The Biblical story of Noah and the Great Flood, with a parallel story of soldiers in the First World War.The Biblical story of Noah and the Great Flood, with a parallel story of soldiers in the First World War.The Biblical story of Noah and the Great Flood, with a parallel story of soldiers in the First World War.
- Awards
- 3 wins
Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams
- Al
- (as Gwynn Williams)
- …
Ward Bond
- Flood Extra
- (uncredited)
Joe Bonomo
- Aide to Leader of Soldiers
- (uncredited)
Allan Cavan
- Stockbroker
- (uncredited)
- Directors
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaFor the flood sequence, Michael Curtiz had a huge tank constructed, containing more than 1 million gallons of water, with access spillways leading to the tops of the Babylonian temple set. When cinematographer Hal Mohr questioned him about the lack of safeguards, Curtiz reportedly replied, "They're just going to have to take their chances." Mohr, a survivor of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire, was so appalled that he walked off the set. Barney McGill took over as cinematographer, and the stunt proceeded as planned. The water was released from the tanks, and 15 cameramen and countless extras thrashed about in the water for hours. Three people drowned, one had to have a leg amputated, and almost a dozen suffered broken limbs and other serious injuries.
- GoofsDuring the flood sequence (1 hr. 29 min. approx.) Japheth (George O'Brien) is clearly repeatedly calling/mouthing "Maria" as he searches for Dolores Costello. Her name in the Biblical sequence is MIRIAM. (And even in the WW1 story, she is named Marie (Not Maria !).)
- Crazy creditsGuinn 'Big Boy' Williams (Al/Ham) is listed in the credits as "Gwynn Williams."
- Alternate versionsThis premiered at 135 minutes, then was immediately cut for subsequent roadshow engagements, and then the "popular" run. Over 30 minutes of footage was taken out, including all the talking scenes involving Noah. This version was 11-reels in length(about 102 minutes). Producer Robert Youngson supervised a 1957 re-release, eliminating all talking sequences and inserting a narration. This version is 75 minutes long.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Magic Movie Moments (1953)
- SoundtracksFlight of the Bumble Bee
(1900) (uncredited)
Music by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Played during the ticker tape scene
Featured review
... was my reaction and my desire when I sat through the painful talking portions of this movie. The dialogue was uninspired if not just plain weird and Delores Costello has never sounded more ridiculous. I'll chalk that up to the dialogue coach, since so many early female vocal performances in films sounded similarly falsely aristocratic. She's supposed to be a singer/dancer in a vaudeville-like troupe and they have her speaking like she's the queen of England? See Ms. Costello in Magnificent Ambersons if you want to know what she really sounded like.
I still give this film an 8/10 though. As a spectacle film in the De Mille tradition done by Warner Brothers before they had truly emerged into the studio big leagues, it is a sight to behold. No special effects here - those are real buildings falling on real extras and real water pouring onto them. I know director Michael Curtiz had a reputation for holding in great disdain actors who required a lunch break, but you'd think that he at least realized they require oxygen.
The silent style of the players is pretty good. In fact, so good there are a dearth of title cards in the silent portion, since everyone is so adept at conveying their feelings through pantomime. The Vitaphone musical score accompanies the action well and the introduction to the film is particularly well done with water swirling around, sound effects, and the rather haunting musical introduction.
There's some historically interesting points of view being shown here too. Filmed in 1928 over a year before the stock market crash there is a rather prescient visual montage at the beginning of the film equating stock brokers and their obsession with money with the worship of the golden calf of biblical times. However, the end of the film has a moral that is not so prescient - basically equating World War I as that wasteful pointless war to end all wars when a much more horrible conflict was a little more than ten years away.
I'd highly recommend this one for two reasons. For the parts that are silent it is quite a work of visual art. For the parts that are talking it is a good example of how studios were so obsessed with sound that art was thrown out the window in the process, at least for a year or two. I'd rate this as one of my favorite although somewhat guilty cinematic pleasures.
I still give this film an 8/10 though. As a spectacle film in the De Mille tradition done by Warner Brothers before they had truly emerged into the studio big leagues, it is a sight to behold. No special effects here - those are real buildings falling on real extras and real water pouring onto them. I know director Michael Curtiz had a reputation for holding in great disdain actors who required a lunch break, but you'd think that he at least realized they require oxygen.
The silent style of the players is pretty good. In fact, so good there are a dearth of title cards in the silent portion, since everyone is so adept at conveying their feelings through pantomime. The Vitaphone musical score accompanies the action well and the introduction to the film is particularly well done with water swirling around, sound effects, and the rather haunting musical introduction.
There's some historically interesting points of view being shown here too. Filmed in 1928 over a year before the stock market crash there is a rather prescient visual montage at the beginning of the film equating stock brokers and their obsession with money with the worship of the golden calf of biblical times. However, the end of the film has a moral that is not so prescient - basically equating World War I as that wasteful pointless war to end all wars when a much more horrible conflict was a little more than ten years away.
I'd highly recommend this one for two reasons. For the parts that are silent it is quite a work of visual art. For the parts that are talking it is a good example of how studios were so obsessed with sound that art was thrown out the window in the process, at least for a year or two. I'd rate this as one of my favorite although somewhat guilty cinematic pleasures.
- How long is Noah's Ark?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $1,005,000 (estimated)
- Runtime2 hours 15 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
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