THE RUNAWAY (1926) and BACK TO GODS COUNTRY (1927)

Gagman 66 · Post by **Gagman 66** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 4:29 pm

Are these Clara Bow, and Renee Adoree movies both considered to be lost? Silent era.com has their Status listed as "Unknown" but they are not always correct. It appears that "Status Unknown" is viewed as better than "Presumed Lost?" Although it is basically the same thing.

Harold Aherne · Post by **Harold Aherne** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 6:19 pm

The Runaway is considered lost, per information at the Clara Bow site. (They seem to having difficulties at the moment, so you'll have to content yourself with a cached image). The 1927 Back to God's Country does exist, per this list of extant Universal silents. Don't know which archive has it, or if it's held privately...it isn't listed among the Show-at-Home prints Universal offered, although they may have printed up other titles on request as well.

-Harold

Gagman 66 · Post by **Gagman 66** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 6:43 pm

Harold,

That is really sad about THE RUNAWAY. Such a great cast too. On the other hand, happy to learn of another surviving Renee Adoree feature. Is BACK TO GODS COUNTRY complete?

Wow, thanks for the list of Universal titles. I was going to start a different thread on those. Kevin Brownlow said in May of 2008, that BUTTERFLY (1924) was restored by UCLA just a couple years ago. Also mentioned that THE GOOSE WOMAN, and SMOULDERING FIRES were pending restoration. I don't have any updates since that time.

What have you got on these three MGM titles that Renee Adoree was in? I think you already mentioned PARISIAN NIGHTS still being around in another thread?

Blarney (1926).

On Ze Boulavard (1927)

Heaven On Earth (1927)

drednm · Post by **drednm** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 5:22 am

A collector in Alaska lists Parisian Nights among his new acquisitions. I have no other info on it (picture quality, music, completeness). I'll find out when he's back from vacation.[/b]

Harlett O'Dowd · Post by **Harlett O'Dowd** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 7:01 am

Gagman 66 wrote:Harold,

That is really sad about THE RUNAWAY. Such a great cast too. On the other hand, happy to learn of another surviving Renee Adoree feature. Is BACK TO GODS COUNTRY complete?

Wow, thanks for the list of Universal titles. I was going to start a different thread on those. Kevin Brownlow said in May of 2008, that BUTTERFLY (1924) was restored by UCLA just a couple years ago. Also mentioned that THE GOOSE WOMAN, and SMOULDERING FIRES were pending restoration. I don't have any updates since that time.

What have you got on these three MGM titles that Renee Adoree was in? I think you already mentioned PARISIAN NIGHTS still being around in another thread?

Blarney (1926).

On Ze Boulavard (1927)

Heaven On Earth (1927)

IIRC, On Ze Boulevard ran at Cinecon some years back. Much as I adore Renee, this wasn't much.

Post by **silentfilm** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 11:19 am

Yes, Cinecon ran On Ze Boulevard several years ago. I also remember that Reneé looked great in it, but it was a short MGM programmer.

I tried to look up my review of it on alt.movies.silent, but their search function is not finding any old posts right now.

Gagman 66 · Post by **Gagman 66** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 7:57 pm

Harold, Harlett O'Dowd, Bruce,

Thanks much to everyone for all the information.

Post by **silentfilm** » Sat Jun 26, 2010 9:14 pm

I just obtained some stills from On Ze Boulevard (1927), but unfortunately sweet Renée is not in any of them.

Lew Cody (with hat) and Dorothy Sebastian

Lew Cody in the bed

Lew Cody on the left

Gagman 66 · Post by **Gagman 66** » Sat Jun 26, 2010 9:44 pm

Bruce,

These are nice stills. I think the clip of Renee in the MGM Stars Trailer is probably from BLARNEY?

So I wonder whatever became of Renee Adoree's Elder Sister Mira??? Does anyone have additional information they could share? Thanks.

rogerskarsten · Post by **rogerskarsten** » Sat Jun 26, 2010 9:49 pm

Regarding BACK TO GOD'S COUNTRY: the FIAF database lists only the UCLA Film and Television Archive as a source for materials. Here is what the UCLA catalog itself has to say about its holdings:

