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Released on 30th December 1929, it's the final film of 1929! And we're going out with the blaze of a monumental flop.
Eddie Dowling and Betty Compson in Motion Picture (March 1930)
Date of Release: Dec 30, 1929
Studio: Sono-Art
Director: Renaud Hoffman
Screenplay: Henry McCarty, Renaud Hoffman
Music: James Brockman, Eddie Dowling, James F. Hanley, Ballard MacDonald, Joseph McCarthy
Leading Actors: Eddie Dowling (Eddie Williams), Betty Compson (Helen Williams),
Frankie Darro (Jean Williams), Henry B. Walthall (Burke), William Davidson (District Attorney), Ferdinand Schumann-Heink (Carl Hummel), Eddie Conrad (Abie), Frank Sabini (Tony), Broderick O'Farrell, The Rounders
Blaze o’ Glory was based on Thomas Alexander Boyd’s short story “The Long Shot”. It combined several genres, war, backstage, and crime drama, into one unbelievable tale. The plot followed Eddie Williams (Eddie Dowling) a former Follies star who has returned from serving in the War. One night whilst waiting for his wife Helen (Betty Compson) to return home, he sees her talking to a man in the street below. Believing Helen is having an affair, Eddie shoots the man. Eddie is arrested and put on trial for murder. His lawyer Burke (Henry B. Walthall) is able to have him exonerated, and all ends happily.
Sono-Art was one of the first studios to make a the same movie twice using different casts - one cast speaking in English, and the other in Spanish. The Spanish-language version was called Sombras de Gloria, and starred José “the Irving Berlin of South America” Bohr, and Mona Rico. The international cast and crew hailed from a diverse range of countries including Venezuela, Columbia, Argentina, Mexico, Portugal, Chile, Peru, and the Philippines.
Both versions were filmed at the Metropolitan Studios in Los Angeles.
Blaze o’ Glory opened at the George M. Cohan Theatre in New York. Tickets for the premier cost an outrageous $11 each. New York Times film reviewer Mordaunt Hall lamented “whether the entertainment was worth that depends upon how much tugging at the heart strings one can stand without becoming peevish.”
As reported by Variety, Blaze o’ Glory was edited down after opening night reviews panned the film. The edits could not save it, and the film played to mediocre houses.
The Film Daily described Blaze o’ Glory as “dull and lacking in continuity,” and Motion Picture News called it “hokum.” Photoplay stated it was “One of those leopard pictures… spotty.”
While the film overall received lackluster reviews, its stars fared better. The National Board of Review stated Eddie Dowling’s singing and acting were “worthy of commendation.”
Eddie Dowling was an incredibly influential and multi-talented performer who throughout his forty year career wrote, composed, directed, and produced for stage and screen. After starting out in vaudeville, Dowling went on to perform with the Ziegfeld Follies. He wrote and starred in the hit Broadway musical Sally, Irene and Mary, which was later adapted into a Hollywood film. Dowling appeared in over thirty Broadway shows as a principal player, also often producing, writing, and directing. He also appeared in Sono-Art’s first, and more successful 1929 musical, The Rainbow Man.
Betty Compson was described as “excellent” in her role. She appeared in several musicals in 1929 including Weary River, On With the Show, The Time, The Place and the Girl, Street Girl, and The Show of Shows.
Child actor Frankie Darrow received good notices, with Variety claiming “The kid is a real actor.” Born into a circus family, Darrow (also known as Frankie Darro) started performing at a very young age. As a child actor, he made many appearances in silent films, particularly in Westerns. He went on to appear in over 150 films and television shows in a career that spanned nearly fifty years. An online biography states Darrow was the male equivalent of Shirley Temple — minus the singing and dancing, but with the same level of charm and lovability. He had a brief romance and engagement with Virginia Gumm, sister to Frances Ethel Gumm, more famously known as Judy Garland.
The highest praise was reserved for Henry B. Walthall, with several critics giving special mention to his moving courtroom speech. Walthall started out as a stage actor and appeared in early silent films. His appearance in D. W. Griffith’s The Birth of a Nation led to consistent leading roles and he made a successful transition to talkies. Walthall continued to appear in films until 1936. Over the course of his career, he appeared in over 300 films including Klondike (1932), Me and My Gal (1932), and A Tale of Two Cities (1935).
Few reviewers mentioned the music, except to note that singing only occurred in flashbacks and that the songs were not particularly memorable. Mordaunt Hall noted in his New York Times review that Eddie Dowling was “mysteriously” accompanied by a full orchestra, suggesting that the film did not try to explain away a character breaking into song. Hall also noted that “The reproduction of the voices is quite life-like and it is a pity that the story itself is not so.”
