Vintage original 14x22 in. US "Pictorial" style window card from the first sound version of the famous Temperance-themed drama, TEN NIGHTS IN A BAR-ROOM, released in 1931 on a states rights basis by multiple distributors across the US and directed by William A. O'Connor. It follows the storyline in the 1854 novel, Ten Nights in a Bar-Room and What I Saw There, by Timothy Shay Arthur, and based upon the play by Edwin Waugh, in which a man's (William Farnum) heavy drinking drives away his family and threatens to destroy his relationship with his little daughter (Patty Lou Lind).

This vintage original window card was printed for the film's original 1931 US theatrical release and, as depicted in the original pressbook (see last photo--this pressbook page is NOT included with the window card), is one of two different styles (the "Pictorial" style, whereas the "Block" style features only text), the beautiful stone lithograph artwork features the most famous image from the film's various publicity material (William Farnum) looking upwards in agony after having bested Tom Santschi in a terrific fight. This example was restored and the work was exceptionally well done. In fact, it's a little difficult to tell the amount of restoration, even when touching the surface. When held to the side, you can then see some restoration within the center of the the two actors' name and in the center of the film's title; the borders may have been trimmed and, if so, were expertly replaced (again, the work was done so well that it's hard to tell); and light signs of wear on the bottom left corner.

 

The corollary 1854 novel written by Arthur was a financial success and the second most popular book of the Victorian era--only Uncle Tom's Cabin sold better. The mood of the country supported the Temperance movement and anti-alcohol sentiment. The prohibition theme was adapted into a 1858 Broadway play by William W. Pratt, a 1901 silent film, a now lost 1910 silent film, a 1913 adaption silent film, a 1921 silent film directed by Oscar Apfel, and then this 1931 film. There is a 1926 silent film version where a drunkard is swindled out of his mill business, but is later reborn and he runs for mayor. This 1931 version is sometimes confused with D. W. Griffith's 1931 talkie, The Struggle. In 1940, a distributor named B. A. Mills of B&M Pictures considered re-releasing the Griffith film under the new title but dropped the idea when informed of the heavy Code cuts that would be required (Source: March 7, 1940 letter from F. S. Harmon in the MPPDA/MPAA files at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences).