Gang War (lost part-talking gangster film; 1928): Difference between revisions
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'''''Gang War''''' was a part-talkie film in the gangster genre that was released on September 2nd, 1928. | '''''Gang War''''' was a part-talkie film in the gangster genre that was released on September 2nd, 1928. It stars Jack Pickford (Mary Pickford’s younger brother) in what will be his final film role before his death in 1933 and Olive Borden. The primary reason the film is known today is that it was the film that was attached to the famous ''Mickey Mouse'' short, [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBgghnQF6E4 ''Steamboat Willie'']. Partially due to it being overshadowed by ''Steamboat Willie'', it remains largely unknown. | ||
==Plot== | ==Plot== | ||
In the prologue | In the prologue (the only speaking part of the movie), two reporters tell the audience what is going to happen in the film.<ref name="GW">[http://www.silentera.com/PSFL/data/G/GangWar1928.html Silentera page for the film.] Retrieved 03 Mar '19</ref> | ||
On the San Francisco Bay waterfront, a man named Clyde Baxter performs on the street for money (also known as busking). One night while street performing, he meets a woman who goes by the short and simple name of Flowers. He teaches this woman to dance, but soon finds out that a gang boss, "Blackjack", is also infatuated with Flowers. To add to that, there is an intense turf war between Blackjack and a rival gangster named Mike Luego. | On the San Francisco Bay waterfront, a man named Clyde Baxter (played by Jack Pickford) performs on the street for money (also known as busking). One night while street performing, he meets a woman who goes by the short and simple name of Flowers. He teaches this woman to dance, but soon finds out that a gang boss, "Blackjack", is also infatuated with Flowers (played by Borden). To add to that, there is an intense turf war between Blackjack and a rival gangster named Mike Luego. | ||
Soon, Blackjack ends up winning Flowers over and marries her, but he does not consummate the marriage (having sex after marriage). Then, Clyde is eventually able to win Flowers back, and Mike Luego is about to kill the both of them before Blackjack comes and sacrifices himself to save Clyde and Flowers.<ref>[https://www.tvguide.com/movies/gang-war/124157/ TV Guide page for the film (that lists different names for the characters, but has the same plot).] Retrieved 03 Mar '19</ref> | Soon, Blackjack ends up winning Flowers over and marries her, but he does not consummate the marriage (having sex after marriage). Then, Clyde is eventually able to win Flowers back, and Mike Luego is about to kill the both of them before Blackjack comes and sacrifices himself to save Clyde and Flowers.<ref>[https://www.tvguide.com/movies/gang-war/124157/ TV Guide page for the film (that lists different names for the characters, but has the same plot).] Retrieved 03 Mar '19</ref> | ||
==Reception== | ==Reception== | ||
''Steamboat Willie'' was a huge hit, and as mentioned above, completely overshadowed the film that | ''Steamboat Willie'' was a huge hit, and, as mentioned above, completely overshadowed the film that preceded it. The reviews for ''Gang War'' were fairly mixed. The New York Times called it better than the majority of films of its kind, but also dismissed it as ''"more gang fights"''. They also found the film to be kind of cliché. They did not like the sentimentality of Blackjack's death, and would do the audience a favor if they removed some words, especially the word ''"well"'' (based on this info, the film must have said the word an irritating amount of times).<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1928/11/19/archives/the-screen-more-gang-fights.html An archived review of the film from an old edition of The New York Times.] Retrieved 03 Mar '19</ref> | ||
==Availability== | ==Availability== | ||
Very little information on this film remains. No footage of the film is known to currently survive,<ref>[http://memory.loc.gov/diglib/ihas/loc.mbrs.sfdb.5543/default.html Library Of Congress page for the film.] Retrieved 03 Mar '19</ref><ref>[http://www.silentsaregolden.com/arnerko.html Lost Film Files page for the film.] Retrieved 03 Mar '19</ref><ref name="GW"/> however, a handful of stills and posters for the filmstill do exist. It is deemed unlikely for the film to be found, however there is no proof that all prints have been destroyed, so some possibility remains of its continued existence. | |||
==Gallery== | ==Gallery== | ||
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[[Category:Lost films]] | [[Category:Lost films]] | ||
[[Category:Completely lost media]] | |||
[[Category:Historic]] | [[Category:Historic]] | ||
Latest revision as of 08:32, 2 January 2024
Lobby card, featuring a still from the film.
Status: Lost
Gang War was a part-talkie film in the gangster genre that was released on September 2nd, 1928. It stars Jack Pickford (Mary Pickford’s younger brother) in what will be his final film role before his death in 1933 and Olive Borden. The primary reason the film is known today is that it was the film that was attached to the famous Mickey Mouse short, Steamboat Willie. Partially due to it being overshadowed by Steamboat Willie, it remains largely unknown.
Plot
In the prologue (the only speaking part of the movie), two reporters tell the audience what is going to happen in the film.[1]
On the San Francisco Bay waterfront, a man named Clyde Baxter (played by Jack Pickford) performs on the street for money (also known as busking). One night while street performing, he meets a woman who goes by the short and simple name of Flowers. He teaches this woman to dance, but soon finds out that a gang boss, "Blackjack", is also infatuated with Flowers (played by Borden). To add to that, there is an intense turf war between Blackjack and a rival gangster named Mike Luego.
Soon, Blackjack ends up winning Flowers over and marries her, but he does not consummate the marriage (having sex after marriage). Then, Clyde is eventually able to win Flowers back, and Mike Luego is about to kill the both of them before Blackjack comes and sacrifices himself to save Clyde and Flowers.[2]
Reception
Steamboat Willie was a huge hit, and, as mentioned above, completely overshadowed the film that preceded it. The reviews for Gang War were fairly mixed. The New York Times called it better than the majority of films of its kind, but also dismissed it as "more gang fights". They also found the film to be kind of cliché. They did not like the sentimentality of Blackjack's death, and would do the audience a favor if they removed some words, especially the word "well" (based on this info, the film must have said the word an irritating amount of times).[3]
Availability
Very little information on this film remains. No footage of the film is known to currently survive,[4][5][1] however, a handful of stills and posters for the filmstill do exist. It is deemed unlikely for the film to be found, however there is no proof that all prints have been destroyed, so some possibility remains of its continued existence.
Gallery
A black-and-white version of the still on the lobby card.
Still 1/2 of the film.
Still 2/2 of the film.
A poster for the film.
External Links
- IMDb page for the film. Retrieved 03 Mar '19
- Wikipedia page for the film. Retrieved 03 Mar '19
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Silentera page for the film. Retrieved 03 Mar '19
- ↑ TV Guide page for the film (that lists different names for the characters, but has the same plot). Retrieved 03 Mar '19
- ↑ An archived review of the film from an old edition of The New York Times. Retrieved 03 Mar '19
- ↑ Library Of Congress page for the film. Retrieved 03 Mar '19
- ↑ Lost Film Files page for the film. Retrieved 03 Mar '19