The score featured the songs “What Do I Care?,” the novelty comedy song “The Man from the South With the Cigar in His Mouth,” ”Wrapped in a Red, Red, Rose,” “Doughboy’s Lullaby,” “Put a Little Salt on the Bluebird’s Tail,” and "Welcome Home."
The Spanish-language version also featured "Canoodle, Oodle Along,” and "Oh Paris."
Despite the critics' lack of enthusiasm, the songs sold well to the general public. The music writing team, James Brockman, Eddie Dowling, James Hanley, Ballard MacDonald, and Joseph McCarthy went on to continued successes.
Russian-born James Brockman started out as an actor before becoming a tunesmith for Hollywood films. His songs include “I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles,” “I’m Like a Ship Without a Sail,” and “Down Among the Sheltering Palms.” Brockman was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970.
Composer James Hanley wrote mostly for the stage, and is most famously remembered for composing “Zing Went the Strings of My Heart”.
Ballard MacDonald was a prolific composer and lyricist for stage and film. Songs include “Beautiful Ohio,” “Rose of Washington Square,” “Clap Hands! Here Comes Charley!” and “There’s a Light That’s Burning in the Window of the Little House Upon the Hill.” MacDonald also contributed music to My Man (1928) and It’s a Great Life (1929).
Joseph McCarthy started out as a music publisher before turning his skills to writing for Broadway shows. He wrote for Broadway shows including Irene, the Ziegfeld Follies, and Rio Rita (which was also adapted into a film in 1929), and some of his songs include “You Made Me Love You,” “Oui, Oui, Marie,” and “I’m Always Chasing Rainbows.” McCarthy was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970.
Studio: Sono-Art
Director: Renaud Hoffman
Screenplay: Henry McCarty, Renaud Hoffman
Music: James Brockman, Eddie Dowling, James F. Hanley, Ballard MacDonald, Joseph McCarthy
Leading Actors: Eddie Dowling (Eddie Williams), Betty Compson (Helen Williams),
Frankie Darro (Jean Williams), Henry B. Walthall (Burke), William Davidson (District Attorney), Ferdinand Schumann-Heink (Carl Hummel), Eddie Conrad (Abie), Frank Sabini (Tony), Broderick O'Farrell, The Rounders
Blaze o’ Glory was based on Thomas Alexander Boyd’s short story “The Long Shot”. It combined several genres, war, backstage, and crime drama, into one unbelievable tale. The plot followed Eddie Williams (Eddie Dowling) a former Follies star who has returned from serving in the War. One night whilst waiting for his wife Helen (Betty Compson) to return home, he sees her talking to a man in the street below. Believing Helen is having an affair, Eddie shoots the man. Eddie is arrested and put on trial for murder. His lawyer Burke (Henry B. Walthall) is able to have him exonerated, and all ends happily.
Sono-Art was one of the first studios to make a the same movie twice using different casts - one cast speaking in English, and the other in Spanish. The Spanish-language version was called Sombras de Gloria, and starred José “the Irving Berlin of South America” Bohr, and Mona Rico. The international cast and crew hailed from a diverse range of countries including Venezuela, Columbia, Argentina, Mexico, Portugal, Chile, Peru, and the Philippines.
Both versions were filmed at the Metropolitan Studios in Los Angeles.
Blaze o’ Glory opened at the George M. Cohan Theatre in New York. Tickets for the premier cost an outrageous $11 each. New York Times film reviewer Mordaunt Hall lamented “whether the entertainment was worth that depends upon how much tugging at the heart strings one can stand without becoming peevish.”
As reported by Variety, Blaze o’ Glory was edited down after opening night reviews panned the film. The edits could not save it, and the film played to mediocre houses.
The Film Daily described Blaze o’ Glory as “dull and lacking in continuity,” and Motion Picture News called it “hokum.” Photoplay stated it was “One of those leopard pictures… spotty.”
While the film overall received lackluster reviews, its stars fared better. The National Board of Review stated Eddie Dowling’s singing and acting were “worthy of commendation.”
Eddie Dowling was an incredibly influential and multi-talented performer who throughout his forty year career wrote, composed, directed, and produced for stage and screen. After starting out in vaudeville, Dowling went on to perform with the Ziegfeld Follies. He wrote and starred in the hit Broadway musical Sally, Irene and Mary, which was later adapted into a Hollywood film. Dowling appeared in over thirty Broadway shows as a principal player, also often producing, writing, and directing. He also appeared in Sono-Art’s first, and more successful 1929 musical, The Rainbow Man.
