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On Trial
On Trial
	Lobby card.
Directed by	Archie Mayo
Written by	Max Pollock
Screenplay by	Robert Lord (& titles); Max Pollack
Based on	On Trial (1914 play); by Elmer Rice
Starring	Pauline Frederick; Bert Lytell; Lois Wilson
Cinematography	Byron Haskin
Edited by	Tommy Pratt
Production; company	Warner Bros.
Distributed by	Warner Bros.
Release dates	November 14, 1928 (sound); December 29, 1928 (silent);
Running time	91 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$130,000
Box office	$1,454,000

On Trial is a 1928 American talking drama film produced and distributed by Warner Bros., and directed by Archie Mayo. The film starred Pauline Frederick, Lois Wilson, Bert Lytell, Holmes Herbert, and Jason Robards. The film is based on the 1914 Broadway play of the same name by Elmer Rice. A silent version of the film was also released on December 29, 1928.^[2]

The first film was released in 1917, starring Barbara Castleton, Sidney Ainsworth, and Mary McAllister. It was remade again in 1939 with John Litel, Margaret Lindsay, and Edward Norris.

Plot summary

A man is put on trial for the murder on his best friend. A young attorney wants to become successful and decides to defend him. However, he is very inexperienced.

Cast

Pauline Frederick as Joan Trask
Bert Lytell as Robert Strickland
Lois Wilson as May Strickland
Holmes Herbert as Gerald Trask
Richard Tucker as Prosecuting Attorney
Jason Robards Sr. as Defense Attorney
Franklin Pangborn as Turnbull
Fred Kelsey as Clerk
Vondell Darr as Doris Strickland
Edmund Breese as Judge
Edward Martindel as Dr. Morgan

Reception

According to Warner Bros records, the film earned $1,089,000 domestically and $365,000 in the rest of the world.^[1]

Preservation status

The 1928 film version of On Trial is now considered lost. However, Vitaphone soundtrack discs for the film survive and are housed at the UCLA Film and Television Archive and British Film Institute. The film's trailer also survives.^[3]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Warner Bros financial information in The William Schaefer Ledger. See Appendix 1, Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, (1995) 15:sup1, 1-31 p 7 DOI: 10.1080/01439689508604551
^ "Progressive Silent Film List: On Trial". silentera.com. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
^ "On Trial (1928)". stanford.edu. Retrieved May 9, 2013.