''Hangman's House'' is a 1928 romantic

drama Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance: a play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a genre of poetry in general, the dramatic mode has b ...

genre

silent film A silent film is a film with no synchronized Sound recording and reproduction, recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) ...

set in

Co. Wicklow County Wicklow ( ; ga, Contae Chill Mhantáin ) is a county in Ireland. The last of the traditional 32 counties, having been formed as late as 1606, it is part of the Eastern and Midland Region and the province of Leinster. It is bordered by ...

, Ireland, directed by

John Ford John Martin Feeney (February 1, 1894 – August 31, 1973), known professionally as John Ford, was an American film director and naval officer. He is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential filmmakers of his generation. He ...

(uncredited) with inter-titles written by Malcolm Stuart Boylan. It is based on a novel by

Brian Oswald Donn-Byrne Donn Byrne (born Brian Oswald Patrick Donn-Byrne, ; 20 November 1889 – 18 June 1928) was an Irish novelist. Biography He was born in New York City in the United States where, he claimed, his Irish parents were on a business trip at the tim ...

. It was adapted by Philip Klein with scenarios by

Marion Orth Marion Orth (December 5, 1900 – December 1, 1984) was an American screenwriter of the silent and sound eras of Hollywood. She was a frequent collaborator of director Lois Weber. Biography Orth began her career as a playwright and magazin ...

. The film is also notable for containing the first confirmed appearance by John Wayne in a John Ford film.

Plot

While stationed in Algiers, Commandant Denis Hogan receives a letter containing bad news and requests leave to return to his home country of Ireland, where he is a wanted man. In Ireland, Baron James O'Brien is told by his doctor that he has no more than a month to live. He decides to marry off his only daughter Connaught to a socialite, John D'Arcy, despite her love of childhood friend Dermot McDermot. Hogan returns to Ireland and disguises himself as a holy man. On his way to the O'Brien's house he is recognised by a gatekeeper, to whom he reveal his intention to kill a man. Hogan meets Dermot McDermot and the three men witness the lights of Glenmalure's chapel being lit, signifying a wedding is taking place. Later that night, after Connaught and D'Arcy have been wed, the Baron dies. On the night of his funeral Hogan sneaks about the grounds of Hangman's House and is spotted by D'Arcy. D'Arcy tries to sleep with Connaught but she rejects his advances. A community race is held on St. Stephen's Day and Connaught's horse, The Bard, is due to race. The horse's jockey goes missing just before the race because of interference from D'Arcy, who has bet against the horse. Dermot is required to jockey the horse and he wins the race, leading a drunken D'Arcy to shoot The Bard. D'Arcy is ostracised by the community because of this. Hogan is arrested at the race. At night Dermot and D'Arcy meet in a pub where D'Arcy reveals that he had an affair with Hogan's sister. Dermot gives D'Arcy money to leave Ireland and threatens that if he ever sees him again, he will kill him. Hogan escapes from prison and a gunfight erupts between his men and the guards. Dermot and Connaught visit Hogan's hideout and Hogan reveals that his sister died following D'Arcy's desertion. Connaught returns to Hangman's House to discover that D'Arcy has returned. After a struggle she flees to Dermot's house. Hogan and Dermot go to Hangman's House and confront D'Arcy. During a fight between the men a fire breaks out and burns down the house. Hogan and Dermot escape but D'Arcy falls to his death as a balcony collapses. Connaught and Dermot see Hogan off at the port as he returns to Algiers. Connaught and Dermot depart together as Hogan watches.

Cast

Victor McLaglen Victor Andrew de Bier Everleigh McLaglen (10 December 1886 – 7 November 1959) was a British boxer-turned-Hollywood actor.Obituary ''Variety'', 11 November 1959, page 79. He was known as a character actor, particularly in Westerns, and made sev ...

as Citizen Denis Hogan *

June Collyer June Collyer (born Dorothea Heermance, August 19, 1906 – March 16, 1968) was an American film actress of the 1920s and 1930s. Early life Born in New York City, Collyer chose to use her mother's maiden name when she decided to pursue acti ...

as Connaught "Conn" O'Brien * Earle Fox as John D'Arcy * Larry Kent as Dermot McDermot *

Hobart Bosworth Hobart Van Zandt Bosworth (August 11, 1867 – December 30, 1943) was an American film actor, director, writer, and producer. Early life Bosworth was born on August 11, 1867, in Marietta, Ohio. His father was a sea captain in the Civil W ...

as Lord Justice O'Brien * John Wayne as Horse Race Spectator/Condemned Man in Flashback (uncredited) *

Brian Desmond Hurst Brian Desmond Hurst (12 February 1895 – 26 September 1986) was a Belfast-born film director. With over thirty films in his filmography, Hurst has been hailed as Northern Ireland's best film director.Screening will honour 'NI's best film ...

as Horse Race Spectator and witness to the horse shooting (uncredited)

Production

The film began production in January 1928 and took seven weeks to film.

Reception

The film received positive reviews, Wilfred Beaton of Film Spectator called it "the finest program picture ever turned out by a studio". In particular he praised the photography which he said "almost outdoes for sheer beauty the shots in '' Street Angel'' and ''

Sunrise Sunrise (or sunup) is the moment when the upper rim of the Sun appears on the horizon in the morning. The term can also refer to the entire process of the solar disk crossing the horizon and its accompanying atmospheric effects. Terminology A ...

''".

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

shared this opinion by proclaiming the film had "some of the most striking touches of composition seen on the screen since those swampland shots in ''

'', which they often resemble." However the film was not a box office success as

Fox Film Corporation The Fox Film Corporation (also known as Fox Studios) was an American Independent film production studio formed by William Fox (1879–1952) in 1915, by combining his earlier Greater New York Film Rental Company and Box Office Attractions Film C ...

did not promote the film.Gallagher, Tag ''John Ford: The Man and his Films'' (University of California Press 1986) p.58

Home media

The film was released on

DVD The DVD (common abbreviation for Digital Video Disc or Digital Versatile Disc) is a digital optical disc data storage format. It was invented and developed in 1995 and first released on November 1, 1996, in Japan. The medium can store any kind ...

in North America by Fox on December 4, 2007. The film can be obtained three different ways: * In the ''Ford at Fox - The Collection'' box set which is a 21 disc collection containing most of the films John Ford made at Fox. * In the ''Ford At Fox Collection: John Ford's Silent Epics'' which also contains ''

Just Pals ''Just Pals'' is a 1920 American silent Western film directed by John Ford, and was Ford's first film for Fox Film Corporation. John Ford is credited as 'Jack Ford', as was typical for his earliest films. The film introduces the theme of the ...

'', ''

Four Sons ''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 ...

'', '' The Iron Horse'' and ''

3 Bad Men ''3 Bad Men'' is a 1926 American silent Western film directed by John Ford. Bob Mastrangelo has called it "One of John Ford's greatest silent epics." The film possibly inspired the title for Akira Kurosawa's 1958 film ''Three Bad Men in a Hidde ...

''. * As a separate release also containing ''

'' on the opposite side of the disc. The DVD begins with a disclaimer stating that the film has been brought to DVD using the best surviving elements possible. The DVD has an option to view the film accompanied with a musical score by Tim Curran.

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Hangman's House 1928 films American black-and-white films American silent feature films Films directed by John Ford Fox Film films Films set in Ireland American romantic drama films 1928 romantic drama films 1920s American films Silent romantic drama films Silent American drama films