Wednesday, February 27, 2013

The Old Swaybacked Horse Rides Again

This is the story of the old swaybacked horse that they used to use in old comedy films.



The Three Stooges worked with this horse in one of their western stories.

 
 
THE SAGEBRUSH TROUBADOR

 
Gene Autry's sidekick Frog Millhouse gives the horse it's first screen kiss.
 
 
A DAY AT THE RACES

 
 
The Marx Brothers worked with this horse in this movie as well as Esther Muir.



 
 
The "Our Gang" kids worked with this horse too. And the "Three Hollywood Girls" at Educational, but I don't have any pictures of them with it.
 
 
 
Sagebrush Troubador:

Monday, February 25, 2013

SILVER SCREEN December 1930

Another period fan magazine with pictures of Thelma Todd and other movie stars.





Joan Crawford had worked with Harry Langdon in the silent era. After sound came in, she was a star.
 
 
 

Clara Bow's popularity had slipped, but she was still making movies in the thirties. The line about her "capers" refers to bad publicity related to scandals of the time.
 
 
 

Blondes were big in the thirties, but here we have Thelma Todd as a brunette. Actresses frequently changed their hair colors for different roles.
 
 
 









A

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Martha Ford Writes About Madge Evans

Martha Ford article from THE NEW MOVIE MAGAZINE, Jan. 1935






















 Martha Ford's maiden name was "Haworth", and she met Wallace Ford in 1921, when she was 19 and they were both appearing in the play ABIE'S IRISH ROSE in New York. Wallace Ford was "Abie" and she was one of the bridesmaids. They married about a year later and the marriage would last for the rest of their lives. They had one child, a daughter named Patricia.

I don't know if Martha Ford wrote anything else. This article reminds me of the one that Catherine Hunter wrote about Thelma Todd, "Blonde Menace", for SCREEN PLAY in February 1932. That one was also represented as an article about a famous movie star by a gal pal.  



"Blonde Menace" by Catherine Hunter:
http://benny-drinnon.blogspot.com/2012/02/catherine-hunter.html


THE NEW MOVIE MAGAZINE:
http://archive.org/details/newmoviemagazin11weir

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Wallace Ford And His Wife Martha Ford

Wallace Ford and his wife were friends of Thelma Todd's.

Wallace Ford

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
    
Wallace Ford

Wallace Ford in Central Park (1932)
BornSamuel Jones Grundy
(1898-02-12)12 February 1898
Bolton, Lancashire, England, U.K.
Died11 June 1966(1966-06-11) (aged 68)
Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Other namesWally Ford
OccupationActor
Years active1930–1965
Spouse(s)Martha Haworth (m. 1922 – 1966) «start: (1922)–end+1: (1967)»"Marriage: Martha Haworth to Wallace Ford" Location: (linkback://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wallace_Ford)
Wallace Ford (12 February, 1898 – 11 June, 1966) was an English film and television actor who, with his friendly appearance and stocky build later in life, appeared in a number of film westerns and B-films.
Born Samuel Jones Grundy in Bolton, Lancashire, England, he spent childhood in a Dr. Barnardo's home. At an early age he was adopted by a farmer from Manitoba, Canada where he was ill treated. About the age of eleven, he ran away and did odd jobs later becoming an usher in a theatre.
Following his discharge from the army after World War I, he became a vaudeville actor in a stock company before performing on Broadway.[1]
He started on a film career when Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer gave him part in the film Possessed and went on to appear in over 200 films including 13 directed by John Ford. (The two were unrelated.)
He also appeared in a 1964 episode of The Andy Griffith Show as Roger Hanover, Aunt Bee's old flame, which originally aired October 19th. Twenty months later, Ford died. He is buried with an unmarked grave in Culver City's Holy Cross Cemetery.

 

Partial filmography

Television

References

External links







                                                           *                 *                 *


Today, Wallace Ford might be remembered as much for his appearences in the "Mummy" movies as for anything else he did, although he had a long and successful career in the movies and later worked on television. His wife Martha is mentioned in connection with Thelma Todd in various accounts because of her testimony that she had talked to Thelma Todd on the phone the afternoon before she was found dead: the authorities insisted that Thelma Todd must already have been dead at that time and that Mrs. Ford must have been mistaken. A sad aftermath for a festive occasion at any event.



