Tide of Empire
(1929) American
B&W : Eight reels / 6552 feet
Directed by Allan Dwan

Cast: Renée Adorée [Josephita], George Duryea [Dermond D’Arcy], George Fawcett [Don José], William Collier Jr. (Buster Collier) [Romauldo], Fred Kohler [Cannon], James Bradbury Sr. [Bejabbers], Harry Gribbon [O’Shea], Paul Hurst [Poppy], Tom Keene, Buster Keaton

Cosmopolitan Productions production; distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corporation. / Scenario by Waldemar Young, from the novel Tide of Empire by Peter Bernard Kyne. Production design by Cedric Gibbons. Costume design by David Cox. Song “Josephita” by Jesse Greer (music) and Ray Klages (lyrics). Cinematography by Merritt B. Gerstad. Intertitles by Joseph Farnham. Edited by Blanche Sewell. / © 5 March 1929 by Cosmopolitan Productions [LP181]. Released 23 March 1929. / [?] Movietone 35mm spherical 1.20:1 format ane/or Standard 35mm spherical 1.37:1 format? Western Electric Movietone sound-on-film sound system. / According to Bogdanovich-Dwan p. 86, Keaton appears in a cameo in the film as a bum thrown out of a saloon. / Silent film, with synchronized music and sound effects.

Drama: Western.

Synopsis: [Motion Picture News Booking Guide, 15 March 1930, page 106] Hero wins ranch of girl’s father but falls in love with her and gives her the deed. He leaves to hunt for gold. Girl’s father commits suicide and girl seeks hero. Town is attacked by outlaws but repulsed by people of the town. Heroine’s brother is wounded and sentenced to hang for forced part in attack but rescued by hero. They return to the ranch where he marries the girl.

Survival Status: Print exists.

Listing updated: 14 October 2009.

References: Bogdanovich-Dwan pp. 85-86; McCaffrey-Guide p. 19; Weaver-Twenty p. 28 : ClasIm-204 p. 4; ClasIm-224 p. C14 : Website-AFI.