''The Sap'' is a 1929 American sound

part-talkie A part-talkie is a partly, and most often primarily, silent film which includes one or more synchronous sound sequences with audible dialog or singing. During the silent portions, lines of dialog are presented as "titles"—printed text briefly ...

comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the ol ...

directed by

Archie Mayo Archibald L. Mayo (January 29, 1891 – December 4, 1968) was a film director, screenwriter and actor. Early years The son of a tailor, Mayo was born in New York City. After attending the city's public schools, he studied at Columbia Unive ...

and written by De Leon Anthony and Robert Lord. 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

Vitaphone Vitaphone was a sound film system used for feature films and nearly 1,000 short subjects made by Warner Bros. and its sister studio First National from 1926 to 1931. Vitaphone was the last major analog sound-on-disc system and the only one th ...

sound-on-disc system. The film is based on the 1924 play ''The Sap'' by William A. Grew. The film stars

Edward Everett Horton Edward Everett Horton Jr. (March 18, 1886 – September 29, 1970) was an American character actor. He had a long career in film, theater, radio, television, and voice work for animated cartoons. Early life Horton was born in Kings County ...

Alan Hale Sr. Alan Hale Sr. (born Rufus Edward Mackahan; February 10, 1892 – January 22, 1950) was an American actor and director. He is best remembered for his many character roles, in particular as a frequent sidekick of Errol Flynn, as well as f ...

Patsy Ruth Miller Patsy Ruth Miller (born Patricia Ruth Miller; January 17, 1904 – July 16, 1995) was an American film actress who played Esméralda in ''The Hunchback of Notre Dame'' (1923) opposite Lon Chaney. Early years Miller was born and raised in St. ...

, Russell Simpson,

Jerry Mandy Jerry Mandy (June 5, 1892 – May 1, 1945) was an American film actor. He appeared in 114 films between 1923 and 1945. He was born in Utica, New York and died in Hollywood, California from a heart attack. Selected filmography * ''North Sta ...

and

Edna Murphy Edna Murphy (November 17, 1899 – August 3, 1974) was an American actress of the silent era. She appeared in 80 films between 1918 and 1933. Murphy was voted "Most Photographed Movie Star of 1925" by '' ScreenLand Magazine''. For part of ...

. The film was released by

Warner Bros. Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (commonly known as Warner Bros. or abbreviated as WB) is an American film and entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California, and a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Di ...

on November 9, 1929. This film was the last "part-talkie" produced by the studio.

Plot

The sap, unemployed and hapless Bill Small, is not regarded by his wife Betty and her relatives. But he is redeemed by a wise stock investment in wheat which reverses his fortunes in relation to his brother-in-law Ed.Thomas S. Hischak ''Broadway Plays and Musicals'' 2009 "The seemingly useless Bill Small (Raymond Hitchcock) is a cheerful fellow who can't get or keep a job and his wife Betty (Miriam Sears) and all her relatives have given up on him. Bill's brother-inlaw Ed Mason (Norval Keedwell) confesses he “borrowed” $10,000 from the bank where he works and invested it in wheat stock which went sour. ... It turns out Bill invested in the same stock when it was low, sold high and now owns the bank...."

Cast

as The Sap, Bill Small *

as Jim Belden *

as Betty, Bill's wife * Russell Simpson as The Banker *

as The Wop *

as Jane *

Louise Carver Louise Carver (June 9, 1869 - June 19, 1956) was an American actress who performed in grand opera, stage, nickelodeon, and motion pictures. Early years and career Born Mary Louise Steiger in Davenport, Iowa, she was the daughter of Mr. and Mr ...

as Mrs. Sprague *

Franklin Pangborn Franklin Pangborn (January 23, 1889 – July 20, 1958) was an American comedic character actor famous for playing small but memorable roles with comic flair. He appeared in many Preston Sturges movies as well as the W. C. Fields films '' Interna ...

as Ed Mason, Bill's brother-in-law

References

External links

* 1929 films 1920s English-language films Silent American comedy films 1929 comedy films Warner Bros. films Films directed by Archie Mayo American black-and-white films 1920s American films Part-talkie films {{1920s-US-film-stub

Plot

Cast

See also

References

External links