Remembrance Wall

Title: The Rogue Song

Date: 1930

Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures

Director: Lionel Barrymore

Cast: Lawrence Tibbett, Catherine Dale Owens, Nance O’Neil, Judith Vosselli, Ullrich Haupt, Elsa Alsen, Florence Lake, Lionel Belmore, Wallace MacDonald, Kate Price, H.A. Morgan, Burr McIntosh, James Bradbury, Jr., Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy

Summary: Yegor, the singing leader of a band of mountain bandits, meets Princess Vera at an inn and they fall in love. When Yegor learns that Vera’s brother raped his sister Nadja, Yegor kidnaps Vera and forces her to live a life of servitude. Vera is able to plot her rescue and Yegor’s capture, but as Yegor is flogged he sings to her. She realizes his love for her is real. Though they still love each other, Vera and Yegor part, hoping that someday they can be together

Notes: UCLA Film and Television Archive in association with Warner Brothers has restored a trailer for “The Rogue Song” as well as a surviving fragment discovered by Northeast Historic Film of the Swan ballet choreographed by Albertina Rasch with the Albertina Rasch Dancers and a three minute segment featuring Laurel & Hardy and a bear in a cave. In addition, Czechoslovak Film Archives has a reel of Lawrence Tibbett singing.

Thanks to Jere Guldin, Karan Sheldon and Rob Stone for updates on the surviving fragments.