''The Road to Glory'' is a 1926 American silent

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super ...

directed by Howard Hawks and starring

May McAvoy May Irene McAvoy (September 8, 1899 – April 26, 1984) was an American actress who worked mainly during the silent-film era. Some of her major roles are Laura Pennington in '' The Enchanted Cottage'', Esther in '' Ben-Hur'', and Mary Dale ...

Leslie Fenton Leslie Fenton (12 March 1902 – 25 March 1978) was an English actor and film director. He appeared in more than 60 films between 1923 and 1945. Early life Fenton was born on 12 March 1902 in Liverpool, Lancashire, England. He emigrated to ...

, and

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. This was Hawks' first film, based on a 35-page treatment that Hawks wrote. It is one of only two Hawks works that are

lost film A lost film is a feature Feature may refer to: Computing * Feature (CAD), could be a hole, pocket, or notch * Feature (computer vision), could be an edge, corner or blob * Feature (software design) is an intentional distinguishing char ...

Plot

As described in a film magazine review, in an automobile accident David Hale is uninjured, but his sweetheart Judith Allen sustains a slight bump to the head. Her father is accidentally killed. While at a cabaret with another suitor, Del Cole, Judith suddenly goes blind as a result of the head injury. She looses her faith in God and makes a break with David. David seeks her out again. A storm wrecks the house and both are hurt, but Judith only slightly. While at David's bedside, the shock suddenly restores her sight. They face a happy future together.

Cast

Production

Howard Hawks wrote the 35 page story from which the screenplay was based; this was one of few films on which he had extensive writing credits. Originally titled, ''The Chariot of the Gods'', ''The Road to Glory'' was shot from December 1925 to January 1926 and premiered in April. The film contained religious iconography and messages that would never again be seen in a Hawks film.

Reception

The film received good reviews from film critics. In later interviews, Hawks said, "It didn't have any fun in it. It was pretty bad. I don't think anybody enjoyed it except a few critics." Hawks was dissatisfied with the film after being certain that dramatic films would establish his reputation, but realized what he had done wrong when

Sol Wurtzel Solomon Max Wurtzel (September 12, 1890 – April 9, 1958) was an American film producer. Life and career Born in New York City, the second of five brothers; his parents were both Polish Jews from the village of Ulanow (Surname ''Wurtzel'' i ...

told Hawks, "Look, you've shown you can make a picture, but for God's sake, go out and make entertainment."

Preservation status

With no prints of ''The Road to Glory'' located in any film archives, it is a

.''The Road to Glory'' at Lost Film Files: ''Lost Fox Films - 1926''
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References

Bibliography

* Wes D. Gehring. ''Carole Lombard, the Hoosier Tornado''. Indiana Historical Society Press, 2003.

External links

* * 1926 films Films directed by Howard Hawks Lost American films American silent feature films Fox Film films 1920s English-language films American black-and-white films 1926 drama films 1926 lost films Lost drama films 1926 directorial debut films 1920s American films {{1920s-silent-drama-film-stub