down with pneumonia while working on this film.

Memorable Quote
Al: This war is more than just a fight. It's more like a funeral. And everybody ought to be in the procession or the hearse.

Filming Locations
Big Basin, California, USA
Garden of the Gods, Iverson Ranch, Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California, USA
Iverson Ranch, Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California, USA

ethanedwards
December 23rd, 2009, 05:47 AM
This was the first movie that involved Duke
with the prolific director Michael Curtiz.
He was to later direct Duke in
Trouble Along the Way (1953)
The Comancheros (1961)
The latter being Curtiz's last movie.

This early biblical epic, which was an early Geroge O'Brien film,
was a classic of it's time, with early special effects.

It was one of these staged scenes, that torrents of water were required.
Tragically it cost the lives of three extras and seriously injured many others.
The young Duke Morrison and 'Pal' Andy Devine,
were used as swimmers in these scenes,
and Duke was lucky to escape with his life!

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c187/john-wayne/John%20Wayne/noah.jpg

One of the tragic scenes.

chester7777
December 23rd, 2009, 09:42 PM
. . . and Duke was lucky to escape with his life!

Possibly, Providential.

On another note, I see that one of the filming locations listed is Big Basin, California. Half an hour from our home is Big Basin Redwoods State Park. Thinking that possibly there might be another location with the same name, I Googled "Big Basin, CA" and guess what came up? The location close to our house! Who knew? I wonder if there is any mention anywhere around the park about it being a location for movies in the twenties? I guess we might have to go on a docent-led tour and find out.

Chester

ejgreen77
March 9th, 2011, 09:36 PM
Well, it seems the folks at the Warner Archive have recently released another movie with a JW bit role, as Noah's Ark (http://www.wbshop.com/Noahs-Ark-1929/1000180204,default,pd.html?cgid=ARCHIVENEW) (1928) is now available on DVD. They previously had released College Coach (http://www.wbshop.com/College-Coach/1000180209,default,pd.html?cgid=) (1933) and Central Airport (http://www.wbshop.com/Central-Airport-1933/1000179966,default,pd.html?cgid=) (1933) as well.

ejgreen77
March 9th, 2011, 09:36 PM
Well, it seems the folks at the Warner Archive have recently released another movie with a JW bit role, as Noah's Ark (http://www.wbshop.com/Noahs-Ark-1929/1000180204,default,pd.html?cgid=ARCHIVENEW) (1928) is now available on DVD. They previously had released College Coach (http://www.wbshop.com/College-Coach/1000180209,default,pd.html?cgid=) (1933) and Central Airport (http://www.wbshop.com/Central-Airport-1933/1000179966,default,pd.html?cgid=) (1933) as well.