 Thelma Todd and Wallace Ford can be seen in one of the photos on this page in the January 1935 issue of PHOTOPLAY.







Leo Carillo, Joan Blondell, Pat O'Brien, and Wallace Ford at barbeque.

 
 
 
 
Anita Page at one of Wallace Ford's parties.
 
 
 Anita Page was there at the party when Mrs. Wallace Ford recieved a call from Thelma Todd the day before she was found dead. But according to the authorities, Thelma Todd would already have been dead at that time and could not have made the call.
 
 
 Mrs. Wallace Ford
 
 
 
 
 
And the caption from the back of this photo:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lucille Ball with Wallace Ford

 
 
 
Anita Page ( Official Site ):
 
 
 
Wallace Ford ( Silver Screen Oasis.com ):
 
Wallace Ford Obituary:

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

The New Movie Magazine, September 1932

A movie magazine from September 1932 features Thelma Todd along with other popular favorites such as Ruth Chatterton, Boris Karloff, Joan Marsh, Jean Harlow, Chester Morris, and Evelyn Brent.



 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
Thelma Todd got a great deal of publicity out of SPEAK EASILY, and pictures of her in this movie were widely printed in various publications at the time.
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 








THE NEW MOVIE MAGAZINE:
http://archive.org/details/newmoviemagazin11weir




Tuesday, February 19, 2013

HORSEFEATHERS: A Horse With Two Endings Rides Again

A publicity photo from HORSEFEATHERS that I hadn't seen before turned up on ebay recently.





                  Thelma Todd is on the right with Groucho Marx, while Zeppo is at the center.


This doesn't represent anything that is actually in the finished film. The fire in the background suggests that this might be related to an unused ending in which the Marx Brothers burned the college that the story was set in to the ground.


                          After the ending of the movie was changed, a pressbook retained a photo which showed that ending has the Marx Brothers playing cards in front of the burning college.

 
 
 
 
I prefer the ending in the finshed film, where Chico, Groucho, and Harpo all marry Thelma Todd.
 
 
This is the end.
 




Horse Feathers:
http://www.marx-brothers.org/marxology/horse.htm

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0023027/

Monday, February 18, 2013

Abraham Merritt Biography By Sam Moskowitz

Sam Moskowitz was an anthologist and an authority on science fiction and fantasy. This biography of Abraham Merritt was originally published in SATELITE SCIENCE FICTION.





 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 






 






 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 







Abe Merritt was a very popular author in his day, but has become somewhat obscure with the passing of time. I imagine that his books are no longer widely read. Years ago I read them, but then I began to notice things about his work that I didn't like, till finally I read it no more. There is a great deal of horror in these stories and it might be better not to spend too much time dwelling on such scenes of terror and carnage, particularly if you are suffering from poor health as am I.  Better to read things that seem to be more upbeat and yes, perhaps more normal than these works of dubious Merritt.


Abraham Merritt:
http://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/m/merritt/abraham/index.html


Sunday, February 17, 2013

SEVEN FOOTPRINTS TO SATAN Flyer

A flyer from First National / Warner Brothers for the movie SEVEN FOOTPRINTS TO SATAN.










 





 
 
 
 






 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
And Here's A Poster:
 
 











Silent Movie Flyers:
http://www.silentcomedians.com/forum/viewtopic.php?start=0&t=213






A

SEVEN FOOTPRINTS TO SATAN Subtitles

English subtitles from the silent version of SEVEN FOOTPRINTS TO SATAN:




TITLE CARD # 1

THE STAIRCASE OF SATAN


(SEVEN FOOTPRINTS TO SATAN)

 

2

FROM THE ROMANCE BY A. MERRIT

PRODUCED BY FIRST NATIONAL-VITAPHONE

 

3

STARRING

THELMA TODD CREIGHTON HALE

 

 

 

4

DIRECTED BY BENJAMIN CHRISTENSEN

 

 

5

The tricks men sometimes play upon one another may often

seem extreme, even grotesque -- yet still they may prove to make the victim laugh in the end, and thus are concluded happily.

