NOAH'S ARK (1929) Dolores Costello, George O'Brien & Noah Beery| Drama, War | B&W | Nostalgic Flick

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Noah's Ark is a 1928 American part-talkie epic disaster film directed by Michael Curtiz and starring Dolores Costello and George O'Brien. In addition to sequences with audible dialogue or talking sequences, the film features a synchronized musical score and sound effects along with English intertitles. The soundtrack was recorded using the Vitaphone sound-on-disc system. The story is by Darryl F. Zanuck. The film was released by the Warner Bros. studio. Most scenes are silent with a synchronized music score and sound effects, in particular the biblical ones, while some scenes have dialogue.

Synopsis

After the Great Flood, Noah and his family are seen outside of the Ark praising Jehovah, followed by depictions of the building of the Tower of Babel, the worshipping of the golden calf, and then the eve of World War I (WWI), where a bankrupted trader shoots his uncaring stockbroker.

In 1914, American playboy Travis and his friend Al are traveling aboard the Oriental Express. A washed-out bridge causes a deadly derailment. Travis and Al rescue Marie, a German member of a small theatrical troupe, with the help of a prisoner who uncuffed himself from a now-dead escort. At the nearby lodge where they take shelter, fellow survivor Nickoloff, an officer in the Russian secret services, tries to sneak into Marie's room. When Travis objects, a fight breaks out, which is interrupted by French soldiers announcing WWI. Travis, Al and Marie sneak out to Paris together. Travis and Marie fall in love.

Al enlists himself. Despite being married, Travis joins, admired when seeing Al marching. They are each assigned a squad to attack a machine gun nest holding up the American offensive. Travis tosses a hand grenade into the position, not knowing that Al had captured it moments before; Al dies. Nickoloff spots Marie in a group of dancers entertaining the troops, threatening to have her arrested as a German spy unless she meets him later. When she tries to sneak away, she is sentenced to face a firing squad. Travis, also part of the squad, recognizes her. The couple and others are trapped below a demolished building. The minister compares the war and its flood of blood to the biblical flood story.

The film reverts to that time, with the actors playing second roles. King Nephilim has converted his subjects into worshippers of the god Jaghuth. Only Noah and his family remain faithful to Jehovah. Following His command, Noah and his three sons begin building the Ark on a mountainside. Nephilim orders the sacrifice of the most beautiful virgin in his realm to his god in a month. His soldiers choose Miriam, a handmaiden of Noah's. When Noah's son Japheth tries to save her, he is blinded and set to labor turning a stonemill with other prisoners. Just as Miriam is about to be slain, Jehovah unleashes his wrath, with the great flood destroying and drowning everything in its path. Among the chaos, Japheth, freed from his chains, finds and carries Miriam back to the Ark, where Jehovah restores his sight. Nephilim tries to climb aboard the Ark, only to have the door slam on his hand, inflicting the same injuries Nickoloff suffered.

Returning to WWI, the trapped group is freed, an armistice agreement is signed, and the war is over.

Cast & Crew

Dolores Costello as Marie / Miriam
George O'Brien as Travis / Japheth
Noah Beery as Nickoloff / King Nephilim
Louise Fazenda as Hilda / Tavern Maid
Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams as Al / Ham
Paul McAllister as Minister / Noah
Myrna Loy as Dancer / Slave Girl
Anders Randolf as The German / Leader of soldiers
Armand Kaliz as The Frenchman / Leader of the King's Guard
William V. Mong as Innkeeper / Guard
Malcolm Waite as The Balkan / Shem
Nigel De Brulier as Soldier / High Priest
Noble Johnson as Slave broker
Otto Hoffman as Trader

Directed by: Michael Curtiz
Written by: Darryl F. Zanuck (story), Anthony Coldeway (adaptation)
Cinematography: Barney McGill, Hal Mohr
Edited by: Harold McCord
Music by: Louis Silvers, Alois Reiser
Production Company: Warner Bros. Pictures
Distributed by: Warner Bros. Pictures
Release Dates:
November 1, 1928 (Original Cut)
June 15, 1929 (US Re-release)
Running Time:
135 minutes (original)
108 minutes (restored and edited version)
Country: United States
Languages: Sound (Part-Talkie), English Intertitles
Budget: $1,005,000
Box Office: $2,305,000 (worldwide rentals