| On Trial | |
|---|---|
 Lobby card. | |
| Directed by | Archie Mayo |
| Written by | Max Pollock |
| Screenplay by | Robert Lord (& titles) Max Pollack |
| Based on | On Trial (1914 play) by Elmer Rice |
| Starring | Pauline Frederick Bert Lytell Lois Wilson |
| Cinematography | Byron Haskin |
| Edited by | Tommy Pratt |
| Production company | Warner Bros. |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. |
| Release dates |
|
| Running time | 91 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $130,000 |
| Box office | $1,454,000 |
On Trial is a 1928 American talking drama film produced and distributed by Warner Bros., and directed by Archie Mayo. The film starred Pauline Frederick, Lois Wilson, Bert Lytell, Holmes Herbert, and Jason Robards. The film is based on the 1914 Broadway play of the same name by Elmer Rice. A silent version of the film was also released on December 29, 1928.
The first film was released in 1917, starring Barbara Castleton, Sidney Ainsworth, and Mary McAllister. It was remade again in 1939 with John Litel, Margaret Lindsay, and Edward Norris.
Plot summary
A man is put on trial for the murder on his best friend. A young attorney wants to become successful and decides to defend him. However, he is very inexperienced.
Cast
- Pauline Frederick as Joan Trask
- Bert Lytell as Robert Strickland
- Lois Wilson as May Strickland
- Holmes Herbert as Gerald Trask
- Richard Tucker as Prosecuting Attorney
- Jason Robards Sr. as Defense Attorney
- Franklin Pangborn as Turnbull
- Fred Kelsey as Clerk
- Vondell Darr as Doris Strickland
- Edmund Breese as Judge
- Edward Martindel as Dr. Morgan
Reception
According to Warner Bros records, the film earned $1,089,000 domestically and $365,000 in the rest of the world.
Preservation status
The 1928 film version of On Trial is now considered lost. However, Vitaphone soundtrack discs for the film survive and are housed at the UCLA Film and Television Archive and British Film Institute. The film's trailer also survives.
See also
References
- ^ Warner Bros financial information in The William Schaefer Ledger. See Appendix 1, Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, (1995) 15:sup1, 1-31 p 7 DOI: 10.1080/01439689508604551
- "Progressive Silent Film List: On Trial". silentera.com. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
- "On Trial (1928)". stanford.edu. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
External links
 | This 1920s drama film–related article is a stub. You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it. |
- 1928 films
- 1928 drama films
- 1928 lost films
- 1920s American films
- 1920s English-language films
- American black-and-white films
- American courtroom films
- American films based on plays
- English-language drama films
- Films directed by Archie Mayo
- Films with screenplays by Robert Lord (screenwriter)
- Lost American drama films
- Transitional sound drama films
- Warner Bros. films
- 1920s drama film stubs