 

6

The beginning --

 

7

On this dark evening, what mysterious

undertaking could James Kirkham

be preparing for?

(
actor CREIGHTON HALE)

 

8

JAMES KIRKHAM (JIM)-

"WHO COULD BE COMING TO

MY DOOR AT THIS HOUR?"

 

9

JIM-

"I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO SEE THE PACKING

CRATES IN THE OUTER HALL."

 

 

 

10

JIM-

"GO AND FETCH MY OTHER CARTRIDGES.

I'M RUNNING THROUGH QUITE A FEW

THIS EVENING."

 

11

UNCLE JOE-

"WHERE'S THAT CRAZY NEPHEW OF MINE?

HE HASN'T LEFT YET?"

 

12

JIM’S VALET-

"NO. I'M JUST ON MY WAY TO FETCH HIM MORE

BULLETS. HE'S BOUGHT ENOUGH TO RESUPPLY

AN ENTIRE ARMY"

 

13

UNCLE JOE-

"IN THERE?"

 

14

VALET-

"YOU REMEMBER IT. YOU MAY HAVE TO FORCE YOUR WAY IN.”

 

15

UNCLE JOE-

"GOOD GOD JAMES, YOU'VE GONE CRAZY."

 

 

16

JIM-

"GOOD EVENING UNCLE JOE"

 

17

JIM-

"I'M PRACTICING. AN EXPLORER MUST HANDLE

FIREARMS SKILLFULLY IF HE DOESN'T EXPECT

TO FAIL."

 

18

UNCLE JOE-

"AN EXPLORER, YOU? JUST WHERE AND WHAT

DO YOU INTEND TO EXPLORE?"

 

19

JIM-

"I'VE DECIDED TO MOUNT AN EXPEDITION TO DARKEST AFRICA."

 

20

UNCLE JOE-

"THAT’S IDIOTIC! DON’T WASTE YOUR MONEY THIS WAY.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

21

JIM-

"IT’S NOT A WASTE OF MONEY! I INTEND TO PROVE THAT BURIED IN CENTRAL AFRICA IS THE MOST ANCIENT CIVILIZATION IN THE WORLD.”

 

22

UNCLE JOE-

"YOU WON’T LAST TEN DAYS IN SUCH A PLACE."

 

23

UNCLE JOE-

"THE MILLIONS YOUR FATHER LEFT YOU HAVE UPSET YOUR BRAINS.”

 

 

24

UNCLE JOE -

"WHY DON’T YOU GET MARRIED? EVA WOULD KNOW HOW TO CURE YOU OF THESE MANIAS."

 

25

JIM-

"FIRST I INTEND TO BECOME A CELEBRATED EXPLORER!"

 

26

UNCLE JOE-

"YOU HAVEN'T EVEN EXPLORED ALL THE GARDENS OF YOUR OWN HOME YET!"

 

27

VALET-

“MR. KIRKHAM, THERE’S A YOUNG LADY HERE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK WITH YOU.”

 

 

28

JIM-

“I TOLD YOU I DIDN’T WANT TO SEE ANYBODY!”

 

29

EVA MARTIN

(actress THELMA TODD)

 

30

EVA-

“I’M SORRY IF I AM DISTURBING YOU, JAMES, BUT I HAVE SOMETHING I MUST TALK TO YOU ABOUT.”

 

31

UNCLE JOE-

“IT DISTRESSES ME THAT YOU WON’T LISTEN TO ME, JIM.”

 

32

JIM-

“I UNDERSTAND YOUR SENTIMENTS, BUT THE LURE OF A LIFE OF ADVENTURE IS TOO IRRESISTABLE FOR ME TO IGNORE.”

 

33

EVA-

“DON’T BE MAD AT ME FOR LOOKING YOU UP RIGHT NOW, I KNOW YOU’RE BUSY GETTING READY FOR YOUR TRIP.”

 

34

EVA-

“I NEED TO ASK YOU A GREAT FAVOR.”

 

35

EVA-

“YOU REMEMBER MY FATHER’S COLLECTION OF ANTIQUES, JAMES?”

