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The Charlatan (1929 film)

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The Charlatan
Directed byGeorge Melford
Screenplay byJ. G. Hawks[1]
Tom Reed
Based on
The Charlatan
by
Starring
CinematographyGeorge Robinson
Edited by
Production
company
Distributed byUniversal Pictures
Release date
  • April 7, 1929 (1929-04-07)
CountryUnited States[1]
LanguagesSound (Part-Talkie)
English Intertitles

The Charlatan is a 1929 sound part-talkie film directed by George Melford for Universal Pictures. In addition to sequences with audible dialogue or talking sequences, the film features a synchronized musical score and sound effects along with English intertitles. The soundtrack was recorded using the Western Electric sound-on-film system. The film starred Holmes E. Herbert, Margaret Livingston and Rockliffe Fellowes. The film is based on the 1923 play The Charlatan by Leonard Praskins and Ernest Pascal.[1]

Plot

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A wealthy socialite invites a carnival sideshow performer named Count Merlin to entertain her guests at a party. As the night goes on, a murder occurs and a dark secret from Merlin's past is revealed.

Cast

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Production

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The film was based on the play The Charlatan by Ernest Pascal and Leonard Praskins.[1] The play was adapted by Robert N. Lee with dialogue by Jack Rollens and Tom Reed and intertitled by Reed.[1] Universal designed the film as one of their Jewel Productions for 1929.[2]

Release

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The Charlatan was released on April 14, 1929, as a part talkie featuring thirty percent of its running time with audible dialogue or talking sequences.[3][unreliable source?] [4] The film had a 60-minute running time with a review in Variety stating that about 15 minutes of the film contained dialogue.[5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g "The Charlatan". American Film Institute. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
  2. ^ a b Workman, Christopher; Howarth, Troy (2016). Tome of Terror: Horror Films of the Silent Era. Midnight Marquee Press. p. 338. ISBN 978-1936168-68-2.
  3. ^ "Silent Era : Progressive Silent Film List".
  4. ^ Soister, John T. (2005). Of Gods and Monsters: A Critical Guide to Universal Studios' Science Fiction. Released 14 April 1929 (as a part-talkie); 60 minutes
  5. ^ AFI Catalog Entry: https://catalog.afi.com/Film/3250-THE-CHARLATAN
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The Charlatan at IMDb