The Valiant

This 60-minute film earned two Oscar noms: best actor for Paul Muni (in his film debut), and and writing nom.

A rather intriguing narrative setup has Muni turning himself in for murder, giving a false name, and refusing to give any information about the murder or offer an defense. Back in Ohio, a family reads the story and wonders if the killer is the long-lost brother. The younger sister heads to New York to see if she can discover his identity.

After a few implausible turns of events, the two meet, but the young woman (Marguerite Churchill) goes back home, convinced the killer is not her brother and that he may still be alive and well somewhere in the world.

Johnny Mack Brown plays the boy friend, Edith Yorke is the old mother, Henry Kolker is the judge, and DeWitt Jennings is the warden. This film was released right after Brown's talkie debut in Coquette with Mary Pickford. He has little to do here. As for Muni (never a favorite of mine) he gives a very subtle and subdued performance. He lost the Oscar to Warner Baxter for In Old Arizona.