Vintage original 3 x 6 in. US herald from the World Premiere showing of the classic 1920s WWI-themed silent film war drama, FOUR SONS, released in 1928 by the Fox Film Corporation and directed by John Ford.This particular herald was printed for the film's World Premiere showing at the Carthay Circle Theatre in Los Angeles on Tuesday evening, February 7, 1928 for this one night only. It is in very fine condition.
*"Four Sons is a 1928 American silent drama film directed and produced by John Ford and written for the screen by Philip Klein from a story by I. A. R. Wylie first published in the Saturday Evening Post as "Grandmother Bernle Learns Her Letters" (1926). It is one of only a handful of survivors out of the more than 50 silent films Ford directed between 1917 and 1928. It starred Margaret Mann, James Hall, and Charles Morton. The film is also notable for the presence of the young John Wayne in an uncredited role as an officer. Though "silent," it was released with a Movietonemusic and sound effects track."
*(source: Wikipedia)
*"An item in the Mar 1927 Photoplay noted that John Ford would soon direct Grandma Bernley Learns Her Letters at Fox Studios. A studio time-table in the 6 Oct 1927 Hollywood Vagabond listed the film as Grandmother Bernle, and marked it as currently shooting. Copyright records list the length of this film as 11 reels. Fox made another adaptation of Ida Alexa Ross Wylie's short story in 1940. That film, also titled Four Sons, was directed by Archie Mayo and starred Don Ameche. Voted one of the “Top Best Features” of 1928 by the 1929 Film Daily Year Book, as reported in the 7 Feb 1930 FD.
A Bavarian widow with four sons loses them in the war one by one until only Joseph is left. Having migrated to America, Joseph marries, opens a delicatessen, starts a family, and survives the war fighting on the allied side. After the war, Joseph returns to America and invites his mother to live with him and his family."
*(source: AFI Catalog of Feature Films)
The cast includes June Collyer, Margaret Mann, James Hall, Charles Morton, Francis X. Bushman Jr., and George Meeker.
3RB