 

36

EVA-

“WELL, HE’S DECIDED TO SHOW THEM OFF AT A

RECEPTION THIS EVENING.”

 

37

EVA-

“I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT ONE OF THE GUESTS.”

 

38

EVA-

“CAN YOU TELL ME IF THIS MAN IS ACTUALLY PROFESSOR WREDE, DIRECTOR OF THE DRESDEN MUSEUM?”

 

39

JIM-

“YES . . . NO . . . YES . . . I CAN’T BE CERTAIN. THERE IS A RESEMBLANCE . . .”

 

 

40

EVA-

“THE REST OF THE GUESTS WILL BE ARRIVING NOW. CAN YOU COME WITH ME IMMEDIATELY?”

 

41

JIM-

“GIVE ME JUST A MOMENT AND WE’LL GO.”

 

42

MR. MARTIN-

“THIS IS THE FAMOUS ROMANOFF EMERALD!”

 

43

JIM-

“WELCOME TO NEW YORK, PROFESSOR”

 

44

JIM-

“IT SEEMS THAT YOU DON’T REMEMBER ME.”

 

 

 

 

45

PROFESSOR-

“YES . . . YES . . . I REMEMBER . . . I REMEMBER YOU VERY WELL . . . YOU ARE . . . YOU ARE . . .”

 

46

PROFESSOR-

“HOW EXTRAORDINARY. I HAVE YOUR NAME ON THE TIP OF MY TONGUE.”

47

MR. MARTIN-

“DON’T MAKE A MOVE. FOLLOW ME!”

 

48

PROFESSOR-

“I WILL TELL THE WORLD OF THIS OUTRAGE!”

 

49

MR. MARTIN-

“GO CONTACT THE POLICE. THE WIRES OF THE PHONE HAVE BEEN CUT!”

 

(Note: At this point there appears to be a missing section of footage. Jim and Eva leave her father’s house via Jim’s chauffer-driven car, but the driver does not take them to where they want to go. Instead, they are brought to a strange house and abandoned. An odd-acting woman answers the door, acts oblivious to Jim’s requests for help, and indicates to the couple that this is the house of Satan. )

 

 

 

 

50

JIM-

“BUT WE WISH TO GO BACK TO WHERE WE CAME FROM!”

 

51

JIM-

“WHO IS THIS SATAN?”

 

52

HOUSEMAID-

“HE IS OUR MASTER!”

 

 

53

EVA-

“LOOK OUT - A HAND!”

 

54

IMP-

“GO FIND THE POLICE . . . IF YOU ARE ABLE!”

55

IMP-

“SATAN HAS HELD ME PRISONER HERE FOR MANY MONTHS WITHOUT BREAD OR WATER!”

 

56

APISH MAN-

“I’M SORRY TO HAVE FRIGHTENED YOU.”

 

57

APISH MAN-

“I MUST TALK WITH YOUR FRIEND.”

 

58

APISH MAN-

“I DO NOT WANT TO HELP MY MASTER SATAN.”

 

 

59

APISH MAN-

“YET SERVE HIM I MUST. I HAVE ORDERS TO TAKE WHAT WILL BE FOUND IN YOUR RIGHT POCKET.”

 

60

JIM-

“IT’S YOUR FATHER’S EMERALD!”

 

61

APISH MAN-

“SATAN NEEDS IT FOR HIS COLLECTION OF ANTIQUITIES!”

 

62

JIM- “BUT THIS JEWEL IS VERY PRECIOUS! AND IT BELONGS TO EVA’S FATHER!”

 

 

 

63

ORIENTAL-

“GIVE ME THAT EMERALD!”

 

64

ORIENTAL-

“PUT IT IN THE ROOM OF TREASURES.”

 

65

ORIENTAL-

“EACH PERSON HERE IS GIVEN A NUMBER. YOURS SHALL BE 741. YOUR FRIENDS IS 742.”

66

HOUEMAID-

“YOUR DINNER IS PREPARED IN A ROOM CLOSEBY.”

 

67

JIM-

“WE PREFER TO DINE AT HOME.”

 

68

SATAN'S MISTRESS-

“TAKE ONE STEP AND I WILL KILL YOU!”

