''In Old Kentucky'' is a 1927 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. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...

produced and distributed by

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, commonly shortened to MGM or MGM Studios) is an American Film production, film and television production and film distribution, distribution company headquartered ...

and directed by

John M. Stahl John Malcolm Stahl (January 21, 1886 – January 12, 1950) was a Russian-born American film director and producer. He is best known for his films such as ''Leave Her to Heaven'' (1945), '' Imitation of Life'' (1934), ''The Keys of the Kingdom ...

. The film was based on the popular 1893 play of the same name by Charles T. Dazey and stars

Helene Costello Helene Costello (June 21, 1906 – January 26, 1957) was an American stage and film actress, most notably of the silent era. Early life and career Born in New York City, Costello was the youngest daughter of the prominent stage and pioneering f ...

and James Murray. ''In Old Kentucky'' also features an early performance by Lincoln Perry, who later became known as

Stepin Fetchit Lincoln Theodore Monroe Andrew Perry (May 30, 1902 – November 19, 1985), better known by his stage name Stepin Fetchit, was an American vaudevillian, comedian, and film actor of Jamaican and Bahamian descent, considered to be the first black ...

. The performance proved to be a breakthrough for Perry who signed a five-year contract with

Fox Film Corporation The Fox Film Corporation (also known as Fox Studios) was an American independent company that produced motion pictures and was formed in 1914 by the theater "chain" pioneer William Fox (producer), William Fox. It was the corporate successor to ...

shortly after the film's release. The film is a remake of the 1919 film of the same name which was M-G-M studio head

Louis B. Mayer Louis Burt Mayer (; born Lazar Meir; July 12, 1884Mayer maintained that he was born in Minsk on July 4, 1885. According to Scott Eyman, the reasons may have been: * Mayer's father gave different dates for his birthplace at different times, so ...

's first production as an independent producer. The play was adapted for the screen a third time in 1935 starring

Will Rogers William Penn Adair Rogers (November 4, 1879 – August 15, 1935) was an American vaudeville performer, actor, and humorous social commentator. He was born as a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, in the Indian Territory (now part of Oklahoma ...

in one of his final film appearances.

Cast

* James Murray as Jimmy Brierly *

as Nancy Holden *

Wesley Barry Wesley Barry (August 10, 1907 – April 11, 1994) was an American actor, director, and producer. Barry began his career as a child actor in Silent film, silent motion pictures and later became a producer and director of both film and televisio ...

as Skippy Lowry *

Dorothy Cumming Dorothy Greville Cumming (12 April 1894 – 10 December 1983) was an Australian-born actress of the silent film era. She appeared in 39 American, English, and Australian films between 1915 and 1929, notably appearing as the Virgin Mary in Ce ...

as Mrs. Brierly *

Edward Martindel Edward Martindel (July 8, 1876 – May 4, 1955) was an American stage and film actor who appeared on Broadway theatre, Broadway and in more than 80 films between 1915 and 1946. Born in Hamilton, Ohio, he was the son of Dr. and Mrs. Frank ...

as Mr. Brierly * Harvey Clark as Dan Lowry *

as Highpockets *

Carolynne Snowden Carrie Artiemissia Snowden (January 16, 1900 – September 5, 1985), known professionally as Carolynne Snowden, was an American actress, dancer, and singer who broke new ground for black people working in the entertainment industry. Biography Ca ...

as Lily May *

Nick Cogley Nickolas P. J. Cogley (May 4, 1869 – May 20, 1936) was an American actor, director and writer of the silent films. He appeared in more than 170 films between 1909 and 1934. Biography Cogley was born in New York, New York. He attended St. ...

as Uncle Bible *Dean Harrell (uncredited) * Mildred Washington (uncredited)

References

External links

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Lobby poster
1927 films 1927 drama films Silent American drama films American silent feature films American black-and-white films American films based on plays Films directed by John M. Stahl Remakes of American films Films set in Kentucky Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films 1920s American films {{1920s-silent-drama-film-stub