Vintage original 8x10 in. US single-weight glossy photograph from the 1930's blind mother-themed drama, STAR FOR A NIGHT, released in 1936 by 20th Century-Fox and directed by Lewis Seiler. Blind Mrs. Lind (Jane Darwell) comes to American to visit her three children whom she thinks are successful. The cast includes Claire Trevor, Arline Judge, Evelyn Venable, J. Edward Bromberg, Dean Jagger, and Alan Dinehart.
The image features an interior shot of Nina Lind (Claire Trevor) looking hopeful as she clutches a telegram to her bosom. It is in fine- condition with a 2.5 in. vertical crease on the bottom right corner that goes into the background area; random signs of wear in the borders; and some small scratches from handling over time that are unobtrusive. There are no pinholes, tears, stains, writing, or other flaws.
The working title of this film was The Holy Lie. According to information in the Twentieth Century-Fox Records of the Legal Department at the UCLA Theater Arts Library, producer Sol Wurtzel wanted to buy the rights to the play early in 1935, but the deal was held back until the next year, because National-Film A.G., a Berlin-based production company, held the silent film rights for ten years from the time of acquisition. In a note, Wurtzel commented, "I consider that The Holy Lie has the basis of a story that can be just as important as the picture Four Sons, which we made about six years ago, and as important as Over the Hill. Later correspondence indicates that the studio planned to rewrite the story, "retaining the basic idea." The legal records indicate that Harry Akst and Sidney Clare wrote an additional song for the film, "Argentine Swing," which was cut. That song remained the property of Twentieth Century-Fox and it was subsequently used in their 1937 film, Big Town Girl, which also starred Claire Trevor. The National-Film silent film based on the play was released in 1927 and entitled Die heilige Lüge. |