 

69

SATAN'S MISTRESS-

“TAKE THIS KEY. IF YOU DARE TO TRY TO LEAVE THIS HOUSE, SATAN WILL KILL YOU BOTH BEFORE YOU SUCCEED!”

 

70

SATAN‘S MISTRESS-

“FOLLOW THE CORRIDOR TO ROOM NUMBER 13 AND TELL WHO YOU FIND THERE THAT EVERYTHING IS READY.”

 

71

JIM-

“EXCUSE ME . . . I WOULD LIKE TO GO BACK HOME JUST FOR A LITTLE BIT.”

72

JIM-

“YOU SAID . . . ROOM . . . ROOM . . . 13?”

 

73

TITLE CARD-

END OF PART ONE

EXCLUSIVELY FOR ITALIAN MOTION PICTURES

 

 

74

MAN IN BED-

“WHO ARE YOU? WHAT DO YOU WANT OF ME?”

 

75

JIM-

“THE HOUSEMAID TOLD ME TO TELL YOU ALL IS READY.”

 

 

 

76

MAN IN BED-

“GET OUT OF HERE! YOU’RE ANOTHER OF THOSE SPIES SATAN SENDS TO TRAP ME!”

 

77

JIM-

“BUT . . . BUT . . . THE LADY SAID . . .”

 

78

SATAN‘S MISTRESS-

“I BELIEVE YOU WILL RECOGNIZE SOME OF THESE TRUSTED AGENTS OF SATAN.”

79

SATAN'S MISTRESS-

“AN EXPLANATION FOR YOUR DISAPPEARANCE FROM THE WORLD AROUND US WILL HAVE TO BE WRITTEN UP IN THE NEWSPAPERS.”

80

JIM-

“ALLOW ME TO GO. I’LL NEVER BE OF ANY USE TO MISTER SATAN.”

 

81

SATAN'S MISTRESS-

“SATAN ALWAYS SUPPLIES PUBLISHERS WITH A CONVINCING STORY. SIGN THE PAPER!”

 

82

JIM-

“I REFUSE TO SIGN A BLANK SHEET!”

 

83

SATAN'S MISTRESS-

“SEND FOR THE SPIDER.”

 

84

SATAN'S MISTRESS-

“TAKE THIS GIRL AWAY UNTIL THIS IMBECILE IS READY TO OBEY OUR MASTER.”

85

JIM-

“IF I SIGN, WILL MY FIANCE BE RESTORED TO ME?”

 

86

SATAN'S MISTRESS-

“IN GOOD TIME. If YOU ARE REASONABLE!”

 

87

ORIENTAL-

“COME THIS WAY!”

 

88

DWARF-

“THE PROFESSOR SENT ME. TAKE THIS KEY.”

 

 

 

89

MESSAGE ON CARD-

DON’T TRUST ANYONE IN THIS HOUSE EXCEPT PROFESSOR MORIARTY. YOUR LIVES ARE IN PERIL!

 

90

ELEVATOR OPERATOR-

“WHAT IS PASSWORD?

91

MAN IN HOOD-

“I AM OF THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE UNNAMED. SATAN FOREVER!”

 

92

ELEVATOR OPERATOR-

“THE CAR IN THE COURTYARD WILL TAKE YOU WHEREVER YOU NEED TO GO, BROTHER!”

 

93

APISH MAN-

“DO YOU KNOW WHAT THEY HAVE DONE TO EVA?”

94

APISH MAN-

“THEY HAVE TAKEN HER TO THE CHAMBER OF SATAN!”

 

 

95

APISH MAN-

“THIS IS THE SPIDER’S ROOM. SATAN’S ROOM ADJOINS.”

 

96

APISH MAN-

“WE’VE BEEN TRAPPED! WE’LL NEVER GET OUT OF HERE!”

 

97

CROWD-“KILL THE TRAITORS! KILL THEM BOTH!”

 

98

ORIENTAL-

“SILENCE! SATAN IS COMING!”

 

99

SATAN-

“BEGIN THE TRIAL!”

 

100

ORIENTAL-

“PRISONER! YOU WILL BE SPARED IF YOU SUCCEED IN FOLLOWING THE SEVEN FOOTPRINTS ON THE STAIRCASE TO SATAN!”