Back to God’s country / Universal Pictures ; presented by Carl Laemmle ; director, Irvin Willat ; adaptation-scenario, Charles Logue ; titles, Walter Anthony. 1927.
Cast: Renée Adorée (Renée Debois); Robert Frazer (Bob Stanton); Walter Long (Blake); Mitchell Lewis (Jean Debois); James Mason (Jacques Carbeau); Walter Ackerman (clerk); Adolph Milar, Flying Eagle.
Credits: Photography, George Robinson.
Silent feature.
Based on the short story Wapi, the Walrus, by James Oliver Curwood, first published in Good housekeeping magazine on December 18, 1918.
Credits supplied from AFI catalog, 1921-1930.
Footage on release was 5,751 ft., according to: AFI catalog, 1921-1930.
Summary: "Trapper Jean Debois, accompanied by his daughter, Renée, arrives with his annual catch of pelts at Carbeau’s trading post, and when the wily trader tries to swindle and kill Jean, he is himself killed in the struggle. Blake, a sea captain, fired with rum, threatens to have Jean arrested for murder unless the girl becomes his wife. To save her father, Renée pretends to love Blake, but Bob Stanton, a young engineer, attacks Blake and agrees to help Jean. Aboard ship, Blake creates an ’accident’ that kills Jean and wounds Bob; when they arrive at the cove, Renée escapes with Bob by sled, pursued by Blake; they are halted by a blizzard, but Blake falls to his death when attacked by a dog"--AFI catalog, 1921-1930.

Rev. January 31, 2008, my.
Topics(s): Sled dogs --Northwest, Canadian --Drama.
Genre(s)/Form(s): Silent films.
Animal films and programs.
Features.
Credits heading(s): Willat, Irvin, 1890-1976.
Adorée, Renée, 1898-1933. cast
Curwood, James Oliver, 1878-1927. Wapi, the Walrus.
BBID (expression): 5470
Database: Film and Television Archive

Location: NON-CIRCULATING RESEARCH AND STUDY CENTER COPY
Inventory Number: VA9054 M
Collection: MP Motion Picture Collection
Format: 1 videocassette of 1 (VHS) : si., col. ; 1/2 in.
Condition: Incomplete, last half of film only. Silent film copied at sound speed (24 fps).
Notes: ADDITIONAL PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Tinted original copied on color video. VA9054 M

Location: Non-circulating SRLF archival copy
Inventory Number: M01018
Collection: MP Motion Picture Collection
Format: 1 reel of 1 (ca. 250 ft.) : b&w ; 35 mm. polyester dupe pic neg.
Reproduction: Los Angeles, Calif. : UCLA Film & Television Archive, 2006-08-30. Reproduced at the Stanford Theatre Film Lab from 16 mm. safety print (M43216). Reproduction for preservation purposes.
Notes: PART/ELEMENT: B title roll; dialogue titles against black background. ADDITIONAL PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Full silent aperture. Gamma .60; stock no. 2234, emulsion no. 355.
Input October 2, 2007, al.

Location: Non-circulating SRLF archival copy
Inventory Number: M01017
Collection: MP Motion Picture Collection
Format: 1 reel of 1 (ca. 250 ft.) : b&w ; 35 mm. polyester dupe pic neg.
Reproduction: Los Angeles, Calif. : UCLA Film & Television Archive, 2006-08-30. Reproduced at the Stanford Theatre Film Lab from 16 mm. safety print (M43216). Reproduction for preservation purposes.
Notes: PART/ELEMENT: A title roll; dialogue and descriptive titles with art backgrounds. ADDITIONAL PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Full silent aperture. Gamma .60; stock no. 2234, emulsion no. 355.
Input October 2, 2007, al.

Location: Non-circulating SRLF research copy
Inventory Number: M43216
Collection: STC Stanford Theatre Foundation Collection
MP Motion Picture Collection
Format: 2 reels of 2 (ca. 2400 ft.) : si., b&w (tinted) ; 16 mm. safety print.
Condition: R1: extremely fragile condition; r2: good condition (ec, 11/9/1992).
Notes: R1: No use; r2: restricted use; Archive staff approval required.
NOTES: Box 13, can 62. A10-20-2

Gagman 66 · Post by **Gagman 66** » Sat Jun 26, 2010 10:41 pm

Roger,

OK, thanks. I'm trying to make Heads or Tails of this? The notes seem to imply that most of the movie is there? Is that correct? Non-circulating? So basically still another silent film that no one will ever get to see? Oh, wait a minute one of these say that there are only two-reels? Or are they talking in lab and modern terms, not the two reels of film back in the day? Alright, Extremely Fragile condition, and last half of filmonly says it all.

rogerskarsten · Post by **rogerskarsten** » Sat Jun 26, 2010 10:48 pm

This videocassette is available for on-site viewing; if you're going to LA, just make an appointment and you can watch it. As you see, though, the film is incomplete.

Location: NON-CIRCULATING RESEARCH AND STUDY CENTER COPY
Inventory Number: VA9054 M
Collection: MP Motion Picture Collection
Format: 1 videocassette of 1 (VHS) : si., col. ; 1/2 in.
Condition: Incomplete, last half of film only. Silent film copied at sound speed (24 fps).
Notes: ADDITIONAL PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Tinted original copied on color video. VA9054 M

Gagman 66 · Post by **Gagman 66** » Sat Jun 26, 2010 10:54 pm

Roger,

I hope the foreign archives are paying strict attention to a film such as this, THE NTH COMMANDMENT, or an ELLA CINDERS, etc, where elements and print materials may survive in the United States, but are still missing a fair amount of the original footage.