Betty Compson was described as “excellent” in her role. She appeared in several musicals in 1929 including Weary River, On With the Show, The Time, The Place and the Girl, Street Girl, and The Show of Shows.
Child actor Frankie Darrow received good notices, with Variety claiming “The kid is a real actor.” Born into a circus family, Darrow (also known as Frankie Darro) started performing at a very young age. As a child actor, he made many appearances in silent films, particularly in Westerns. He went on to appear in over 150 films and television shows in a career that spanned nearly fifty years. An online biography states Darrow was the male equivalent of Shirley Temple — minus the singing and dancing, but with the same level of charm and lovability. He had a brief romance and engagement with Virginia Gumm, sister to Frances Ethel Gumm, more famously known as Judy Garland.
The highest praise was reserved for Henry B. Walthall, with several critics giving special mention to his moving courtroom speech. Walthall started out as a stage actor and appeared in early silent films. His appearance in D. W. Griffith’s The Birth of a Nation led to consistent leading roles and he made a successful transition to talkies. Walthall continued to appear in films until 1936. Over the course of his career, he appeared in over 300 films including Klondike (1932), Me and My Gal (1932), and A Tale of Two Cities (1935).
Few reviewers mentioned the music, except to note that singing only occurred in flashbacks and that the songs were not particularly memorable. Mordaunt Hall noted in his New York Times review that Eddie Dowling was “mysteriously” accompanied by a full orchestra, suggesting that the film did not try to explain away a character breaking into song. Hall also noted that “The reproduction of the voices is quite life-like and it is a pity that the story itself is not so.”
The score featured the songs “What Do I Care?,” the novelty comedy song “The Man from the South With the Cigar in His Mouth,” ”Wrapped in a Red, Red, Rose,” “Doughboy’s Lullaby,” “Put a Little Salt on the Bluebird’s Tail,” and "Welcome Home."
The Spanish-language version also featured "Canoodle, Oodle Along,” and "Oh Paris."
Despite the critics' lack of enthusiasm, the songs sold well to the general public. The music writing team, James Brockman, Eddie Dowling, James Hanley, Ballard MacDonald, and Joseph McCarthy went on to continued successes.
Russian-born James Brockman started out as an actor before becoming a tunesmith for Hollywood films. His songs include “I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles,” “I’m Like a Ship Without a Sail,” and “Down Among the Sheltering Palms.” Brockman was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970.
Composer James Hanley wrote mostly for the stage, and is most famously remembered for composing “Zing Went the Strings of My Heart”.
Ballard MacDonald was a prolific composer and lyricist for stage and film. Songs include “Beautiful Ohio,” “Rose of Washington Square,” “Clap Hands! Here Comes Charley!” and “There’s a Light That’s Burning in the Window of the Little House Upon the Hill.” MacDonald also contributed music to My Man (1928) and It’s a Great Life (1929).
Joseph McCarthy started out as a music publisher before turning his skills to writing for Broadway shows. He wrote for Broadway shows including Irene, the Ziegfeld Follies, and Rio Rita (which was also adapted into a film in 1929), and some of his songs include “You Made Me Love You,” “Oui, Oui, Marie,” and “I’m Always Chasing Rainbows.” McCarthy was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970.
German-Argentinian actor Jose Bohr in Cinemundial (December 1929)
On 15 February 1930, the Spanish-language version of Blaze o’ Glory, Sombras de Gloria, became the first talkie to be played the newly wired-for-sound 55th Street Playhouse. The premier was reportedly attended by fifteen consuls from South American countries.
Sombras de Gloria also received negative reviews, though The Film Daily noted that José Bohr gave a good performance in the lead role. Born in Germany, raised in Chile, and naturalized as a Argentinian, Bohr was a popular singer and composer.
Despite hopes the film would play well in Spanish-speaking countries, Sombras de Gloria was also a monumental flop internationally.
Both Blaze o’ Glory and Sombras de Gloria are considered lost films.
Sombras de Gloria also received negative reviews, though The Film Daily noted that José Bohr gave a good performance in the lead role. Born in Germany, raised in Chile, and naturalized as a Argentinian, Bohr was a popular singer and composer.
Despite hopes the film would play well in Spanish-speaking countries, Sombras de Gloria was also a monumental flop internationally.
Both Blaze o’ Glory and Sombras de Gloria are considered lost films.
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