 

 

 

 

 

 

101

ORIENTAL-

“IF YOU SUCCEED IN MOUNTING THE STAIRS WITH JUST FOUR STEPS, YOU WILL BE IMMEDIATELY FREED.”

 

102

ORIENTAL-

“FOR EVERY FALSE STEP, YOU SHALL REMAIN A YEAR IN SATAN’S SERVICE.”

 

103

ORIENTAL-

“FOUR FALSE STEPS WILL MEAN THE WOMAN DIES!”

 

 

104

SATAN'S MISTRESS-

“WATCH CAREFULLY THESE VILE CREATURES! THEY DO NOT DESERVE THE GENEROSITY SATAN BESTOWS UPON THEM!”

 

105

JIM-

“I DESPISE YOU ALL! DEVILS! SCOUNDRELS!”

 

106

JIM-

“ANYTHING I HAVE I WILL GIVE YOU IF YOU

JUST LET THIS GIRL GO!”

 

107

ORIENTAL-

“SILENCE! SATAN WISHES TO ANSWER THE PRISONER!”

 

 

108

SATAN-

“IF YOU SUCCEED IN ESCAPING DEATH, I WILL USE YOUR SERVICE FOR WORK OF GREAT IMPORTANCE.”

 

109

JIM-

“I WILL OBEY ANY ORDER YOU GIVE ME, AS LONG AS YOU FREE THIS YOUNG WOMAN.”

 

110

SATAN-

“THE SALVATION OF THE YOUNG GIRL IS GRANTED, AS LONG AS YOU SUCCESFFULLY CLIMB MY SEVEN STEPS.”

 

111

ORIENTAL-

“IF YOU TURN AWAY FROM THE LIGHTED PATH, YOUR LIFE ENDS THIS EVENING.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

112

ORIENTAL-

“YOUR LIFE IS SAFE, BUT BY THE TERMS OF THE OATH YOU HAVE TAKEN, YOU MUST SERVE THREE YEARS FOR OUR MASTER.”

 

113

JIM-

“VERY WELL. I WILL SERVE THREE YEARS AND MY GIRLFRIEND WILL GO FREE.”

 

112

JIM-

“UNCLE JOE! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?”

 

113

UNCLE JOE-

“ME? SATAN.”

 

114

UNCLE JOE-

“YOU’VE SPOKEN SO MUCH ABOUT ADVENTURES LATELY THAT I THOUGHT I WOULD GIVE YOU ONE BIG ENOUGH TO LAST YOU THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.”

 

115

UNCLE JOE-

“ALL HERE PRESENT ARE WITNESSES THAT YOU NOW HAVE TO COME INTO MY OFFICES EVERYDAY FOR THREE YEARS.”

 

116

EVA-

“I HOPE YOU’LL FORGIVE ME, BUT I DIDN’T WANT TO SEE YOU RUSH OFF TO CENTRAL AFRICA.”

 

 

 

 

117

JIM-

“IF I MUST SERVE MY UNCLE SATAN FOR THREE YEARS I AM GOING TO NEED YOUR HELP.”

 

118

THE END




Reblogged from http://seventosatan.freewebpage.org/


Peter Kavel had these subtitles translated back into English from the Italian language version of the silent movie that had been in circulation at the time. An original English language print is said to exsist in New York.



Saturday, February 16, 2013

SEVEN FOOTPRINTS TO SATAN

SEVEN FOOTPRINTS TO SATAN was Thelma Todd's first sound film.


Seven Footprints to Satan



From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

Seven Footprints to Satan
Directed byBenjamin Christensen
Written byBenjamin Christensen
StarringThelma Todd
Creighton Hale
William V. Mong
Sheldon Lewis
Release date(s)January 27, 1929 (1929-01-27)
Seven Footprints to Satan is a 1929 American dark comedy film directed by Danish filmmaker Benjamin Christensen. Based on the book of the same name by Abraham Merritt, it stars Thelma Todd, Creighton Hale, William V. Mong and Sheldon Lewis, and contains appearances by Sojin and Angelo Rossitto among others. It was produced as both a silent film and as a part-talkie, with dialog scenes, a full musical score, and sound effects.

Plot summary

Jim and Eve, a young society couple, are kidnapped on the eve of Jim's departure for Africa and brought to a mansion that is home to a strange and glamorous Satanic cult.

Production

Seven Footprints to Satan is the fifth of seven films made by Christensen during his tenure in Hollywood, and is one of only four that survive in a relatively complete state (Eagle's Nest and Haunted House are believed to be lost; House of Horror exists only in sound elements). Seven Footprints to Satan is also notable one of the first films of Loretta Young, who appears uncredited as an extra.[1]
According to Internet reviews, only a silent version of the film, with Italian intertitles, is currently available for viewing.[2]

References

External links




                                                   *                    *                   *


Abraham Merritt's story features characters named "Eve" and "Satan" and may be seen as having some similarities to the Bible story, even though Merritt's Satan turns out to be an impostor in the end. The movie version would add to the imposture by having it that the whole adventure was a put-on, which might have been as much as anything to make the book's horriffic ending more suitable for the movies, which more ordinarily tended to have a happy ending.

The original story had it that Eve was a brunette,

 
 
But Thelma Todd was a blonde,

 
and the Eve on the cover of this dust jacket is a representation of Thelma Todd. There were also some pictures of Thelma Todd from the movie inside the book.
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 Later editions of the book varied as to whether the girl was shown as a blonde or brunette.


 SEVEN FOOTPRINTS TO SATAN for years was unavailable for viewing, with only a few prints of the film known to exist. Even when it became available on home video, the copy that was circulated had Italian subtitles, making it difficult to follow for people who didn't speak that language. Later Peter Kavel had the subtitles translated into English, which helped a great deal.


SEVEN FOOTPRINTS TO SATAN was like a different version of THE CAT AND THE CANARY and also similar to THE BAT, which was a Roland West movie. It can be seen as part of a late twenties horror cycle. SEVEN FOOTPRINTS TO SATAN was also part of a triology of movies made by Benjamin Christensen at First National, preceded by THE HAUNTED HOUSE ( 1928 ) and followed by HOUSE OF HORROR ( 1929 ).

Creighton Hale, sometimes called "The poor man's Harold Lloyd", was the leading man in both THE CAT AND THE CANARY and in SEVEN FOOTPRINTS TO SATAN. A star in the silent era, his career would suffer a decline in the sound era.

Sojin, who hailed from Japan, was a popular in the silent era, frequently typecast as a mysterious Oriental. One of his most famous roles was the Mongolian prince in the 1924 Douglas Fairbanks film THE THIEF OF BAGDAD. He played himself in SEVEN FOOTPRINTS TO SATAN. In 1926 he had appeared in another horror comedy, Roland West's THE BAT.

The business of having the steps light up is something that had probably been done before and has also been done since in "I'll Build a Stairway to Paradise" sung by Georges Guetary in AN AMERICAN IN PARIS.




 
 




That song came from George White's Scandals of 1922.

It's likely that this effect had already been done onstage before author Abe Merrit put it in the story. He could even have been thinking of the song about the "Stairway to Paradise".






 
 
 
 
Creighton Hale with his horn-rimmed glasses resembled Harold Lloyd,

 
 who was one of the most popular silent movie comedians.
 
 
 
 






The little guy is Angelo Rositto. He went on to work with Bela Lugosi in several movies.

 
 
 
 
Thelma with Creighton Hale and Sojin.
 
 
 
 
 
 Satan on his throne atop the seven steps of the titular seven footprints, a crooked device
 
 
which Satan has rigged to cheat his associates.


                                                                Thelma Todd and friends.





                                                           LORETTA YOUNG

 
as she appeared in SEVEN FOOTPRINTS TO SATAN.
 
 


A publicity picture with Thelma Todd and Loretta Young taken around the time that SEVEN FOOTPRINTS TO SATAN was made.

 


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 




Benjamin Christensen:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Christensen


Creighton Hale:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creighton_Hale


Angelo Rositto:
http://www.shortsupport.org/cgi-bin/whowho_bio.cgi?seq=438&ord..
http://myweb.wvnet.edu/~u0e53/angelorossitto.html